The Town Files

Cowley County, Kansas

34,411 people. The median home is worth $120,900 (typical Kansas town: $128,200) and the median household earns $57,878.

Towns in Cowley County

Towns in Cowley County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Arkansas City11,974$86,800$49,62937.1
Winfield11,777$132,700$56,65638.9

People and housing

Cowley CountyTypical Kansas town
Median home value$120,900$128,200
Median rent$809$815
Median household income$57,878$63,857
Median age39.238.5
Bachelor's degree or higher24.5%24.0%
Below the poverty line14.3%10.6%

Jobs and pay

13,041 jobs in 2024, average pay $49,217 a year.

Largest industries in Cowley CountyManufacturing3,660 jobs · $67,322Retail1,319 jobs · $32,605Hotels & restaurants932 jobs · $17,873Construction370 jobs · $68,521Administrative & support362 jobs · $37,244Finance & insurance327 jobs · $65,949
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Cowley County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 1,331 storm events in Cowley County from 1996 to 2026, with 5 deaths.

Storm events in Cowley County by type since 1996Hail604Flood23Drought49Tornado53High Wind15Lightning12Heavy Rain29Heavy Snow10Flash Flood44Winter Storm25
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Cowley County has been included in 27 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 1, 2026Severe StormDR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
September 11, 2025Severe StormDR-4891: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 29, 2020BiologicalDR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3481: Covid-19
June 20, 2019Severe StormDR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides
May 28, 2019Severe StormEM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).