Harper County, Kansas
Harper County (county code HP) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020, 5,485 people lived there.[1] Its county seat is Anthony. Anthony is also the biggest city in Harper County.[2] The county was named after Sergeant Marion Harper of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry. He died of wounds suffered near Waldron, Arkansas, in December 1863.[3]
Harper County | |
|---|---|
 Harper County Courthouse in Anthony (2015) | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kansas | |
 Kansas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 37°12′N 98°05′W / 37.200°N 98.083°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | February 26, 1867 |
| Named for | Marion Harper |
| Seat | Anthony |
| Largest city | Anthony |
| Area | |
| • Total | 803 sq mi (2,080 km2) |
| • Land | 801 sq mi (2,070 km2) |
| • Water | 1.5 sq mi (4 km2) 0.2% |
| Population | |
| • Total | 5,485 |
| • Density | 6.8/sq mi (2.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 620 |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | HarperCountyKS.gov |
History
19th century
In 1867, Harper County was created.
The original organization of Harper County was one of the biggest frauds in county government. In 1873, a group of three men organized Harper County. They designated the then-fake city of "Bluff City" as the county seat. The petition for organization used many names from a Cincinnati city directory to represent as residents of Harper County.[4] In 1874, the state attorney general investigated. He didn't find any resident of the county. The "creators" of the county had sold $40,000 worth of bonds.[5]
21st century
Due to new and high-paying jobs at oil fields and wind farms, Harper County had an economic boom. In 2012, rental housing and office space in towns such as Danville, Harper, and Anthony had become four times more expensive.[6] However, by 2016, the oil fracking boom had ended. The economies of Harper County were hurt.[7]
Geography
The U.S. Census Bureau says taht the county has a total area of 803 square miles (2,080 km2). Of that, 801 square miles (2,070 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.2%) is water.[8]
People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 4,133 | — | |
| 1890 | 13,266 | 221.0% | |
| 1900 | 10,310 | −22.3% | |
| 1910 | 14,748 | 43.0% | |
| 1920 | 13,656 | −7.4% | |
| 1930 | 12,823 | −6.1% | |
| 1940 | 12,068 | −5.9% | |
| 1950 | 10,263 | −15.0% | |
| 1960 | 9,541 | −7.0% | |
| 1970 | 7,871 | −17.5% | |
| 1980 | 7,778 | −1.2% | |
| 1990 | 7,124 | −8.4% | |
| 2000 | 6,536 | −8.3% | |
| 2010 | 6,034 | −7.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,485 | −9.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1] | |||
Government
Presidential elections
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 81.0% 2,168 | 17.2% 461 | 1.8% 49 |
| 2016 | 77.2% 1,996 | 15.2% 393 | 7.7% 198 |
| 2012 | 73.6% 1,759 | 23.0% 550 | 3.4% 80 |
| 2008 | 71.5% 1,999 | 26.3% 736 | 2.2% 61 |
| 2004 | 73.5% 2,154 | 24.8% 727 | 1.7% 49 |
| 2000 | 68.0% 2,076 | 28.5% 869 | 3.6% 110 |
| 1996 | 61.4% 1,941 | 26.5% 836 | 12.1% 382 |
| 1992 | 40.6% 1,371 | 25.0% 845 | 34.4% 1,162 |
| 1988 | 59.4% 1,941 | 37.8% 1,235 | 2.8% 92 |
| 1984 | 73.1% 2,521 | 25.9% 893 | 1.0% 35 |
| 1980 | 64.2% 2,254 | 28.2% 990 | 7.6% 268 |
| 1976 | 50.0% 1,777 | 47.3% 1,681 | 2.7% 96 |
| 1972 | 75.7% 2,628 | 21.0% 729 | 3.3% 114 |
| 1968 | 64.0% 2,351 | 27.6% 1,015 | 8.4% 308 |
| 1964 | 51.7% 1,969 | 47.6% 1,813 | 0.7% 28 |
| 1960 | 68.3% 3,158 | 31.1% 1,439 | 0.5% 25 |
| 1956 | 70.0% 3,111 | 29.5% 1,311 | 0.5% 23 |
| 1952 | 78.6% 3,575 | 20.4% 927 | 1.0% 45 |
| 1948 | 59.3% 2,702 | 38.4% 1,752 | 2.3% 106 |
| 1944 | 63.8% 2,849 | 35.2% 1,573 | 1.0% 46 |
| 1940 | 55.7% 3,205 | 43.1% 2,478 | 1.2% 68 |
| 1936 | 41.7% 2,441 | 57.9% 3,391 | 0.4% 22 |
| 1932 | 41.1% 2,116 | 55.6% 2,860 | 3.3% 169 |
| 1928 | 77.9% 3,712 | 21.1% 1,005 | 1.1% 51 |
| 1924 | 53.3% 2,280 | 30.9% 1,321 | 15.9% 681 |
| 1920 | 61.7% 2,593 | 35.3% 1,486 | 3.0% 127 |
| 1916 | 36.8% 1,797 | 54.2% 2,648 | 9.0% 439 |
| 1912 | 11.6% 365 | 40.6% 1,274 | 47.8% 1,499[a] |
| 1908 | 48.5% 1,490 | 45.7% 1,404 | 5.9% 181 |
| 1904 | 61.7% 1,459 | 25.3% 597 | 13.0% 308 |
| 1900 | 47.0% 1,190 | 49.8% 1,261 | 3.1% 79 |
| 1896 | 37.4% 812 | 61.3% 1,332 | 1.3% 29 |
| 1892 | 38.6% 1,288 | 61.4% 2,051 | |
| 1888 | 48.8% 1,490 | 30.8% 940 | 20.4% 624 |
Education
Unified school districts
Communities
Cities
- Anthony
- Attica
- Bluff City
- Danville
- Harper
- Waldron
References
- Notes
More reading
- Standard Atlas of Harper County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 75 pages; 1919.
- Standard Atlas of Harper County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 54 pages; 1902.
Other websites
- County
- Harper County - Official
- Harper County - Directory of Public Officials
- Harper County - Economic Development Council
- Maps
- Harper County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
- Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
- Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society
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