Ness County, Kansas

Ness County (standard abbreviation: NS) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020, 2,687 people lived there.^[1] The county seat is Ness City. Ness City is also the biggest city in Ness County.^[2] The county was named after Corporal Noah V. Ness of the 7th Kansas Cavalry.^[3]

Ness County
County
Ness County courthouse in Ness City (2016)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°27′29″N 99°41′15″W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	Noah V. Ness
Seat	Ness City
Largest city	Ness City
Area
• Total	1,075 sq mi (2,780 km2)
• Land	1,075 sq mi (2,780 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.02%
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	2,687
• Density	2.5/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	nesscountyks.com

History

19th century

In 1867, Ness County was created.

Geography

The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 1,075 square miles (2,780 km²). Of that, 1,075 square miles (2,780 km²) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) (0.02%) is water.^[4]

People

Census	Pop.		%±
1880	3,722		—
1890	4,944		32.8%
1900	4,535		−8.3%
1910	5,883		29.7%
1920	7,490		27.3%
1930	8,358		11.6%
1940	6,864		−17.9%
1950	6,322		−7.9%
1960	5,470		−13.5%
1970	4,791		−12.4%
1980	4,498		−6.1%
1990	4,033		−10.3%
2000	3,454		−14.4%
2010	3,107		−10.0%
2020	2,687		−13.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

Age pyramid

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential Elections Results

Presidential Elections Results^[9]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	88.5% 1,339	9.8% 149	1.7% 25
2016	84.5% 1,228	11.1% 162	4.4% 64
2012	83.7% 1,209	15.1% 218	1.2% 17
2008	79.2% 1,207	19.0% 289	1.9% 29
2004	77.4% 1,407	21.0% 382	1.6% 29
2000	75.7% 1,420	20.4% 383	3.9% 73
1996	68.2% 1,336	21.8% 428	10.0% 196
1992	43.6% 967	25.5% 565	30.9% 686
1988	56.6% 1,230	40.8% 887	2.6% 57
1984	75.3% 1,779	22.9% 540	1.8% 43
1980	67.5% 1,657	25.1% 616	7.4% 182
1976	46.5% 1,016	50.6% 1,106	2.8% 62
1972	68.4% 1,539	29.0% 652	2.7% 60
1968	58.2% 1,352	33.0% 767	8.7% 203
1964	39.5% 1,034	59.7% 1,562	0.7% 19
1960	63.4% 1,683	36.2% 960	0.5% 12
1956	70.8% 1,876	28.6% 758	0.6% 16
1952	76.3% 2,288	22.1% 664	1.6% 48
1948	58.1% 1,689	38.9% 1,130	3.0% 88
1944	65.5% 1,745	32.9% 876	1.7% 45
1940	58.7% 1,826	39.5% 1,230	1.8% 56
1936	39.2% 1,302	60.3% 2,002	0.5% 18
1932	42.7% 1,409	53.6% 1,772	3.7% 123
1928	71.5% 2,058	27.2% 784	1.3% 36
1924	64.6% 1,629	21.5% 541	13.9% 350
1920	69.3% 1,402	24.3% 492	6.4% 129
1916	37.6% 927	49.2% 1,213	13.2% 324
1912	18.1% 232	35.8% 458	46.1% 590[a]
1908	48.0% 635	34.8% 461	17.2% 228
1904	58.8% 687	16.1% 188	25.1% 293
1900	44.9% 511	51.2% 583	3.9% 44
1896	39.0% 354	58.0% 526	3.0% 27
1892	44.4% 495		55.6% 619
1888	57.3% 891	30.2% 470	12.5% 195

Ness County is very overwhelmingly Republican. The last time a Democrat won the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Education

Unified school districts

• Western Plains USD 106
• Ness City USD 303
• LaCrosse USD 395, mostly in Rush County

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Ness County (map legend)

Cities

• Bazine
• Brownell
• Ness City
• Ransom
• Utica