County profile · official public datasets

Brown County, KS

256 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 48.4% rated Good, 47.7% Fair, 3.9% Poor.

256
Public bridges
48.4%
Good condition
3.9%
Poor condition

The verdict

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

Brown County posts a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.

Top 45%
lowest Poor share in state
3.9%
Poor-condition share
256
public highway bridges
1974
avg year built

Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.

Brown County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Brown County ranks #47 of 104 Kansas counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 3.9%). Brown County, Kansas contains 256 public highway bridges. Roughly 48.4% are rated “Good,” 47.7% “Fair,” and 3.9% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.

Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.

Total bridges

256

Public highway bridges in Brown County

Good condition

48.4%

124 of 256 rated 7-9

Fair condition

47.7%

122 of 256 rated 5-6

Poor condition

3.9%

10 of 256 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#47 of 104

Among Kansas counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 256 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
48.4% (124)
Fair
47.7% (122)
Poor
3.9% (10)

Brown County's Poor-condition bridges carry 1,961 vehicle crossings a day

That is 1.5% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 3.9% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 196 crossings a day against 699 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.

Computed over the 256 of 256 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

43.4% of Brown County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

111 of the 256 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 48.4% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.

Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

One structure carries 55.9% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

RS 2085 240th St. over UNNAMED STREAM, built 1930, carries 1,096 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 10-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 1,961 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Brown County's bridges were built

256 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 52 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 20.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1974) matches the Kansas average (1972).

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory (year built) As of 2024 NBI release

How Brown County compares with Kansas's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Kansas counties nearest Brown County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 3.9% Poor share is the 5th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1974 against a peer-group mean of 1970 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 103 Kansas counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Brown County and the 5 Kansas counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Rice County 262 3.1%
Russell County 261 1.9%
Mitchell County 260 3.5%
Ellsworth County 259 2.7%
Linn County 257 4.7%
Brown County (this page) 256 3.9%

Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to Brown County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year

Two NBI-derived peer sets for Brown County, both outside Kansas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside KS (256 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside KS (1974 here).

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.

All 256 Good 124 Fair 122 Poor 10

Good-condition bridges (124)

160th St.

Good

Over: HAZEL CREEK

1.0N 0.5W OF WILLIS, Brown, KS

Built 1991 Load: 10.6 t ADT: 15

RS 1298 Mulberry

Good

Over: WOLF RIVER

1.9S 1.5E OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1965 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 62

RS 1293 Kestrel Rd

Good

Over: EUCHRE CREEK

1.0N 0.1W OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1979 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 470

IRR INDIAN 20 HWY

Good

Over: DELAWARE RIVER DRAINAGE

2.13 MI E US75, Brown, KS

Built 1935 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,310

RS 67 310th St.

Good

Over: TRIB. TO ROYS CREEK

3.1W OF WHITE CLOUD, Brown, KS

Built 1993 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 105

130th St.

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1.6N 0.3W OF HORTON, Brown, KS

Built 1993 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 15

Mocking Bird Rd.

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

3.6N 0.8E OF WILLIS, Brown, KS

Built 1993 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 20

340th St.

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1.6N 0.5W OF RESERVE, Brown, KS

Built 1980 Load: 20.6 t ADT: 40

Jackrabbit Rd.

Good

Over: WOLF RIVER

1.2S 2.5W OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 2003 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 20

LOCAL ROAD

Good

Over: US36 HWY

6.96 MI E OF JCT 73&36, Brown, KS

Built 1977 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 46

US75 HWY

Good

Over: PONY CREEK DRAINAGE

8.45 MI N NJCT US36, Brown, KS

Built 1958 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,890

RS 64 Dewberry Rd.

Good

Over: TRIB. TO PONY CREEK

2.5N OF MORRILL, Brown, KS

Built 1955 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 175

LOCAL ROAD

Good

Over: US36 HWY

4.04 MI E OF JCT 73&36, Brown, KS

Built 1978 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 46

LOCAL RD

Good

Over: US36 HWY

1.08 MI E US73, Brown, KS

Built 1980 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 46

RS1298 MULBERRY

Good

Over: US36 HWY

2.01 MI E US73, Brown, KS

Built 1979 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 46

Raccoon Rd.

Good

Over: TRIB. TO ROYS CREEK

5.6E 2.7N OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1992 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 40

US75 HWY

Good

Over: CRAIG CREEK DRAINAGE

1.31 MI N K20, Brown, KS

Built 1956 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 5,170

Jackrabbit Rd.

