COUNTY FATALITY DATA
McPherson County, Kansas
Road fatality data for McPherson County (KS). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 46
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 5
- Latest Year Deaths
- 16.9
- Per 100k Residents
- Increasing
- Trend
The verdict
McPherson County's fatality rate of 16.9 per 100,000 residents places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure.
- 40%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- 15.3/100k
- Kansas county average
- Increasing
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
McPherson County, Kansas recorded 46 total road fatalities across 39 reported crashes during the 2016-2023 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 5 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 5.1 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 16.9 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for McPherson County in the current FARS release, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Kansas state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.
The directional trend for McPherson County is increasing, which means annual fatalities have risen across the reporting period and may warrant closer attention from local transportation and enforcement agencies. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether McPherson County's 46-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
46
Latest Year
5
Avg Annual
5.1
Rate per 100K
16.9
Trend
↑ Increasing
How does McPherson County compare?
Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
McPherson County is About the same as the comparison
Average annual road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents.
Among the 15 rated counties in Kansas, McPherson County ranks 11 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 15.3 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between McPherson County's rate and the state average is 1.6 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Ford County, at 15.0 per 100,000 (a difference of 1.9). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Marion County (36.8), Sumner County (26.9), Jefferson County (25.1), Franklin County (24.5), Montgomery County (22.6), Dickinson County (22.2), Osage County (20.9), Jackson County (20.9), Labette County (20.3), Cherokee County (19.9), Ford County (15.0), Harvey County (14.9), Neosho County (14.9), Seward County (14.7).
McPherson County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
17 40th percentile a lower per-capita rate than 40% of 2,392 rated counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-06-03
McPherson County's rate vs. the Kansas state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in McPherson County, Kansas?
McPherson County recorded 46 total traffic fatalities across 39 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 5 fatalities. The county averages approximately 5.1 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in McPherson County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for McPherson County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Kansas may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in McPherson County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in McPherson County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in McPherson County?
McPherson County has a fatality rate of 16.9 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
How does McPherson County compare to the rest of Kansas?
McPherson County's per-capita rate of 16.9 per 100,000 residents is above the Kansas county average of 15.3. Visit the Kansas state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for McPherson County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.