RICE COUNTY, KANSAS

'Rice County' (standard abbreviation: 'RC') is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas; it was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864 at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas.^[1] As of the 2000 census, the population was 10,761. The largest city and county seat is Lyons.

Contents

Law and government

Geography

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Townships

Education

Unified school districts

References

See also

External links

Law and government

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Rice County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.^[2]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,886 km² (728 mi²). 1,882 km² (727 mi²) of it is land and 4 km² (2 mi²) of it (0.24%) is water.

Adjacent counties

★ Ellsworth County (north)

★ McPherson County (east)

★ Reno County (south)

★ Stafford County (southwest)

★ Barton County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 10,761 people, 4,050 households, and 2,830 families residing in the county. The population density was 6/km² (15/mi²). There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 2/km² (6/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.68% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.84% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 5.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,050 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 13.30% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,671, and the median income for a family was $40,960. Males had a median income of $31,175 versus $18,968 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,064. About 8.50% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

★ Lyons, 3,576 (county seat)

★ Sterling, 2,587

★ Little River, 530

★ Chase, 471

★ Bushton, 300

★ Geneseo, 271

★ Alden, 161

★ Raymond, 95

★ Frederick, 11

Townships

Rice County is divided into twenty townships. The cities of Lyons and Sterling 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km² (/mi²)	Land area km² (mi²)	Water area km² (mi²)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Atlanta	03075		233	3 (7)	90 (35)	0 (0)	0.25%
Bell	05375		18	0 (0)	94 (36)	1 (0)	0.65%
Center	12075		136	1 (4)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.04%
East Washington	19725		179	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%
Eureka	21900		65	1 (2)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0 %
Farmer	23100		441	5 (12)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Galt	25175		51	1 (1)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.22%
Harrison	30425		192	2 (5)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.06%
Lincoln	41100		577	6 (16)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0 %
Mitchell	47525		131	1 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.18%
Odessa	52150		55	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.10%
Pioneer	55925		101	1 (3)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%
Raymond	58575		185	2 (5)	92 (36)	1 (0)	0.71%
Rockville	60725		134	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%
Sterling	68225		223	2 (5)	114 (44)	1 (0)	1.01%
Union	72325		741	8 (21)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Valley	73100		276	4 (9)	77 (30)	1 (0)	1.11%
Victoria	73825		364	4 (10)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%
West Washington	77425		138	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%
Wilson	79775		147	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%

Education

Unified school districts

★ Sterling USD 376

★ Chase USD 401

★ Lyons USD 405

★ Little River USD 444

References

1. Rice County
2.

See also

★ Dry counties

External links

;Local History and Genealogy
:
★ Cutler's History of Rice County, Kansas
:
★ Rice County GenWeb
;Official websites
:
★ Rice County Government
;General county information
:
★ Blue Skyways
;County Level Data
:
★ Kansas Statistical Abstract