Good

Over: DRAINAGE

1.5S 1.0W OF RESERVATION, Brown, KS

Built 1998 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 45

K20 HWY

Good

Over: GRASSHOPPER CREEK

8.40 MI E OF US75, Brown, KS

Built 1987 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,598

230th St.

Good

Over: TRIB. TO WOLF RIVER

0.7S 7.5E OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1989 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 35

160th St.

Good

Over: BUTTERMILK CREEK

2.8E 1.0N OF WILLIS, Brown, KS

Built 1991 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 15

Meadowlark Rd.

Good

Over: HAZEL CREEK

1.7N OF WILLIS, Brown, KS

Built 1983 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 35

RS 60 170th St.

Good

Over: HAZEL CREEK

1.9N 0.6E OF WILLIS, Brown, KS

Built 1984 Load: 28.0 t ADT: 225

RS 1555 Kestrel Rd

Good

Over: WALNUT CREEK

0.8N OF PADONIA, Brown, KS

Built 1985 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 280

180th St.

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

0.4N 1.7W of Powhattan, Brown, KS

Built 2015 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 45

US36 HWY

Good

Over: Raccoon Road

5.95 MI E OF JCT 73&36, Brown, KS

Built 1978 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 3,030

US73 US159 HWY

Good

Over: LOCAL ROAD

10.162 M1 N JCT US36, Brown, KS

Built 1961 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,120

Bittersweet Rd.

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

2.2N 1.0W OF FAIRVIEW, Brown, KS

Built 2003 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 40

Jackrabbit Rd.

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1.0W 3.0S OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1999 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 40

US73 US159 HWY

Good

Over: UP RAILROAD

9.992 MI N JCT US36, Brown, KS

Built 1961 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,120

RS 67 320th St.

Good

Over: NOHARTS CREEK

0.2S 4.7E OF RESERVE, Brown, KS

Built 2016 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 188

Hazelnut Rd.

Good

Over: TERRAPIN CREEK

0.5S.W. OF HAMLIN, Brown, KS

Built 1979 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 45

RS 60 205th St.

Good

Over: WOLF RIVER

0.3S 1.6E OF ROBINSON, Brown, KS

Built 1994 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 273

RS 67 310th St.

Good

Over: ROYS CREEK

3.8W OF WHITE CLOUD, Brown, KS

Built 2018 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 105

320th St.

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

0.3S 4.8W OF RESERVE, Brown, KS

Built 1995 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 40

US36 HWY

Good

Over: LOCAL RD.

3.01 MI E US73, Brown, KS

Built 1980 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 3,030

IRR BIA RTE 1010

Good

Over: SQUAW CREEK

1.0KM W 150 & FOXTAIL, Brown, KS

Built 1989 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 50

IRR BIA ROUTE 1009

Good

Over: SQUAW CREEK

2.6 K S/W 150TH/FOXTAIL, Brown, KS

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

RS 60 Raccoon Rd.

Good

Over: BUTTERMILK CREEK

0.8S OF ROBINSON, Brown, KS

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 273

RS 1556 Falcon Rd.

Good

Over: DELAWARE RIVER

0.3N 3.8W OF MERCIER, Brown, KS

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 57

Bittersweet Rd.

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1.0W 4.5S OF FAIRVIEW, Brown, KS

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

180th St.

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1.0W 4.7S OF FAIRVIEW, Brown, KS

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

150th St.

Good

Over: PLUM CREEK

2.5S 4.1W OF POWHATTEN, Brown, KS

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15

320th St.

Good

Over: TRIB. TO PONY CREEK

2.7N 0.8E OF MORRILL, Brown, KS

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

230th St.

Good

Over: WALNUT CREEK

0.5S 4.8W OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1996 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

270th St.

Good

Over: WALNUT CREEK

2.9N 1.7W OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25

160th St.

Good

Over: GRASSHOPPER CREEK

1.4S 2.1E OF POWHATTAN, Brown, KS

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 35

Kingfisher Rd.

Good

Over: WOLF RIVER

3.6S OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1991 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

Kingfisher Rd.

Good

Over: TRIB. TO WOLF RIVER

3.8S OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

230th St.

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

0.1S 2.8E OF HIAWATHA, Brown, KS

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source 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. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.