Reno County
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Reno County Courthouse in Hutchinson (2008)
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Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
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Kansas's location within the U.S.
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| Coordinates: 37°57′N 98°05′W / 37.950°N 98.083°W / 37.950; -98.083 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | February 26, 1867 |
| Named for | Jesse Lee Reno |
| Seat | Hutchinson |
| Largest city | Hutchinson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,272 sq mi (3,290 km2) |
| • Land | 1,255 sq mi (3,250 km2) |
| • Water | 17 sq mi (40 km2) 1.3% |
| Population | |
| • Total | 61,898 |
| • Estimate
(2021)[2]
| 61,414  |
| • Density | 49.3/sq mi (19.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 620 |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | renocountyks.gov |
Reno County is a county located in the U.S. stateofKansas. Its county seat and largest city is Hutchinson.[3] As of the 2020 census, the population was 61,898.[1] The county is named for Jesse Reno, a general during the American Civil War.
For many millennia, the Great PlainsofNorth America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New FrancetoSpain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.
In 1867, Reno County was established, named for General Jesse L. Reno.
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line from HeringtontoPratt.[4] This main line connected Herington, Ramona, Tampa, Durham, Waldeck, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Groveland, Inman, Medora, Hutchinson, Whiteside, Partridge, Arlington, Langdon, Turon, Preston, Natrona, Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended to Liberal. Later, this line was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,272 square miles (3,290 km2), of which 1,255 square miles (3,250 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (1.3%) is water.[5] It is the third-largest county by area in Kansas.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 12,826 | — | |
| 1890 | 27,079 | 111.1% | |
| 1900 | 29,027 | 7.2% | |
| 1910 | 37,853 | 30.4% | |
| 1920 | 44,423 | 17.4% | |
| 1930 | 47,785 | 7.6% | |
| 1940 | 52,165 | 9.2% | |
| 1950 | 54,058 | 3.6% | |
| 1960 | 59,055 | 9.2% | |
| 1970 | 60,765 | 2.9% | |
| 1980 | 64,983 | 6.9% | |
| 1990 | 62,389 | −4.0% | |
| 2000 | 64,790 | 3.8% | |
| 2010 | 64,511 | −0.4% | |
| 2020 | 61,898 | −4.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 61,497 | [6] | −0.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1] | |||
The Hutchinson Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Reno County.
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,790 people, 25,498 households, and 17,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 27,625 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.56% White, 2.88% BlackorAfrican American, 0.58% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.69% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. 5.65% of the population were HispanicorLatino of any race.
There were 25,498 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,510, and the median income for a family was $42,643. Males had a median income of $31,495 versus $21,329 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,520. About 8.10% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Reno County is strongly Republican. The last time a Democratic candidate won the county was in 1976 when Jimmy Carter did so. However, 1988 was somewhat close as Michael Dukakis lost the county by only 5 percentage points due to a persistent drought and farm crisis.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 18,443 | 65.73% | 8,886 | 31.67% | 731 | 2.61% |
| 2016 | 15,513 | 63.23% | 6,837 | 27.87% | 2,186 | 8.91% |
| 2012 | 15,718 | 64.36% | 8,085 | 33.11% | 619 | 2.53% |
| 2008 | 16,112 | 60.57% | 9,916 | 37.28% | 574 | 2.16% |
| 2004 | 17,748 | 64.95% | 9,114 | 33.36% | 462 | 1.69% |
| 2000 | 15,179 | 59.69% | 9,025 | 35.49% | 1,226 | 4.82% |
| 1996 | 14,275 | 54.28% | 9,108 | 34.63% | 2,917 | 11.09% |
| 1992 | 11,377 | 40.10% | 9,257 | 32.63% | 7,738 | 27.27% |
| 1988 | 12,753 | 51.11% | 11,545 | 46.27% | 656 | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 16,568 | 63.34% | 9,229 | 35.28% | 362 | 1.38% |
| 1980 | 13,804 | 52.85% | 9,615 | 36.81% | 2,702 | 10.34% |
| 1976 | 11,212 | 42.29% | 14,620 | 55.14% | 680 | 2.56% |
| 1972 | 15,714 | 63.81% | 8,183 | 33.23% | 731 | 2.97% |
| 1968 | 11,804 | 50.29% | 9,872 | 42.06% | 1,798 | 7.66% |
| 1964 | 8,829 | 36.83% | 14,936 | 62.30% | 208 | 0.87% |
| 1960 | 14,655 | 60.21% | 9,557 | 39.27% | 127 | 0.52% |
| 1956 | 15,057 | 66.56% | 7,461 | 32.98% | 102 | 0.45% |
| 1952 | 15,762 | 68.58% | 6,555 | 28.52% | 666 | 2.90% |
| 1948 | 11,187 | 51.87% | 9,957 | 46.17% | 423 | 1.96% |
| 1944 | 11,004 | 58.71% | 7,604 | 40.57% | 135 | 0.72% |
| 1940 | 12,448 | 53.64% | 10,543 | 45.43% | 217 | 0.94% |
| 1936 | 8,607 | 37.59% | 14,203 | 62.03% | 88 | 0.38% |
| 1932 | 8,972 | 47.30% | 9,351 | 49.29% | 647 | 3.41% |
| 1928 | 12,872 | 76.31% | 3,843 | 22.78% | 153 | 0.91% |
| 1924 | 10,339 | 65.23% | 3,675 | 23.18% | 1,837 | 11.59% |
| 1920 | 9,649 | 67.12% | 4,385 | 30.50% | 341 | 2.37% |
| 1916 | 6,870 | 46.05% | 6,683 | 44.80% | 1,366 | 9.16% |
| 1912 | 1,668 | 20.92% | 3,360 | 42.13% | 2,947 | 36.95% |
| 1908 | 4,092 | 52.72% | 3,381 | 43.56% | 289 | 3.72% |
| 1904 | 4,245 | 69.33% | 1,423 | 23.24% | 455 | 7.43% |
| 1900 | 3,769 | 56.02% | 2,859 | 42.49% | 100 | 1.49% |
| 1896 | 3,373 | 51.96% | 3,051 | 47.00% | 67 | 1.03% |
| 1892 | 3,166 | 50.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,166 | 50.00% |
| 1888 | 3,398 | 56.61% | 1,841 | 30.67% | 763 | 12.71% |
Reno 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. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 2004.[12]
There are three private schools in Hutchinson:
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Reno County.[13]
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
Reno County is divided into thirty-one townships. The cities of Hutchinson and Nickerson are considered governmentally independent and are 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.
Places adjacent to Reno County, Kansas
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Municipalities and communities of Reno County, Kansas, United States
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