Ford County, Kansas

Ford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City.^[2] As of the 2020 census, its population was 34,287.^[1] The county was named in honor of James Ford, a brevet brigadier general during the Civil War.^[3]

Ford County
County
Ford County Courthouse in Dodge City (2009)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°42′N 99°54′W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named after	James Ford
Seat	Dodge City
Largest city	Dodge City
Area
• Total	1,099 sq mi (2,850 km2)
• Land	1,098 sq mi (2,840 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2 km2)  0.07%
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	34,287
• Density	31.2/sq mi (12.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	fordcounty.net

History

See also: History of Kansas

One of the earliest military posts in Kansas, Fort Atkinson, was located in Ford County. Fort Dodge, established in 1864, was on the north bank of the Arkansas River, about five miles southeast of what would become Dodge City. During the California Gold Rush in 1849, thousands of gold seekers passed through the area along the Santa Fe Trail, but few settled there.

Ford County was established in 1867 and named for Colonel James H. Ford of the Second Colorado Cavalry, who was in charge of the construction of Fort Dodge after the Civil War.^[4] The region had been frequently traveled by pioneers along the Santa Fe Trail since the early 19th century.^[5]

The town of Dodge City was established in 1872 upon the completion of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Before the buffalo were wiped out, their hides were extensively shipped from Dodge City. Dodge City would later develop into a rough and tumble cowtown during the peak cattle drive years of 1875–1885.^[5][6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,099 square miles (2,850 km²), of which 1,098 sq mi (2,840 km²) are land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (0.07%) is covered by water.^[7]

Adjacent counties

• Hodgeman County (north)
• Edwards County (northeast)
• Kiowa County (east)
• Clark County (south)
• Meade County (southwest)
• Gray County (west)

Transit

• D-TRAN
• Dodge City station

Major highways

• U.S. Route 50
• U.S. Route 54
• U.S. Route 56
• U.S. Route 283
• U.S. Route 400
• K-34

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	427		—
1880	3,122		631.1%
1890	5,308		70.0%
1900	5,497		3.6%
1910	11,393		107.3%
1920	14,273		25.3%
1930	20,647		44.7%
1940	17,254		−16.4%
1950	19,670		14.0%
1960	20,938		6.4%
1970	22,587		7.9%
1980	24,315		7.7%
1990	27,463		12.9%
2000	32,458		18.2%
2010	33,848		4.3%
2020	34,287		1.3%
2023 (est.)	33,980	[8]	−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County.

As of the 2000 census,^[13] 33,848 people, 10,852 households, and 7,856 families were residing in the county. The population density was 30 people/sq mi (12 people/km²). The 11,650 housing units averaged 11 per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.3% White, 2.1% African American, 1.0% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 17.8% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino Americans of any race were 51.2% of the population.

Of the 10,852 households, 40.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were not families. About 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92, and the average family size was 3.42.

In the county, the age distribution was 31.10% under 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 17.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,860, and for a family was $42,734. Males had a median income of $27,189 versus $22,165 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,721. About 9.90% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Ford County has been strongly Republican for most of its history, especially in recent elections. Only eight Democratic presidential candidates from 1880 to 2024 have carried the county, the most recent being Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Ford County, Kansas^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,616	68.10%	2,461	29.84%	170	2.06%
2020	5,803	65.09%	2,947	33.06%	165	1.85%
2016	5,114	65.78%	2,149	27.64%	511	6.57%
2012	5,602	66.99%	2,600	31.09%	160	1.91%
2008	5,730	64.64%	2,991	33.74%	143	1.61%
2004	6,632	73.56%	2,286	25.35%	98	1.09%
2000	6,050	67.85%	2,566	28.78%	301	3.38%
1996	5,681	61.30%	2,628	28.36%	958	10.34%
1992	4,342	41.93%	2,635	25.44%	3,379	32.63%
1988	5,685	58.63%	3,817	39.36%	195	2.01%
1984	6,935	69.72%	2,914	29.30%	98	0.99%
1980	5,686	58.86%	3,194	33.06%	781	8.08%
1976	4,679	47.61%	4,934	50.21%	214	2.18%
1972	6,232	67.12%	2,804	30.20%	249	2.68%
1968	4,645	52.80%	3,191	36.27%	961	10.92%
1964	3,481	39.73%	5,221	59.59%	59	0.67%
1960	5,200	57.67%	3,792	42.05%	25	0.28%
1956	5,561	66.84%	2,710	32.57%	49	0.59%
1952	6,359	68.96%	2,748	29.80%	114	1.24%
1948	4,089	47.21%	4,396	50.75%	177	2.04%
1944	4,110	57.23%	2,994	41.69%	77	1.07%
1940	4,356	51.97%	3,954	47.17%	72	0.86%
1936	3,378	38.69%	5,335	61.11%	17	0.19%
1932	3,335	41.61%	4,442	55.42%	238	2.97%
1928	4,893	71.59%	1,870	27.36%	72	1.05%
1924	3,449	57.99%	1,551	26.08%	948	15.94%
1920	3,305	61.90%	1,879	35.19%	155	2.90%
1916	2,337	40.29%	3,044	52.47%	420	7.24%
1912	529	19.18%	1,125	40.79%	1,104	40.03%
1908	1,333	53.28%	1,089	43.53%	80	3.20%
1904	1,148	64.79%	526	29.68%	98	5.53%
1900	653	50.46%	610	47.14%	31	2.40%
1896	555	45.75%	643	53.01%	15	1.24%
1892	648	53.42%	0	0.00%	565	46.58%
1888	882	52.47%	630	37.48%	169	10.05%

