Woodson County is a county in Kansas, United States, on the rolling prairie of the state’s southeast, roughly midway between Wichita and the Missouri border. It had a population of 3,115 at the 2020 census and covers 505 square miles (1,310 km2), of which 498 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km2) is water, centred near 37°53′N 95°44′W.
Yates Center is the county seat, and its postal code is 66783. The county has 3 incorporated cities, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities. Woodson County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Woodson County
Yates Center is the only town of any size; the rest of the county is farmland dotted with small unincorporated settlements and one CDP along the Neosho River bottoms.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yates Center | City · seat | Center | 1,352 | 66783 |
| Toronto | City | Toronto | 206 | 66777 |
| Neosho Falls | City | Neosho Falls | 134 | 66758 |
| Piqua | CDP | North | — | 66761 |
| Cookville | Unincorp. | Perry | — | — |
| Durand | Unincorp. | Liberty | — | — |
| Vernon | Unincorp. | Center | — | — |
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Center | — | Yates Center, Vernon |
| Liberty | — | Durand |
| Neosho Falls | — | Neosho Falls |
| North | — | Piqua |
| Perry | — | Cookville |
| Toronto | — | Toronto, Toronto Lake |
ZIP Codes
- 66783 — Yates Center (also serves Vernon)
- 66777 — Toronto (also serves Toronto Lake)
- 66758 — Neosho Falls
- 66761 — Piqua
Cookville and Durand have no post office of their own; residents there use the Yates Center or Toronto ZIPs depending on which road they live off.
Geography
Woodson County lies in the Osage Cuestas region of the Flint Hills transition zone, a landscape of low limestone ridges, tallgrass pasture and cropland cut by the Verdigris and Neosho rivers. Toronto Lake, a Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Verdigris, sits in the county’s northwest corner and is the county’s main recreation draw. The county borders six neighbors: Coffey County to the north, Anderson County to the northeast, Allen County to the east, Neosho County to the southeast, Wilson County to the south, and Greenwood County to the west.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 3,115 residents, continuing a long decline from a peak of 10,022 in 1900 as the farm economy consolidated. Yates Center and Toronto are the two largest communities. Median household income in Woodson County runs below the Kansas state figure of $70,333 (2023 ACS), typical of the state’s rural southeastern counties. Population density is about 6.3 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle ranching and row-crop farming (wheat, soybeans, milo) anchor the county economy, supplemented by oil and gas leases that have pumped shallow wells across the county for over a century. Woodson USD 366, based in Yates Center, is one of the county’s largest employers alongside the county government and Woodson County Hospital. Toronto Lake State Park draws boaters and anglers from around the region each summer, and the Woodson County Fair in August is the county’s biggest annual gathering.
History
Woodson County was organized in 1855 and named for Daniel Woodson, who served five times as acting governor of the Kansas Territory during its turbulent pre-statehood years. Yates Center became the county seat after an 1870s county-seat contest with rival town Neosho Falls, which had been the original seat. The county’s population peaked at more than 10,000 around 1900 before decades of farm mechanization and rural outmigration cut it to today’s total.
Getting There
U.S. Route 75 runs north–south through the county’s east side, and Kansas Highway 39 crosses east–west through Yates Center.
- Chanute, Kansas — 25 miles southeast
- Iola, Kansas — 20 miles east
- Eureka, Kansas — 25 miles west
- Wichita, Kansas — 90 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. Amtrak’s Southwest Chief stops in Newton, Kansas, roughly two hours’ drive northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Yates Center postcode?
It is 66783.
What is the population of Woodson County?
The 2020 census counted 3,115 residents.
What is the county seat of Woodson County?
Yates Center is the county seat.
How big is Woodson County?
It covers 505 square miles (1,310 km2), including 7.4 square miles of water.
Who was the county named for?
Daniel Woodson, a five-time acting governor of the Kansas Territory.
What counties border Woodson County?
Coffey to the north, Anderson to the northeast, Allen to the east, Neosho to the southeast, Wilson to the south, and Greenwood to the west.
Is there a lake in Woodson County?
Yes, Toronto Lake, a reservoir on the Verdigris River in the county’s northwest corner.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.