Edwards County is a county located in the U.S. states of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Kinsley.^[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,907,^[1] The county was founded in 1874 and named for W. C. Edwards, of Hutchinson, a pioneer settler who owned much land in the area.^[3]

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Edwards County
County
Watertower in Kinsley (2009)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°53′N 99°16′W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	March 18, 1874
Named for	W. C. Edwards
Seat	Kinsley
Largest city	Kinsley
Area
• Total	622 sq mi (1,610 km2)
• Land	622 sq mi (1,610 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	2,907
• Density	4.7/sq mi (1.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	620
Congressional district	4th
Website	edwardscounty.org

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In 1873, Edwards County was established, and named for W. C. Edwards, of Hutchinson, a pioneer settler who owned much land in the area and built the first brick building in Kinsley.^[4]

N.C. Boles became the first postmaster in the county with the opening of the Peters post office at Kinsley, then known as Petersboro in 1873. Kinsley's present name honors E.W. Kinsley, a Bostonian who generously funded the construction of the first church edifice, a Congregationalist building completed in 1875.^[5]

The infamous grasshopper raid of 1874 decimated crops, leaving many residents without means to sustain themselves. The county commissioners petitioned Governor Osborn for aid, emphasizing the plight of families and advocating for work programs over handouts.^[5]

In its first decade, Kinsley suffered two planned train robberies, as well as a bank robbery on December 9, 1882. The County Treasurer, J. W. Crawford, was implicated in the bank robbery and removed from office.^[5]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 622 square miles (1,610 km²), of which 622 square miles (1,610 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.01%) is water.^[6]

As of the 2000 census,^[12] there were 3,449 people, 1,455 households, and 955 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km²). There were 1,754 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.52% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 5.57% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.71% of the population.

There were 1,455 households, out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,530, and the median income for a family was $38,250. Males had a median income of $27,050 versus $20,132 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,586. About 7.00% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Edwards County.^[15]

Community information for Kansas

• Kansas locations by per capita income
• List of counties in Kansas
• List of townships in Kansas
• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
• List of ghost towns in Kansas