Laws

Ford 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% food sales requirement.^[15]

Education

Colleges

• Dodge City Community College

Unified school districts

• Spearville USD 381
• Dodge City USD 443
• Bucklin USD 459

Communities

2005 map of Ford County^[16] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Ford County.^[16]

Cities

• Bucklin
• Dodge City (county seat)
• Ford
• Spearville

Unincorporated communities

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

• Bellefont
• Bloom
• Fort Dodge†
• Howell
• Kingsdown
• Wilroads Gardens†
• Windhorst
• Wright†

Townships

Ford County is divided into 14 townships. The city of Dodge City 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.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km2 (/sq mi)	Land area km2 (sq mi)	Water area km2 (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Bloom	07375		113	1 (2)	144 (55)	0 (0)	0%	37°30′23″N 99°55′4″W
Bucklin	09025		900	3 (8)	285 (110)	0 (0)	0.02%	37°34′44″N 99°37′9″W
Concord	15150		117	1 (2)	187 (72)	0 (0)	0.11%	37°36′36″N 100°5′52″W
Dodge	18225		899	13 (33)	70 (27)	0 (0)	0.21%	37°47′0″N 100°0′52″W
Enterprise	21450		1,113	6 (17)	175 (67)	0 (0)	0.19%	37°40′47″N 99°57′8″W
Fairview	22500		346	2 (5)	188 (73)	0 (0)	0.06%	37°45′11″N 100°8′57″W
Ford	23750		456	2 (5)	249 (96)	0 (0)	0.01%	37°36′58″N 99°46′27″W
Grandview	27350		784	3 (9)	226 (87)	0 (0)	0.20%	37°47′10″N 99°55′54″W
Richland	59300		931	9 (24)	99 (38)	0 (0)	0.17%	37°42′10″N 100°2′19″W
Royal	61575		105	1 (1)	185 (72)	0 (0)	0.06%	37°51′51″N 100°6′44″W
Sodville	66150		110	1 (2)	145 (56)	0 (0)	0.01%	37°31′16″N 99°45′6″W
Spearville	67150		1,150	2 (6)	479 (185)	0 (0)	0.03%	37°47′58″N 99°45′4″W
Wheatland	77675		170	1 (2)	193 (74)	0 (0)	0%	37°48′58″N 99°37′22″W
Wilburn	79100		88	0 (1)	187 (72)	0 (0)	0%	37°31′22″N 100°7′10″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

Notable people

Numerous figures of the American Old West lived in Dodge City during its period as a frontier cowtown. These included, most notably, lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, and gunfighter Doc Holliday.^[17]

See also

• Kansas portal

Railroad crew works on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe tracks near Bellefont, 1974. Photo by Charles O'Rear.

• Golden Triangle of Meat-packing
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ford County, Kansas

Community information for Kansas

• Kansas locations by per capita income
• List of counties in Kansas
• List of townships in Kansas
• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
• List of ghost towns in Kansas