Lyon County, Kansas

Lyon County (standard abbreviation: LY) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020, 32,179 people lived there.[1] The county seat Emporia. Emporia is also the biggest city in Lyon County.[2] The county was named after General Nathaniel Lyon, who was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in the American Civil War.[3]

Lyon County
County
Lyon County Courthouse in Emporia (2009)
Lyon County Courthouse in Emporia (2009)
Map of Kansas highlighting Lyon County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°27′N 96°09′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 5, 1862
Named forNathaniel Lyon
SeatEmporia
Largest cityEmporia
Area
 • Total855 sq mi (2,210 km2)
 • Land847 sq mi (2,190 km2)
 • Water7.9 sq mi (20 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total32,179
 • Density38.0/sq mi (14.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitelyoncounty.org

History

19th century

In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike expedition west from St Louis, Missouri. Part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through Lyon County.[4]

In 1862, Lyon County was created from the county formerly known as Breckinridge County.[5]

In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a railroad from Emporia to Newton.[6]

Geography

The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 855 square miles (2,210 km2). Of that, 847 square miles (2,190 km2) is land and 7.9 square miles (20 km2) (0.9%) is water.[7]

People
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18708,014—
188017,326116.2%
189023,19633.9%
190025,0748.1%
191024,927−0.6%
192026,1544.9%
193029,24011.8%
194026,424−9.6%
195026,5760.6%
196026,9281.3%
197032,07119.1%
198035,1089.5%
199034,732−1.1%
200035,9353.5%
201033,690−6.2%
202032,179−4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]
Age pyramid

Lyon County comprises the Emporia, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Government

Presidential elections

Emporia County has been very Republican for most of its history. The last time a Democrat won the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 53.7% 7,550 43.1% 6,055 3.2% 444
2016 52.5% 6,552 37.3% 4,649 10.2% 1,271
2012 54.5% 6,470 43.0% 5,111 2.5% 294
2008 51.9% 6,698 45.9% 5,924 2.2% 289
2004 59.2% 7,951 38.9% 5,234 1.9% 255
2000 53.4% 6,652 41.7% 5,190 4.9% 613
1996 50.0% 6,612 36.9% 4,884 13.1% 1,725
1992 34.7% 5,090 32.8% 4,811 32.4% 4,755
1988 55.3% 6,820 43.1% 5,314 1.6% 200
1984 69.4% 9,796 29.7% 4,188 1.0% 137
1980 57.9% 8,431 32.2% 4,680 9.9% 1,440
1976 52.6% 7,062 42.0% 5,634 5.5% 732
1972 69.7% 9,157 28.3% 3,720 2.0% 266
1968 57.3% 6,558 35.1% 4,020 7.6% 868
1964 45.2% 5,184 54.1% 6,197 0.7% 81
1960 60.9% 7,470 38.8% 4,755 0.3% 41
1956 67.3% 8,021 32.2% 3,831 0.5% 59
1952 68.0% 8,544 31.4% 3,944 0.6% 80
1948 50.0% 5,941 48.1% 5,708 1.9% 227
1944 52.9% 5,710 46.2% 4,984 1.0% 105
1940 52.3% 6,918 46.7% 6,170 1.0% 131
1936 44.7% 6,005 54.7% 7,340 0.6% 80
1932 47.4% 6,044 49.9% 6,365 2.7% 347
1928 75.5% 8,753 23.8% 2,761 0.7% 81
1924 57.3% 6,290 25.1% 2,750 17.6% 1,934
1920 61.1% 5,492 36.7% 3,303 2.2% 195
1916 40.3% 4,215 53.4% 5,584 6.4% 665
1912 17.4% 962 42.8% 2,363 39.8% 2,200
1908 50.9% 2,973 43.8% 2,562 5.3% 309
1904 62.1% 3,450 26.3% 1,461 11.6% 643
1900 50.7% 3,083 47.1% 2,865 2.2% 131
1896 45.9% 2,860 52.6% 3,276 1.5% 93
1892 48.5% 2,591 51.5% 2,753[lower-alpha 1]
1888 60.1% 3,014 27.5% 1,377 12.4% 624

Education

Unified school districts
  • North Lyon County USD 251
  • Southern Lyon County USD 252
  • Emporia USD 253

Colleges and universities
  • Emporia State University
  • Flint Hills Technical College

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Lyon County (map legend)

Cities

Famous people

R. Lee Ermey was born in Emporia on March 24, 1944. He died on April 15, 2018. He was a retired United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, Drill Instructor and actor. Ermey was often best known for his roles of authority figures, such as his performance as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket.

William Allen White was an American newspaper editor, politician, author, and leader of the Progressive movement. Between 1896 and his death White became the spokesman for middle America. He won a 1923 Pulitzer Prize for his editorial "To an Anxious Friend," published July 27, 1922. This was after being arrested in a disagreement over free speech. This was after there were objections to the way the state of Kansas handled the men who took part in the Great Railroad Strike of 1922.

References
  1. "QuickFacts: Lyon County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. p. 196.
  4. "1806 Pike Expedition map through Lyon County" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  5. "Breckinridge County, Kansas - Kansas Historical Society".
  6. Santa Fe Rail History
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  12. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
Notes
  1. 2,623 votes (49.08%) were for Populist James B. Weaver (who was supported by the state’s Democrats) and 130 (2.43%) for Prohibition Party candidate John Bidwell.

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