Ness County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Ness City.^[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,687.^[1] The county was named for Noah Ness, a corporal of the 7th Kansas Cavalry.^[3]

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Ness County
County
Ness County Courthouse in Ness City (2016)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°27′29″N 99°41′15″W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	Noah V. Ness
Seat	Ness City
Largest city	Ness City
Area
• Total	1,075 sq mi (2,780 km2)
• Land	1,075 sq mi (2,780 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.02%
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	2,687
• Density	2.5/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	nesscountyks.com

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Ness County was established on February 26, 1867^[4]. It was the site of an 1867 confrontation between the Cheyenne and Sioux tribes and General Winfield Scott Hancock at the Indian Village on Pawnee Fork, where the fighting helped inform George A. Custer's tactics throughout his career^[4].

The county was first organized in 1873 but disorganized a year later. It was reorganized on April 14, 1880^[4]. The founding of Ness City, the county seat, followed closely after the county's organization in 1867^[5]. Ross Calhoun, the "Father of Ness City," arrived in 1877 or 1878, opened the first general store, and formally laid out the town in October 1878, inviting settlers to join him^[5]. A bitter county seat fight ensued between Ness City, Sidney, and Clarinda, lasting from 1880 to 1883, with accusations of bribery and fraud, before Ness City was confirmed as the county seat^[5].

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,075 square miles (2,780 km²), of which 1,075 square miles (2,780 km²) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) (0.02%) is water.^[6]

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 3,454 people, 1,516 households, and 977 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km²). There were 1,835 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.23% White, 0.06% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 1.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,516 households, out of which 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 4.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 33.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 24.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,340, and the median income for a family was $39,775. Males had a median income of $27,892 versus $20,037 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,787. About 6.50% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Ness 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