Rice County, Kansas

Rice County, Kansas
County
Rice County Courthouse in Lyons (2022)
Rice County Courthouse in Lyons (2022)
Map of Kansas highlighting Rice County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Coordinates: 38°21′N 98°12′W / 38.35°N 98.2°W / 38.35; -98.2
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named afterSamuel Allen Rice
SeatLyons
Largest cityLyons
Area
 • Total
728 sq mi (1,890 km2)
 • Land726 sq mi (1,880 km2)
 • Water1.7 sq mi (4.4 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
9,427
 • Estimate 
(2025)
9,266 Decrease
 • Density13/sq mi (5.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitericecounty.us

Rice County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Lyons.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 9,427.[1] The county was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas.[3]

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North 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 France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

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, Rice County was established.

The Santa Fe Trail followed the route of present-day U.S. Route 56. Ruts in the earth from the trail are still visible in several locations. (Ralph's Ruts are visible in aerial photos at 38°21′35″N 98°25′20″W / 38.35959264°N 98.42225502°W / 38.35959264; -98.42225502.)[4]

In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion and McPherson counties chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.[5] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson; in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, then in 1881 was extended to Ellinwood.[6] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[7] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase and Ellinwood.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 728 square miles (1,890 km2), of which 726 square miles (1,880 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18705—
18809,292185,740.0%
189014,45155.5%
190014,7452.0%
191015,1062.4%
192014,832−1.8%
193013,800−7.0%
194017,21324.7%
195015,635−9.2%
196013,909−11.0%
197012,320−11.4%
198011,900−3.4%
199010,610−10.8%
200010,7611.4%
201010,083−6.3%
20209,427−6.5%
2025 (est.)9,266[9] Decrease−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

Racial and ethnic composition

Rice 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[14] Pop 1990[15] Pop 2000[16] Pop 2010[17] Pop 2020[18] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 11,379 10,141 9,837 8,683 7,520 95.62% 95.58% 91.41% 86.12% 79.77%
Black or African American alone (NH) 106 116 122 112 130 0.89% 1.09% 1.13% 1.11% 1.38%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 78 51 59 55 41 0.66% 0.48% 0.55% 0.55% 0.43%
Asian alone (NH) 23 18 36 37 30 0.19% 0.17% 0.33% 0.37% 0.32%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [19] x [20] 3 5 0 x x 0.03% 0.05% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 25 5 0 2 14 0.21% 0.05% 0.00% 0.02% 0.15%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [21] x [22] 100 171 402 x x 0.93% 1.70% 4.26%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 289 279 604 1,018 1,290 2.43% 2.63% 5.61% 10.10% 13.68%
Total 11,900 10,610 10,761 10,083 9,427 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,427. The median age was 39.9 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.2 males age 18 and over.[23][24]

The racial makeup of the county was 83.3% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.6% from some other race, and 9.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 13.7% of the population.[24]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[25]

There were 3,744 households in the county, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]

There were 4,377 housing units, of which 14.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.2% were owner-occupied and 24.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 16.3%.[23]

2000 census

As of the census[26] of 2000, there were 10,761 people, 4,050 households, and 2,830 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km2). 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.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Rice County, Kansas[27][28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1888 1,851 57.79% 934 29.16% 418 13.05%
1892 1,724 46.78% 0 0.00% 1,961 53.22%
1896 1,729 48.75% 1,731 48.80% 87 2.45%
1900 2,013 54.42% 1,527 41.28% 159 4.30%
1904 1,994 64.16% 727 23.39% 387 12.45%
1908 1,832 51.35% 1,407 39.43% 329 9.22%
1912 697 20.57% 1,314 38.77% 1,378 40.66%
1916 2,494 42.62% 2,801 47.86% 557 9.52%
1920 3,651 68.95% 1,532 28.93% 112 2.12%
1924 3,920 68.53% 1,303 22.78% 497 8.69%
1928 4,321 74.05% 1,462 25.06% 52 0.89%
1932 3,107 49.33% 3,037 48.22% 154 2.45%
1936 3,318 40.24% 4,905 59.49% 22 0.27%
1940 4,792 56.49% 3,635 42.85% 56 0.66%
1944 4,024 61.12% 2,505 38.05% 55 0.84%
1948 4,002 58.15% 2,752 39.99% 128 1.86%
1952 5,572 74.51% 1,832 24.50% 74 0.99%
1956 4,638 70.48% 1,926 29.27% 17 0.26%
1960 4,329 64.81% 2,328 34.85% 23 0.34%
1964 2,390 39.19% 3,665 60.10% 43 0.71%
1968 3,141 56.23% 2,049 36.68% 396 7.09%
1972 3,843 66.22% 1,825 31.45% 135 2.33%
1976 2,584 44.82% 3,056 53.01% 125 2.17%
1980 3,211 57.67% 1,847 33.17% 510 9.16%
1984 3,598 68.68% 1,559 29.76% 82 1.57%
1988 2,503 53.89% 2,033 43.77% 109 2.35%
1992 2,158 40.94% 1,555 29.50% 1,558 29.56%
1996 2,842 59.34% 1,434 29.94% 513 10.71%
2000 2,903 64.23% 1,422 31.46% 195 4.31%
2004 3,182 72.71% 1,130 25.82% 64 1.46%
2008 2,780 69.14% 1,163 28.92% 78 1.94%
2012 2,676 72.70% 911 24.75% 94 2.55%
2016 2,837 74.58% 695 18.27% 272 7.15%
2020 3,262 75.53% 965 22.34% 92 2.13%
2024 3,073 77.48% 825 20.80% 68 1.71%

