Kansas's 1st congressional district

History

Kansas had a single representative in the U.S. House of Representatives until after the 1870 U.S. census, which showed that the state was entitled to three members of the lower chamber of the national legislature. In 1872 three representatives-at-large were elected, but by the act of March 2, 1874, the legislature divided the state into three districts. The 1st congressional district was composed of the counties of Leavenworth, Doniphan, Brown, Nemaha, Marshall, Washington, Republic, Jewell, Smith, Phillips, Norton, Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Mitchell, Cloud, Clay, Ottawa, Ellis, Ellsworth, Russell, Saline, Dickinson, Lincoln, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Jefferson, Atchison, Davis (Geary), "and all that territory lying north of the second standard parallel".

No changes were made in until after the 1880 U.S. census, which gave the state seven representatives. On March 5, 1883, Governor George Washington Glick approved an act of the legislature which reduced the 1st congressional district to only include the counties of Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Atchison, Jefferson and Leavenworth. The apportionment was amended by the act of March 13, 1897, which placed Shawnee County in the 1st congressional district and Pottawatomie County in the 4th congressional district.

Although the 1890 U.S. census showed the population of Kansas to be large enough to entitle the state to eight representatives, no additional district was created until 1905. By the act of March 9, 1905, the state was divided into eight districts with the 1st congressional district being composed of the counties of Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Atchison, Jefferson, Leavenworth and Shawnee.

The district's current configuration dates from the 1960 U.S. census, when Kansas was reduced from six districts to five. The old 2nd congressional district was eliminated, and most of its territory was merged with the old 6th congressional district—represented by Bob Dole—to form the new 1st district. It has remained more or less the same since then, and has been considerably enlarged due to the state's population shifts to the eastern side of the state bordering Missouri.

The state's current districting dates from the 1990 U.S. census, when Kansas was reduced from five districts to four. The current borders were established in 2012 by a panel of three federal judges, after the Kansas Legislature failed to pass new district maps.

Reapportionment in 2022 moved the entirety of Lawrence, home of one of the state's universities, The University of Kansas, from the 2nd congressional district to the 1st congressional district. Most of Jackson, all of Jefferson and the remaining part of Marshall counties moved from the 2nd congressional district to the district. The entirety of Marshall County is now in the district. The counties of Chase, Geary, Lyon, Marion, Morris and Wabaunsee all moved from the district to the 2nd congressional district. Also, more of Pawnee County moved to the 4th congressional district although the county still remains split.

2000 census demographics

Following redistricting after the U.S. census in 2000, there were 672,091 people, 260,490 households, and 177,858 families residing in the district. The population density was 11.7 /sqmi over a land area of 57373 sqmi (roughly the same size as the state of Illinois). There were 292,436 housing units at an average density of 5.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the district is 89.02% White, 2.14% Black or African American, 0.95% Asian, 0.52% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 5.62% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.85% of the population.

There were 260,490 households, out of which 34.52% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 7.65% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.72% were non-families. 27.58% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.75% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the district the population distribution by age was 26.46% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 26.27% from 25 to 44, 21.41% from 45 to 64, and 16.36% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.9 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the district is $34,869, and the median income for a family was $42,292. Males had a median income of $29,662 versus $20,851 for females. The per capita income for the district was $17,255. About 7.8% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Among the population aged 16 years and older, 65.1% was in the civilian labor force and 0.4% were in the armed forces. Of the employed civilian workers, 16.3% were government workers and 11.4% were self-employed. Management, professional, and related occupations employed 29.4% of the work force and sales and office occupations an additional 23.4%. Only 2.7% were employed in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. The largest employment by industry was: educational, health and social services, 22.7%; manufacturing, 13.8%; retail trade, 11.7%; and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining, 10.1%.

Composition

The 1st district includes the entirety of the following counties with the exception of Douglas and Jackson, which it shares with the 2nd district, and Pawnee, which it shares with the 4th district. The only Douglas County city within the district is Lawrence (portions of which are also shared with the 2nd district); Jackson County cities include Soldier, Circleville, Holton, Denison, Mayetta, Hoyt, and Delia; Pawnee County cities within the district include Burdett, Rozel, and portions of Larned.

List of members representing the district

Recent election results from statewide races

Recent election results

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

References

• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

References

1. https://www.census.gov/fastfacts/ {{nonspecific. (July 2024)
2. "My Congressional District".
3. "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)".
4. (August 3, 2016). "Tim Huelskamp, Anti-Establishment House Republican, Loses Primary in Kansas". [[The New York Times]].
5. (2025-04-03). "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)".
6. (1912). "Congressional Districts". Standard Pub Co.
7. "Lawrence placed entirely in 2nd District under congressional map drawn by federal judges".
8. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
9. "Kansas - Congressional District 1 - Representative Tracey Mann".
10. "DRA 2020".