Graham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Hill City.^[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,415.^[1] The county was named for John Graham, a captain in the American Civil War that died during the Battle of Chickamauga. The county is home to Nicodemus, founded 1877, which is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the American Civil War.

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Graham County
County
Antelope Lake Park near Morland (2014)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°21′N 99°53′W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1887
Named for	John L. Graham
Seat	Hill City
Largest city	Hill City
Area
• Total	899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
• Land	899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	2,415
• Density	2.7/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	grahamcountyks.com

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km²), of which 899 square miles (2,330 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) (0.03%) is water.^[5]

Graham County roughly contains 3600 quarter sections, and is the fourth county east of Colorado line and the second county south of the Nebraska line. The 100th meridian west passes nearly through its center. The average elevation in the county is 2,700 feet (820 m) above sea level. It is intersected by the south fork of Solomon River, and drained by Saline River.^[6]

As of the 2000 census,^[12] there were 2,946 people, 1,263 households, and 847 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km²). There were 1,553 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 3.22% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 1,263 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 23.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,286, and the median income for a family was $38,036. Males had a median income of $26,642 versus $18,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,050. About 8.60% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Noted regional artist Birger Sandzén frequently painted landscapes in Graham County, where his wife's parents moved in 1906.^[15] Examples include Still Water currently profiled in the collection at Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art which depicts Wild Horse Creek in the county.^[15]

• USS Graham County (LST-1176)

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