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Marshall County, Kansas

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Marshall County, Kansas
County
Former Marshall County Courthouse (left), current one-story courthouse (right) in Marysville (2010)
Former Marshall County Courthouse (left), current one-story courthouse (right) in Marysville (2010)
Map of Kansas highlighting Marshall County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Coordinates: 39°48′N 96°33′W / 39.800°N 96.550°W / 39.800; -96.550
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedAugust 25, 1855
Named afterFrank J. Marshall
SeatMarysville
Largest cityMarysville
Area
 • Total
905 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Land900 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Water4.9 sq mi (13 km2)  0.20%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
10,038
 • Estimate 
(2025)
9,852 Decrease
 • Density11.1/sq mi (4.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
Websiteks-marshall.manatron.com

Marshall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Marysville.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 10,038.[1] The county was named after Frank J. Marshall, a state representative who operated the first ferry over the Big Blue River.

History

[edit]

The Oregon Trail crosses Marshall County. The infamous Donner Reed Party rested along the banks of the Big Blue river and lost one of its members, Sarah Keyes, who is still buried at Alcove Springs (located outside of Marysville). Many documented pioneer bodies are buried surrounding Alcove Springs.

In 1849 Francis James Marshall, from Weston, Missouri, came to Marshall County and established a ferry service on the Big Blue River at "Independence Crossing." A few years later Francis Marshall decided to stay on in Marshall County and make it his home. He moved his ferry business to an upper crossing now known as Marysville (the city is named after Marshall's own wife Mary).[3]

On May 30, 1879, the "Irving, Kansas Tornado" passed through Marshall County. This tornado measured F4 on the Fujita scale and had a damage path 800 yards (730 m) wide and 100 miles (160 km) long. Eighteen people were killed and sixty were injured.[4]

The Marshall County Historical Society resides in the county's historic courthouse, which is now a museum and research library.

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 905 square miles (2,340 km2), of which 900 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (0.5%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18602,280—
18706,901202.7%
188016,186134.5%
189023,91247.7%
190024,3551.9%
191023,880−2.0%
192022,730−4.8%
193023,0561.4%
194020,986−9.0%
195017,926−14.6%
196015,598−13.0%
197013,139−15.8%
198012,787−2.7%
199011,705−8.5%
200010,965−6.3%
201010,117−7.7%
202010,038−0.8%
2025 (est.)9,852[6] Decrease−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

Racial and ethnic composition

[edit]
Marshall County, Kansas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[11] Pop 1990[12] Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 12,724 11,601 10,716 9,727 9,410 99.51% 99.11% 97.73% 96.15% 93.74%
Black or African American alone (NH) 6 9 24 26 39 0.05% 0.08% 0.22% 0.26% 0.39%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 5 34 38 26 23 0.04% 0.29% 0.35% 0.26% 0.23%
Asian alone (NH) 13 11 21 22 41 0.10% 0.09% 0.19% 0.22% 0.41%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [16] x [17] 1 3 0 x x 0.01% 0.03% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 2 1 2 2 13 0.02% 0.01% 0.02% 0.02% 0.13%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [18] x [19] 80 118 285 x x 0.73% 1.17% 2.84%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 37 49 83 193 227 0.29% 0.42% 0.76% 1.91% 2.26%
Total 12,787 11,705 10,965 10,117 10,038 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,038 and a median age of 43.6 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.4 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[20][21]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.3% of the population.[22]

There were 4,195 households in the county, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[21]

There were 4,762 housing units, of which 11.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.4% were owner-occupied and 22.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.8%.[21]

2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census, there were 10,965 people, 4,458 households, and 3,026 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 4,999 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.14% White, 0.23% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,458 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,089, and the median income for a family was $39,705. Males had a median income of $28,361 versus $19,006 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,090. About 6.40% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.60% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

[edit]

Presidential elections

[edit]

