Edwards County is a county in Kansas, United States, on the Arkansas River, in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 2,907 at the 2020 census and covers 622 square miles (1,610 km2), centred near 37°57′N 99°15′W.
Kinsley is the county seat, and its postal code is 67547. The county has four incorporated cities — Kinsley, Lewis, Offerle and Belpre — plus several unincorporated communities and ten townships. Edwards County lies in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 20047.
Towns & Villages in Edwards County
Edwards County has four incorporated cities, headed by Kinsley, and a handful of unincorporated crossroads communities and rail sidings scattered across its ten townships. The table below lists every place carried over from the county’s earlier records; population and ZIP figures are shown only where a verified count exists.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsley | City · seat | Kinsley | — | 67547 |
| Lewis | City | — | — | 67552 |
| Offerle | City | — | — | 67563 |
| Belpre | City | Belpre | — | 67519 |
| Centerview | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Fellsburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Nettleton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Trousdale | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ardell | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hodges | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Townships
The county’s ten civil townships cover the area outside Kinsley, which is governmentally independent and excluded from township population figures.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 606 | — |
| Trenton | 306 | — |
| Belpre | 186 | Belpre |
| Kinsley | 160 | rural area surrounding Kinsley |
| Lincoln | 143 | — |
| Jackson | 98 | — |
| Franklin | 93 | — |
| South Brown | 90 | — |
| North Brown | 67 | — |
| Logan | 42 | — |
ZIP Codes
- 67547 — Kinsley (also serves the surrounding rural area)
- 67552 — Lewis
- 67563 — Offerle
- 67519 — Belpre
The county’s smaller communities, including Centerview, Fellsburg, Nettleton and Trousdale, have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest city ZIP code above.
Geography
Edwards County sits on the High Plains of south-central Kansas, mostly flat to gently rolling farmland. The Arkansas River crosses the county from the southwest and bends northeast toward Pawnee County, forming the county’s main watercourse; the county is otherwise 622 square miles of land with only a small fraction covered by water.
Edwards County borders Pawnee County to the north, Stafford County to the east, Pratt County to the southeast, Kiowa County to the south, Ford County to the southwest, and Hodgeman County to the northwest.
Demographics
Edwards County had 2,907 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 4.7 people per square mile, one of the more sparsely settled counties in the region. Kinsley is the largest community, followed by Lewis. The Kansas statewide median household income (2023 ACS) is $70,333; Edwards County, a farm-dependent county with no large employers, has historically run well below the state figure.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county’s economy — wheat, sorghum and cattle production on the surrounding plains, supported by grain elevators and farm-service businesses in Kinsley and the other cities. Kinsley, as the county seat, hosts the Edwards County courthouse and the county’s schools and clinic.
History
Edwards County was organized on March 18, 1874, and named for W. C. Edwards of Hutchinson, a pioneer settler involved in its formation. A grasshopper plague that same year destroyed the young county’s first crops, leaving many settlers without means to carry on. Kinsley, the county seat, was the site of a train robbery and a bank robbery in 1882, and the town is still known for a roadside sign marking its position as equidistant — about 1,561 miles — from both New York City and San Francisco.
Getting There
U.S. Route 56 and U.S. Route 183 cross in Kinsley, the county’s main highway junction.
- Dodge City — about 35 miles west
- Great Bend — about 40 miles northeast
- Pratt — about 30 miles southeast
- Larned — about 25 miles north
The nearest commercial air service is Dodge City Regional Airport; the nearest major hub is Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, roughly 150 miles east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Edwards County, Kansas?
It is in south-central Kansas, on the Arkansas River, about 35 miles east of Dodge City.
What is the population of Edwards County?
2,907, at the 2020 census.
How big is Edwards County?
622 square miles (1,610 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the Edwards County seat?
Kinsley is the county seat.
How many towns are in Edwards County?
Four incorporated cities — Kinsley, Lewis, Offerle and Belpre — plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Edwards County?
67547 (Kinsley), 67552 (Lewis), 67563 (Offerle) and 67519 (Belpre).
Why is Kinsley known for New York and San Francisco?
A roadside sign in Kinsley marks the town as roughly 1,561 miles from both cities, a piece of local trivia dating back decades.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.