Seward County, Kansas

Founding: 1886 (declared in 1873)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: William Seward, New York politician
Seat: Springfield (1886–1892); Liberal (1892–)

Land area: 639 square miles

Population (2020): 21,964

Population (historic): 1,503 (1890); 4,091 (1910); 8,075 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1880s; 1900–1930; 1940–1960; 1970–2000

Subdivisions: Two cities; three townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 646 (7.9%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 32.7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 20.6%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 7.4%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,017
Average outbuilding value (1930): $836
Average farmhouse size (1940): 4.7 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 515
Average farm size (1920): 286.9 acres
Sources of settlement: Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma
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Liberal

Namesake: Unclear

Founding: 1885 (post office); 1888 (platting); 1888 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 19,825

Population (historic): 426 (1900); 1,716 (1910); 3,613 (1920); 5,294 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1900–1930; 1940–1960; 1980–2000
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 513 (7%)

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