Marshall County is, in common with most rural regions of the Great Plains states, a predominantly Republican county. The county has not been carried by a Democratic candidate in a presidential election since 1932, and has only failed to back the Republican candidate in two other elections from 1888 on. The closest Democrats have come to winning the county since 1932 was in 1964, when Barry Goldwater only won it by 98 votes in the midst of a national landslide by Lyndon B. Johnson, and 1992 when George H. W. Bush only won it by eight votes in conjunction with independent candidate Ross Perot winning a significant share of the vote.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Marshall County, Kansas[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1888 2,547 48.33% 1,815 34.44% 908 17.23%
1892 2,531 45.32% 0 0.00% 3,054 54.68%
1896 3,052 51.75% 2,776 47.07% 70 1.19%
1900 3,413 55.63% 2,669 43.50% 53 0.86%
1904 3,530 66.14% 1,564 29.30% 243 4.55%
1908 3,296 55.91% 2,514 42.65% 85 1.44%
1912 1,492 26.98% 2,278 41.20% 1,759 31.81%
1916 4,581 50.08% 4,275 46.74% 291 3.18%
1920 5,706 71.47% 2,026 25.38% 252 3.16%
1924 5,809 62.35% 2,369 25.43% 1,139 12.22%
1928 6,918 67.06% 3,329 32.27% 69 0.67%
1932 4,455 42.25% 5,970 56.62% 119 1.13%
1936 5,929 52.98% 5,238 46.81% 24 0.21%
1940 7,286 66.65% 3,588 32.82% 57 0.52%
1944 6,184 69.59% 2,681 30.17% 21 0.24%
1948 5,122 61.50% 3,148 37.80% 59 0.71%
1952 6,851 75.35% 2,215 24.36% 26 0.29%
1956 5,664 69.25% 2,487 30.41% 28 0.34%
1960 4,932 62.50% 2,931 37.14% 28 0.35%
1964 3,432 50.31% 3,334 48.87% 56 0.82%
1968 3,835 58.85% 1,949 29.91% 733 11.25%
1972 4,127 67.68% 1,823 29.90% 148 2.43%
1976 6,187 52.17% 5,366 45.24% 307 2.59%
1980 4,127 67.69% 1,555 25.50% 415 6.81%
1984 4,098 68.49% 1,813 30.30% 72 1.20%
1988 3,140 54.23% 2,560 44.21% 90 1.55%
1992 2,030 34.65% 2,022 34.52% 1,806 30.83%
1996 2,811 51.11% 1,932 35.13% 757 13.76%
2000 3,066 59.94% 1,831 35.80% 218 4.26%
2004 3,261 63.84% 1,789 35.02% 58 1.14%
2008 3,157 62.69% 1,784 35.42% 95 1.89%
2012 3,195 66.94% 1,469 30.78% 109 2.28%
2016 3,307 70.77% 1,072 22.94% 294 6.29%
2020 3,729 72.92% 1,259 24.62% 126 2.46%
2024 3,644 73.35% 1,205 24.26% 119 2.40%

Laws

[edit]

Marshall County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[24]

Education

[edit]

Unified school districts

[edit]
Historical

Communities

[edit]
2005 map of Marshall County[26] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Marshall County.[26]

Cities

[edit]

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost towns

[edit]

Townships

[edit]