Laws

The Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, either with or without a minimum of 30% of sales coming from food. Rice County is one of 35 counties in the state that allows for the sale of liquor by the drink without the minimum food sales stipulation.[29]

Education

Colleges

Unified school districts

School district office in neighboring county

Communities

2005 map of Rice County[30] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Rice County.[30]

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

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.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Atlanta030752333 (7)90 (35)0 (0)0.25%38°18′22″N 98°11′58″W / 38.30611°N 98.19944°W / 38.30611; -98.19944
Bell05375180 (0)94 (36)1 (0)0.65%38°13′10″N 98°24′2″W / 38.21944°N 98.40056°W / 38.21944; -98.40056
Center120751361 (4)95 (37)0 (0)0.04%38°17′50″N 98°18′12″W / 38.29722°N 98.30333°W / 38.29722; -98.30333
East Washington197251792 (5)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%38°13′18″N 97°58′34″W / 38.22167°N 97.97611°W / 38.22167; -97.97611
Eureka21900651 (2)95 (37)0 (0)0%38°29′52″N 98°19′21″W / 38.49778°N 98.32250°W / 38.49778; -98.32250
Farmer231004415 (12)94 (36)0 (0)0%38°30′0″N 98°24′55″W / 38.50000°N 98.41528°W / 38.50000; -98.41528
Galt25175511 (1)94 (36)0 (0)0.22%38°28′8″N 98°5′59″W / 38.46889°N 98.09972°W / 38.46889; -98.09972
Harrison304251922 (5)92 (35)0 (0)0.06%38°23′3″N 98°11′49″W / 38.38417°N 98.19694°W / 38.38417; -98.19694
Lincoln411005776 (16)95 (37)0 (0)0%38°22′10″N 98°19′19″W / 38.36944°N 98.32194°W / 38.36944; -98.32194
Mitchell475251311 (4)94 (36)0 (0)0.18%38°23′24″N 98°5′42″W / 38.39000°N 98.09500°W / 38.39000; -98.09500
Odessa52150551 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.10%38°28′17″N 97°59′21″W / 38.47139°N 97.98917°W / 38.47139; -97.98917
Pioneer559251011 (3)94 (36)0 (0)0.03%38°23′34″N 98°25′39″W / 38.39278°N 98.42750°W / 38.39278; -98.42750
Raymond585751852 (5)92 (36)1 (0)0.71%38°17′38″N 98°24′56″W / 38.29389°N 98.41556°W / 38.29389; -98.41556
Rockville607251341 (4)93 (36)0 (0)0.04%38°18′17″N 97°57′36″W / 38.30472°N 97.96000°W / 38.30472; -97.96000
Sterling682252232 (5)114 (44)1 (0)1.01%38°12′19″N 98°11′44″W / 38.20528°N 98.19556°W / 38.20528; -98.19556
Union723257418 (21)93 (36)0 (0)0%38°23′34″N 97°59′32″W / 38.39278°N 97.99222°W / 38.39278; -97.99222
Valley731002764 (9)77 (30)1 (0)1.11%38°13′27″N 98°18′44″W / 38.22417°N 98.31222°W / 38.22417; -98.31222
Victoria738253644 (10)94 (36)0 (0)0.06%38°29′57″N 98°10′24″W / 38.49917°N 98.17333°W / 38.49917; -98.17333
West Washington774251381 (4)93 (36)0 (0)0.12%38°13′9″N 98°4′58″W / 38.21917°N 98.08278°W / 38.21917; -98.08278
Wilson797751472 (4)94 (36)0 (0)0.02%38°18′2″N 98°6′2″W / 38.30056°N 98.10056°W / 38.30056; -98.10056

Trivia

The CW television series Superman & Lois places Superman's home town of Smallville in Rice County ("Pilot").

See also

Community information for Kansas

References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts; Rice County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Rice County". Kansas State Library. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Aerial Photos Topo Maps of Santa Fe Trail Ruts and Sites". Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  5. ↑ Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
  6. ↑ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.
  7. ↑ Railway Abandonment 1968
  8. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  13. ↑ "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 28, 2014.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Rice County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Rice County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Rice County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  20. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  21. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  22. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  23. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  24. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  25. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  26. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  27. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  28. ↑ Schwab, Scott (November 5, 2024). "Election Results". Secretary of State of Kansas. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties" (PDF). Kansas Department of Revenue Alcoholic Beverage Control. December 30, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  30. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Rice County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). July 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 7, 2024.
Notes

Further reading

County
Trails
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Maps

38°21′N 98°12′W / 38.350°N 98.200°W / 38.350; -98.200

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