Kearny County is a county in Kansas, United States, on the shortgrass plains along the Arkansas River in the southwest part of the state. It had a population of 3,983 at the 2020 census and covers 871 square miles (2,260 km2) centred near 37°59′N 101°19′W.
Lakin is the county seat, and its postal code is 67860. The county has two incorporated cities, one unincorporated community, and seven civil townships. Kearny County observes Central time (it ran on Mountain time until 1990) and carries FIPS code 20099.
Towns & Villages in Kearny County
Kearny County has two incorporated cities — Lakin and Deerfield — plus a handful of small unincorporated places along the Arkansas River valley and the BNSF Railway line. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no current population count.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakin | City · seat | Lakin | 2,205 | 67860 |
| Deerfield | City | Deerfield | 711 | 67838 |
| Hartland | Unincorp. | Hartland | — | 67860 |
Two entries in older place lists for Kearny County don’t hold up: “Sutton” has no current record as a Kearny County place name, and “Unruh Trailer MH Park” is a private mobile-home park near Lakin, not a recognized community — both are omitted here for lack of independent verification.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Lakin | 2,587 | Lakin |
| Deerfield | 1,104 | Deerfield |
| Southside | 359 | rural, south of the Arkansas River |
| Kendall | 157 | Kendall |
| East Hibbard | 131 | rural, northeast county |
| Hartland | 128 | Hartland |
| West Hibbard | 65 | rural, northwest county |
ZIP Codes
- 67860 — Lakin (also serves Hartland and the rural southeast of the county)
- 67838 — Deerfield (also serves the northwest corner along the river)
Kearny County is covered entirely by these two ZIP codes; there is no separate ZIP for Kendall or the rural townships.
Geography
Kearny County sits in the High Plains of southwest Kansas, split by the Arkansas River, which runs east–west through Lakin and Deerfield on its way toward Garden City. The terrain is flat to gently rolling shortgrass prairie and irrigated farmland, with sandhills along the river’s south bank. Nearly all of the county’s 871 square miles is land; nine tenths of a square mile is water.
Kearny County borders Scott County to the north, Hamilton County to the west, Stanton County to the southwest, Grant County to the south, and Finney County to the east, with Wichita County along part of the northwest line.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 3,983 residents, up modestly from prior decades. Lakin and Deerfield together hold roughly three-quarters of the county’s population, with the rest spread across the rural townships. Median household income in Kearny County has historically trailed the Kansas median of $70,333, reflecting the county’s dependence on agriculture and a handful of large employers. Population density is about 4.6 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Irrigated corn, wheat, and sorghum farming, along with cattle feeding, anchor the Kearny County economy, supplemented by oil and gas production in the surrounding Hugoton gas field. Lakin serves as the county’s trade and government center, home to the Kearny County courthouse, hospital, and USD 215 school district. The BNSF Railway’s transcontinental line runs through both Lakin and Deerfield, historically a major source of local employment.
History
Kearny County was organized in 1888, named for U.S. Army General Philip Kearny. An earlier county of the same name and boundaries had been created in 1873 and dissolved in 1883 amid the collapse of speculative “county-seat war” towns common to western Kansas in that era. Like much of southwest Kansas, the county was hit hard by drought and dust storms during the 1930s, prompting significant population loss that the county has never fully recovered.
Getting There
U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 400 run together through Lakin and Deerfield, and Kansas Highway 25 crosses the county north–south through Lakin.
- Garden City — 20 miles east
- Syracuse — 22 miles west
- Scott City — 33 miles north
- Ulysses — 25 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Garden City Regional Airport, about 20 miles east of Lakin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kearny County?
It is in southwest Kansas, along the Arkansas River, about 20 miles west of Garden City.
What is the population of Kearny County?
3,983 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Kearny County?
871 square miles (2,260 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Kearny County?
Lakin is the county seat.
How many towns are in Kearny County?
Two incorporated cities, Lakin and Deerfield, plus the unincorporated community of Hartland.
What ZIP codes are in Kearny County?
67860 (Lakin) and 67838 (Deerfield).
What time zone is Kearny County in?
Central time; the county used Mountain time until 1990.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.