Norton County is a county in Kansas, United States, on the Nebraska line in the northwest part of the state. It had a population of 5,459 at the 2020 census and covers 881 square miles (2,280 km2) of land and water, centred near 39°48′N 99°55′W.
Norton is the county seat, and its postal code is 67654. The county has four incorporated cities, six unincorporated communities, and four townships. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Norton County
Norton County has four incorporated cities and six unincorporated communities still shown on county maps; a handful of former post-office settlements have been abandoned entirely and are noted below rather than in the table. City · seat marks the county seat; CDP/Unincorp. covers the smaller crossroads communities.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norton | City · seat | Center | 2,747 | 67654 |
| Almena | City | Almena | 363 | 67622 |
| Lenora | City | Solomon | 207 | 67645 |
| Clayton | City | Highland | — | 67629 |
| Edmond | Unincorp. | Highland | — | — |
| Calvert | Unincorp. | Center | — | — |
| Dellvale | Unincorp. | Almena | — | — |
| Densmore | Unincorp. | Center | — | — |
| New Almelo | Unincorp. | Almena | — | — |
| Oronoque | Unincorp. | Solomon | — | — |
| Reager | Unincorp. | Center | — | — |
The county’s population figures for Norton, Almena, Lenora, and Clayton are 2020 census place counts; the smaller unincorporated communities have no census-tracked population. Two names carried on older lists — Devizes and Rockwell — are historic post-office sites now considered ghost towns, with no residents, ZIP code, or current population; they are omitted from the table above but noted here for reference.
Townships
Norton County is divided into four active civil townships. Population figures below are the most recent verified figures, from the 2010 census; the county’s 2020 township-level breakdown was not separately published.
| Township | Pop. (2010) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Center | 1,521 | Norton, Calvert, Densmore, Reager |
| Almena | 508 | Almena, Dellvale, New Almelo |
| Highland | 546 | Clayton, Edmond |
| Solomon | 137 | Lenora, Oronoque |
ZIP Codes
- 67654 — Norton (also serves Densmore, Reager, and Calvert)
- 67622 — Almena (also serves Dellvale and New Almelo)
- 67645 — Lenora (also serves Oronoque)
- 67629 — Clayton (also serves Edmond)
Norton County has four standard delivery ZIP codes; the unincorporated communities without their own post office use the nearest incorporated town’s ZIP.
Geography
Norton County lies on the High Plains of northwest Kansas, a landscape of rolling wheat and grazing land cut by the Prairie Dog Creek valley, which runs east through the middle of the county past Norton. The county covers 878 square miles of land and 3.2 square miles of water. It borders Nebraska directly to the north, and inside Kansas it borders Phillips County to the east, Graham County to the south, Sheridan County to the southwest, and Decatur County to the west.
Demographics
Norton County had a population of 5,459 at the 2020 census, a density of about 6.2 people per square mile. Norton itself is the largest community, with about half the county’s population, followed by Almena. The county’s median household income runs well below the Kansas median of $70,333, reflecting its small, aging, agriculture-dependent population base, which has declined slowly for decades.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county economy — wheat, sorghum, and cattle grazing on the surrounding High Plains. Norton serves as the county’s trade and service center, home to Norton County Hospital and the county’s schools and government offices. The Norton Correctional Facility, a state prison just outside Norton, is one of the county’s larger employers.
History
Norton County was organized in 1872, having first been created by the Kansas legislature in 1867. It is named for Orloff Norton, a captain in the 15th Kansas Militia Infantry Regiment killed during the Civil War. The county’s early settlement pattern followed the familiar Kansas frontier story of homestead claims and rival town-site promoters competing for the county seat, which Norton eventually won. The county was a “dry” county, banning alcohol sales, until 1992.
Getting There
U.S. Route 36 crosses the county east–west through Norton, and U.S. Route 283 runs north–south through the city as well.
- Phillipsburg — 25 miles east
- Oberlin — 30 miles west
- Hill City — 30 miles south
- McCook, Nebraska — 45 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport in Nebraska; the nearest larger hub is Hays Regional Airport, about 80 miles southeast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Norton County?
It is in the northwest part of Kansas, on the Nebraska state line.
What is the population of Norton County?
5,459 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Norton County?
881 square miles (2,280 km2), of which 878 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Norton County?
Norton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Norton County?
Four incorporated cities — Norton, Almena, Lenora, and Clayton — plus six unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Norton County?
67654 (Norton), 67622 (Almena), 67645 (Lenora), and 67629 (Clayton).
Was Norton County a dry county?
Yes — it banned alcohol sales until 1992.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.