Marshall County is divided into twenty-five townships. The city of Marysville is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Balderson038501061 (3)98 (38)0 (0)0.09%39°57′39″N 96°30′39″W / 39.96083°N 96.51083°W / 39.96083; -96.51083
Bigelow06725661 (2)97 (37)1 (0)0.96%39°36′36″N 96°31′56″W / 39.61000°N 96.53222°W / 39.61000; -96.53222
Blue Rapids07675Blue Rapids781 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.23%39°37′17″N 96°37′28″W / 39.62139°N 96.62444°W / 39.62139; -96.62444
Blue Rapids City07700Irving1,20113 (34)92 (36)1 (0)0.98%39°41′6″N 96°39′19″W / 39.68500°N 96.65528°W / 39.68500; -96.65528
Center11850Reedsville1512 (4)98 (38)0 (0)0%39°47′14″N 96°30′51″W / 39.78722°N 96.51417°W / 39.78722; -96.51417
Clear Fork13875Bigelow541 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.02%39°36′58″N 96°23′55″W / 39.61611°N 96.39861°W / 39.61611; -96.39861
Cleveland14100911 (3)92 (36)1 (0)1.02%39°36′43″N 96°17′47″W / 39.61194°N 96.29639°W / 39.61194; -96.29639
Cottage Hill15850Cottage Hill1432 (4)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°36′10″N 96°45′34″W / 39.60278°N 96.75944°W / 39.60278; -96.75944
Elm Creek20600Schroyer1782 (5)93 (36)0 (0)0.02%39°46′57″N 96°37′52″W / 39.78250°N 96.63111°W / 39.78250; -96.63111
Franklin24450Home City3373 (9)98 (38)0 (0)0.06%39°51′47″N 96°31′46″W / 39.86306°N 96.52944°W / 39.86306; -96.52944
Guittard29225Beattie4545 (13)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°51′52″N 96°24′53″W / 39.86444°N 96.41472°W / 39.86444; -96.41472
Herkimer314502343 (7)92 (36)0 (0)0.02%39°57′44″N 96°45′2″W / 39.96222°N 96.75056°W / 39.96222; -96.75056
Lincoln408501301 (4)92 (35)0 (0)0.36%39°46′56″N 96°17′27″W / 39.78222°N 96.29083°W / 39.78222; -96.29083
Logan41975Bremen, Herkimer3354 (9)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°53′14″N 96°45′8″W / 39.88722°N 96.75222°W / 39.88722; -96.75222
Marysville45075Marysville3835 (12)84 (32)0 (0)0%39°51′36″N 96°38′42″W / 39.86000°N 96.64500°W / 39.86000; -96.64500
Murray49275Axtell6407 (18)92 (36)0 (0)0.14%39°52′28″N 96°16′17″W / 39.87444°N 96.27139°W / 39.87444; -96.27139
Noble50850Vermillion, Vliets2172 (6)92 (35)1 (0)0.83%39°42′45″N 96°17′6″W / 39.71250°N 96.28500°W / 39.71250; -96.28500
Oketo52550Marietta, Oketo2513 (7)92 (35)0 (0)0%39°57′11″N 96°37′32″W / 39.95306°N 96.62556°W / 39.95306; -96.62556
Richland59450Summerfield2062 (6)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°57′54″N 96°23′55″W / 39.96500°N 96.39861°W / 39.96500; -96.39861
Rock604251231 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.09%39°47′2″N 96°24′45″W / 39.78389°N 96.41250°W / 39.78389; -96.41250
St. Bridget62100Mina2323 (7)92 (35)0 (0)0.05%39°57′53″N 96°19′28″W / 39.96472°N 96.32444°W / 39.96472; -96.32444
Vermillion73550Barrett, Frankfort1,01211 (28)93 (36)0 (0)0.07%39°42′12″N 96°24′48″W / 39.70333°N 96.41333°W / 39.70333; -96.41333
Walnut750251442 (4)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°47′28″N 96°44′45″W / 39.79111°N 96.74583°W / 39.79111; -96.74583
Waterville75975Waterville7979 (22)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°41′44″N 96°45′8″W / 39.69556°N 96.75222°W / 39.69556; -96.75222
Wells765251311 (3)98 (38)0 (0)0%39°41′13″N 96°30′39″W / 39.68694°N 96.51083°W / 39.68694; -96.51083

[27]

Notable people

[edit]

See also

[edit]
The Irving stone marker southeast of Blue Rapids.
Community information for Kansas

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts; Marshall County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ History of Kansas Vol. 2 By Andreas
  4. ↑ John Albert Sleicher (1883). Leslie's. F. Leslie.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Kansas- Table 15 Persons by Race: 198О • Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 12-21. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2025.
  12. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Kansas: Tables 4, 5, 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 11-44. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2026.
  13. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Marshall County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marshall County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marshall County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  17. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  18. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  19. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  20. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  21. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  22. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  24. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  25. ↑ School consolidations in Kansas for past decade; Topeka-Capital Journal; July 24, 2011.
  26. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Marshall County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Plat book of Marshall County, Kansas" 1904. https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209410

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
County
Historical
Tornados
Maps
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