Doniphan County, Kansas

Doniphan County (county code DP) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2010 census, 7,945 people lived there. Its county seat is Troy. Its  biggest city is Wathena.

History

19th century
Doniphan County was created on August 25, 1855, then organized on September 18, 1855. It is named after the U.S. cavalry commander Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan (1808–1887) of Liberty, Missouri. He was important in the Mexican–American War.

Geography
Doniphan County is in the northeastern corner of the state. It is bordered by Nebraska to the north and Missouri to the east. The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of . Of that,  is land and  (1.2%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Kansas by land area and second-smallest by total area.

Geographic features
The Missouri River defines the border in the north and east. Eight barge lines travel the river, and a Port Authority is across the river in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The river provides a lot of the water for the eastern part of the county. Cities away from the river, such as Troy and Highland, get their water from underground wells. The Wolf River goes through western pstyd of the county and north into the Missouri River.

Major highways
The only major highway in the county is U.S. Highway 36, an east/west route going through St. Joseph.  Troy, Elwood, and Wathena lie along this route. Kansas state highways K-7, K-20, K-120, K-136, K-137, and K-238 serve other areas of the county.  K-7 has been designated a scenic byway.

People

Doniphan County is included in the St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area.

Government

County
Doniphan County is served by a Board of County Commissioners. In it, there is one elected official from each of three districts. The commissioners serve four-year terms. The 2nd and 3rd district elections happen two years after the 1st district election. The board is responsible for making the county's policies, procedures, and budgets. They also oversee functions of their respective road and bridge shops. The county has used county planning and zoning codes. The cities are governed by mayors and city councils. Government services are paid for through a sales tax, property tax, and an ad valorem tax mill levy.

Presidential elections

Because of its history of settlement by anti-slavery Yankees from Iowa and New England, Doniphan County became very Republican. The county has voted for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since Kansas became a state, beginning in 1864. Only three Democratic nominees reached forty percent of Doniphan County’s vote.

Laws
Although the Kansas Constitution was changed in 1986 to allow the sale of alcohol, Doniphan County remained a "dry" county until 2012.

Education

Unified school districts
 Doniphan West USD 111
 Riverside USD 114
 Troy USD 429

Colleges and universities
Highland Community College was the first college created in Kansas. This was when the Highland University charter was approved by the Territorial Legislature in 1858. Over time the college changed its name many times before becoming a regional rural community college. (Web site)

Communities

Cities

 Denton
 Elwood
 Highland
 Leona
 Severance
 Troy
 Wathena
 White Cloud

References

More reading
 Standard Atlas of Doniphan County, Kansas; North West Publishing Co; 38 pages; 1904.
 Historical Plat Book of Doniphan County, Kansas; J.S. Bird; 98 pages; 1882.

Other websites

County
 
 Doniphan County - Directory of Public Officials
Additional information
 Lewis & Clark in Kansas: Doniphan County Attractions
 Doniphan County 1882 Historical Plat Book
 County Level Data from Kansas Statistical Abstract
 Kansas State Historical Society
General county information
 The Political Graveyard
 List of extinct towns and post offices
Maps
 Doniphan County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
 Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
 Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

 
1855 establishments in Kansas Territory