Morton County, Kansas

Founding: 1886
Parent county: Seward
Namesake: Oliver Morton, Indiana governor
Seat: Richfield (1886–1961); Elkhart (1961–)
Land area: 730 square miles
Population (2020): 2,701
Population (historic): 724 (1890); 1,333 (1910); 4,092 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1890; 1900–1930; 1940–1970; 1980–2000
Subdivisions: Three cities; six townships
National Register listings: Seven
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 235 (17.6%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 32.6%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 1%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $853
Average outbuilding value (1930): $878

Average farmhouse size (1940): 4 rooms

Number of farms (1920): 405
Average farm size (1920): 226.3 acres
Sources of settlement: Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana
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Richfield (ex-seat)

 
Namesake: A descriptive name
Founding: 1885 (platting); 1886 (post office); 1887 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 30
Population (historic): 164 (1890); 53 (1910); 106 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1880s; 1910–1930; 1940–1960
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 4 (21.1%)

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Elkhart

Namesake: Elkhart, Indiana
Founding: 1913 (platting); 1913 (post office); 1913 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 1,888
Population (historic): 1,160 (1920); 1,485 (1930); 902 (1940)
Periods of population growth: 1913–1930; 1940–1990
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 147 (17.9%)
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