Pratt County is a county in Kansas, United States, on the plains of south-central Kansas along the Ninnescah and Chikaskia river valleys. It had a population of 9,157 at the 2020 census and covers 736 square miles (1,910 km2) centred near 37°39′N 98°44′W.
Pratt is the county seat and its postal code is 67124. The county has 7 incorporated cities and 4 unincorporated communities, and sits in the Central time zone (FIPS code 20151).
Towns & Villages in Pratt County
Pratt County has 11 named places on record: 7 incorporated cities and 4 unincorporated communities. Pratt, the seat, holds most of the county’s population; the rest are small farm towns spaced along the rail lines that once served the wheat belt. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pratt | City · seat | — | 67124 |
| Cullison | City | — | — |
| Iuka | City | — | 67066 |
| Byers | City | — | 67021 |
| Coats | City | — | 67028 |
| Preston | City | — | — |
| Sawyer | City | — | 67134 |
| Cairo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Croft | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hopewell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Natrona | Unincorp. | — | — |
Cullison and Preston have no ZIP code of their own and are served by nearby post offices; the county’s four unincorporated communities (Cairo, Croft, Hopewell, Natrona) are crossroads settlements with no separate population count in the 2020 census.
ZIP Codes
- 67124 — Pratt (also serves Cairo, Croft, Hopewell)
- 67066 — Iuka
- 67021 — Byers
- 67028 — Coats
- 67134 — Sawyer
Cullison, Preston and Natrona are covered by the ZIP codes of the nearest post-office town rather than a code of their own.
Geography
Pratt County lies on the gently rolling Wellington–McPherson Lowlands of south-central Kansas, drained by the Ninnescah River in the north and the Chikaskia River in the south. Sand hills and native prairie grassland border the Ninnescah’s floodplain; the rest of the county is farmed to wheat, sorghum and alfalfa. The county borders Stafford County to the north, Reno County to the northeast, Kingman County to the east, Barber County to the south, Kiowa County to the west and Edwards County to the northwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 9,157 residents. Pratt, the county seat, is by far the largest community; the remaining six cities and four unincorporated communities are small farm towns. Median household income in the county runs below the Kansas median of $70,333, reflecting a farm-and-small-town economy. Population density is roughly 12 people per square mile, among the lower densities in south-central Kansas.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county economy — wheat, cattle and oil and gas production are the main industries. Pratt is home to Pratt Community College and a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks regional office, and the town holds an annual county fair each summer. Grain elevators and farm-supply businesses anchor the smaller towns along the county’s rail lines.
History
Pratt County was organized in 1879, having been laid out by the Kansas legislature in 1867. It is named for Caleb S. Pratt, a Union soldier killed at the 1861 Battle of Wilson’s Creek. A severe blizzard in January 1888 killed more than 80 percent of the county’s cattle herds, a defining early setback for the local ranching economy. During World War II, the Pratt Army Airfield trained B-29 Superfortress crews before their combat deployment.
Getting There
US Route 54/400 and US Route 281 cross at Pratt, the county’s main highway junction.
- Wichita — 65 miles east
- Dodge City — 65 miles west
- Hutchinson — 45 miles northeast
- Great Bend — 40 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pratt County?
It is in south-central Kansas, on US Route 54 between Wichita and Dodge City.
What is the population of Pratt County?
9,157 at the 2020 census.
How big is Pratt County?
736 square miles (1,910 km2), of which 735 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Pratt County?
Pratt is the county seat.
How many towns are in Pratt County?
Seven incorporated cities and four unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Pratt County?
67124 (Pratt), 67066 (Iuka), 67021 (Byers), 67028 (Coats) and 67134 (Sawyer).
What river runs through Pratt County?
The Ninnescah River crosses the northern part of the county, with the Chikaskia River draining the south.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.