Elk County, Kansas

Founding: 1875
Parent county: Howard

Namesake: The Elk River
Seat: Howard (1875–)

Land area: 644 square miles

Population (2020): 2,483

Population (historic): 10,623 (1880); 11,443 (1900); 9,210 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1880–1890

Subdivisions: Five cities; ten townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 737 (41.9%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 36.7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 14.6%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 25.2%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,033
Average outbuilding value (1930): $780
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.4 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,289
Average farm size (1920): 129.7 acres
Sources of settlement: Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, and Virginia
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Howard

Namesake: Oliver Howard, U.S. army officer

Founding: 1870 (platting); 1870 (post office); 1877 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 570

Population (historic): 683 (1880); 1,207 (1900); 1,069 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1880–1900; 1930s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 165 (37.3%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Palmer Farm (1872). 2636 US Highway 160. Longton.

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