Council Grove is a city in Morris County, Kansas, United States. The population was 2,321 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morris County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 km² (1.8 mi²), all land.
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,321 people, 1,002 households, and 634 families residing in the city. The population density was 500.6/km² (1,293.2/mi²). There were 1,099 housing units at an average density of 237.1/km² (612.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.23% White, 0.26% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.
There were 1,002 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,949, and the median income for a family was $37,061. Males had a median income of $29,500 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,189. About 7.4% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.
Council Grove was one of the last stops on the Santa Fe Trail heading north. It was first settled by Seth Hays, a grandson of Daniel Boone, who came to the area in 1847 to trade with the Kaw tribe. In 1858, the town was officially incorporated. Hays also opened a restaurant in 1857, the Hays House, which is said to be the oldest continuously-operating restaurant west of the Mississippi River. There are 13 registered historical sites in the town. One such site is the Post Office Oak. Travelers would leave their mail in this designated tree to be picked up by others going in the other direction. General Custer of the United States Army slept here with his troops during the American Civil War, under a large tree known now as the Custer Elm. Presently, both the Council Grove Reservoir and the City Lake are popular for recreational activities. While both lakes are open to the public and motorized boats, most of the land around the City Lake is privately owned with around one hundred lake houses. Building is restricted on the larger Council Grove Reservoir but there are many well positioned camp sites.
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