Meade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 4,575. The largest city and county seat is Meade. The county was created in 1873 and named in honor of General George G. Meade.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,631 people, 1,728 households, and 1,252 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile. There were 1,968 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 91.10% White, 0.39% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 6.24% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. 10.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 1,728 households out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.70% were married couplesliving together, 4.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.16. In the county, the population was spread out with 29.50% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 19.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,761, and the median income for a family was $41,550. Males had a median income of $29,295 versus $20,153 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,824. About 6.70% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Meade County is often carried by Republican Candidates. The last time a democratic candidate has carried this county was in 1936 by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Presidential elections
Laws
Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Meade County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.
Meade County is divided into nine townships. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the townships include those of the cities. In the following table, the population center is the largest city included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.
