Gove County is a county in Kansas, United States, on the High Plains of the state’s northwest quarter. It had a population of 2,718 at the 2020 census and covers 1,072 square miles (2,780 km2), of which 0.1 square mile (0.26 km2) is water, centred near 38°55′12″N 100°29′48″W.
Gove City is the county seat, and its postal code is 67736. The county has three incorporated cities (Quinter, Grainfield, Grinnell), one unincorporated county seat (Gove City), and several smaller unincorporated communities, all organized into nine civil townships. The county is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Gove County
Gove County has three incorporated cities and a handful of unincorporated places, listed below. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no city government. Gove City, the county seat, has never incorporated as a city.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gove City | Unincorp. · seat | Gove | — | 67736 |
| Quinter | City | Baker | 929 | 67752 |
| Grainfield | City | Grainfield | — | 67737 |
| Grinnell | City | Grinnell | — | 67738 |
| Park | Unincorp. | Jerome | — | 67751 |
| Alanthus | Unincorp. | Larrabee | — | — |
| Campus | Unincorp. | Payne | — | — |
Quinter, in the northeast of the county, is the most populous place; Gove City sits roughly in the geographic centre of the county and has stayed unincorporated even while serving as seat of government.
Townships
Gove County is divided into nine civil townships, each named for an early landmark or settler. Populations below are 2020 census figures reported by township.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | 1,357 | Quinter |
| Grinnell | 480 | Grinnell |
| Grainfield | 430 | Grainfield |
| Payne | 315 | Campus |
| Gove | 215 | Gove City |
| Jerome | 132 | Park |
| Larrabee | 80 | Alanthus |
| Gaeland | 46 | — |
| Lewis | 13 | — |
ZIP Codes
- 67752 — Quinter
- 67736 — Gove (serves Gove City)
- 67737 — Grainfield
- 67738 — Grinnell
- 67751 — Park
Alanthus and Campus have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest listed ZIP.
Geography
Gove County lies on the dissected High Plains, drained by the Smoky Hill River and its tributaries across the southern half of the county. The Castle Rock Badlands, a chalk-pyramid formation eroded from the ancient Western Interior Seaway, sit in the county’s southeast and are a locally known fossil-hunting site. The terrain is mostly flat to gently rolling shortgrass prairie given over to wheat farming and cattle grazing.
Gove County borders Sheridan County to the north, Graham County to the northeast, Trego County to the east, Ness County to the southeast, Lane County to the south, Scott County to the southwest, Logan County to the west, and Thomas County to the northwest.
Demographics
Gove County’s population was 2,718 at the 2020 census. Quinter, with 929 residents, is by far the county’s largest community, followed distantly by Grainfield and Grinnell. The county’s median household income runs well below the Kansas median of $70,333, typical of the sparsely populated northwest Kansas wheat belt. Population density is about 2.5 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Wheat, sorghum and cattle ranching anchor the local economy, along with grain elevators along the county’s rail lines. Quinter is home to Gove County Medical Center, the county’s hospital, and Quinter Elementary/Junior-Senior High School serves USD 293. The Castle Rock Badlands draw regional visitors for fossil hunting and photography.
History
Gove County was organized on March 11, 1868, and named for Captain Grenville L. Gove of the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, who died of wounds received in the Civil War. Long before organization, the plains were part of the range used by Native American peoples of the central Plains, and the region briefly changed hands between French and Spanish colonial claims in the 18th century before passing to the United States. In 2020, the county drew national news coverage after a COVID-19 outbreak gave it one of the highest per-capita mortality rates of any U.S. county that year.
Getting There
U.S. Route 40 and Interstate 70 cross the county east-west, with Kansas Highway 23 running north-south through Quinter.
- Hays, Kansas — 40 miles east
- Colby, Kansas — 35 miles northwest
- WaKeeney, Kansas — 25 miles east
- Oakley, Kansas — 20 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Hays Regional Airport, about 45 miles east of Gove City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gove County, Kansas?
It is in the northwest quarter of Kansas, on the High Plains along Interstate 70, between Hays and Colby.
What is the population of Gove County?
2,718 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Gove County?
1,072 square miles (2,780 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Gove County?
Gove City, an unincorporated community near the centre of the county.
How many towns are in Gove County?
Three incorporated cities — Quinter, Grainfield and Grinnell — plus the unincorporated communities of Gove City, Park, Alanthus and Campus.
What ZIP codes are in Gove County?
67752 (Quinter), 67736 (Gove City), 67737 (Grainfield), 67738 (Grinnell) and 67751 (Park).
What is Gove County known for?
The Castle Rock Badlands, a chalk-spire formation left behind by the ancient Western Interior Seaway, in the county’s southeast corner.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.