Clark County
County
Stockgrowers State Bank in Ashland (2016)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°14′N 99°50′W / 37.233°N 99.833°W / 37.233; -99.833
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	Charles F. Clarke
Seat	Ashland
Largest city	Ashland
Area
• Total	977 sq mi (2,530 km2)
• Land	975 sq mi (2,530 km2)
• Water	2.6 sq mi (7 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	1,991
• Estimate  (2021)[2]	1,977
• Density	2.0/sq mi (0.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	620
Congressional district	1st
Website	ClarkCountyKS.com

Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Ashland.^[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 1,991.^[1] The county was named after Charles Clarke.

History

For millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic Native Americans.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

In 1867, Clark County was established.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 977 square miles (2,530 km²), of which 975 square miles (2,530 km²) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) (%) is water.^[4]

Adjacent counties

• Ford County (north)
• Kiowa County (northeast)
• Comanche County (east)
• Harper County, Oklahoma (southeast)
• Beaver County, Oklahoma (southwest)
• Meade County (west)

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas,^[5] U.S. Census Bureau^[6]

• U.S. Route 54
• U.S. Route 160
• U.S. Route 183
• U.S. Route 283
• Kansas Highway 34

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,390 people, 979 households, and 676 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km²). There were 1,111 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0.39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.77% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 1.13% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 1.88% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% of the population.

There were 979 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 29.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 4.90% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 21.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,857, and the median income for a family was $40,521. Males had a median income of $27,321 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,795. About 11.30% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Prior to 1944, Clark County was a swing county, backing the national winner in every presidential election from 1900 to 1940. From 1944 on, it has become a Republican stronghold in presidential elections aside from 1964 when Lyndon B. Johnson won the county as part of a nationwide landslide victory.