Decatur County, Kansas

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Decatur County
County
Bank of Oberlin (2014)
Bank of Oberlin (2014)
Map of Kansas highlighting Decatur County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: Coordinates: 39°48′N 100°28′W / 39.800°N 100.467°W / 39.800; -100.467
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Named forStephen Decatur, Jr.
SeatOberlin
Largest cityOberlin
Area
 • Total894 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Land894 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.07%%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total2,764
 • Density3.1/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
Websiteoberlinks.com

Decatur County (county code DC) is a county located in Northwest Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,764.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Oberlin.[2] The county is named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.

History[]

Early history[]

See also: History of Kansas

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century[]

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. Decatur County was established March 20, 1873 and organized on December 15, 1879. It is named for the Navy war hero Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.,[3] who served during the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War and the War of 1812.

Oberlin was the site of the last Native American (specifically the Northern Cheyenne) Raid in Kansas.[4]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 894 square miles (2,320 km2), of which 894 square miles (2,320 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.07%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18804,180—
18908,414101.3%
19009,2349.7%
19108,976−2.8%
19208,121−9.5%
19308,8669.2%
19407,434−16.2%
19506,185−16.8%
19605,778−6.6%
19704,988−13.7%
19804,509−9.6%
19904,021−10.8%
20003,472−13.7%
20102,961−14.7%
20202,764−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 3,472 people, 1,494 households, and 981 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km2). There were 1,821 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.87% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 1,494 households, out of which 25.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.50% 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 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 26.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,257, and the median income for a family was $34,982. Males had a median income of $25,139 versus $17,368 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,348. About 8.00% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Decatur county is heavily Republican. The last time a democratic candidate carried the county was in 1936 by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Presidential elections[]

Presidential Elections Results

Laws[]

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2002, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[12]

Education[]

Unified school districts[]

Communities[]

2005 KDOT Map of Decatur County (map legend)

Cities[]

Unincorporated places[]

Townships[]

Decatur County is divided into twenty-five townships. The city of Oberlin is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Township FIPS Population
center 		Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi) 		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water % Geographic coordinates
Allison 01300 39 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°35′36″N 100°12′24″W / 39.59333°N 100.20667°W / 39.59333; -100.20667
Altory 01650 16 0 (0) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°47′22″N 100°21′15″W / 39.78944°N 100.35417°W / 39.78944; -100.35417
Bassettville 04475 26 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°41′12″N 100°40′38″W / 39.68667°N 100.67722°W / 39.68667; -100.67722
Beaver 05050 86 1 (2) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.11% 39°58′42″N 100°34′2″W / 39.97833°N 100.56722°W / 39.97833; -100.56722
Center 11650 60 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°47′5″N 100°27′38″W / 39.78472°N 100.46056°W / 39.78472; -100.46056
Cook 15375 44 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.08% 39°36′16″N 100°40′32″W / 39.60444°N 100.67556°W / 39.60444; -100.67556
Custer 16850 27 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°41′17″N 100°26′59″W / 39.68806°N 100.44972°W / 39.68806; -100.44972
Dresden 18625 141 2 (4) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°36′39″N 100°27′5″W / 39.61083°N 100.45139°W / 39.61083; -100.45139
Finley 23425 39 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°57′42″N 100°41′20″W / 39.96167°N 100.68889°W / 39.96167; -100.68889
Garfield 25525 41 0 (1) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°46′38″N 100°14′44″W / 39.77722°N 100.24556°W / 39.77722; -100.24556
Grant 27600 31 0 (1) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.07% 39°57′36″N 100°14′11″W / 39.96000°N 100.23639°W / 39.96000; -100.23639
Harlan 30050 51 1 (1) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°56′50″N 100°20′56″W / 39.94722°N 100.34889°W / 39.94722; -100.34889
Jennings 35400 173 2 (5) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.34% 39°40′35″N 100°18′56″W / 39.67639°N 100.31556°W / 39.67639; -100.31556
Liberty 39975 48 1 (1) 91 (35) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°53′2″N 100°33′31″W / 39.88389°N 100.55861°W / 39.88389; -100.55861
Lincoln 40600 203 2 (6) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°50′58″N 100°12′21″W / 39.84944°N 100.20583°W / 39.84944; -100.20583
Logan 41825 52 1 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°52′38″N 100°42′42″W / 39.87722°N 100.71167°W / 39.87722; -100.71167
Lyon 43450 24 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°36′52″N 100°21′8″W / 39.61444°N 100.35222°W / 39.61444; -100.35222
Oberlin 52025 91 1 (3) 89 (34) 0 (0) 0.08% 39°47′32″N 100°34′20″W / 39.79222°N 100.57222°W / 39.79222; -100.57222
Olive 52675 68 1 (2) 92 (35) 1 (0) 0.65% 39°51′43″N 100°28′18″W / 39.86194°N 100.47167°W / 39.86194; -100.47167
Pleasant Valley 56525 46 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°41′53″N 100°13′59″W / 39.69806°N 100.23306°W / 39.69806; -100.23306
Prairie Dog 57475 50 1 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°36′33″N 100°33′49″W / 39.60917°N 100.56361°W / 39.60917; -100.56361
Roosevelt 61025 32 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.07% 39°53′1″N 100°21′43″W / 39.88361°N 100.36194°W / 39.88361; -100.36194
Sappa 63050 43 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°45′57″N 100°41′48″W / 39.76583°N 100.69667°W / 39.76583; -100.69667
Sherman 64900 25 0 (1) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°57′5″N 100°28′7″W / 39.95139°N 100.46861°W / 39.95139; -100.46861
Summit 69075 22 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.09% 39°41′27″N 100°34′37″W / 39.69083°N 100.57694°W / 39.69083; -100.57694
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "QuickFacts; Decatur County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 102.
  4. ^ Weiser, Kathy (March 2012). "Cheyenne Raid in Kansas". Legendsofkansas.com. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  12. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-26.

Further reading[]

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

External links[]

County
Maps
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