Labette County, Kansas

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Labette County
County
Big Hill Lake (2015)
Big Hill Lake (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Labette County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°06′17″N 95°27′03″W / 37.1047°N 95.4508°W / 37.1047; -95.4508
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forPierre La Bette
SeatOswego
Largest cityParsons
Area
 • Total653 sq mi (1,690 km2)
 • Land645 sq mi (1,670 km2)
 • Water7.8 sq mi (20 km2)  1.2%%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total20,184
 • Density31.3/sq mi (12.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
WebsiteLabetteCounty.com

Labette County (county code LB) is a county located in Southeast Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 20,184.[1] Its county seat is Oswego,[2] and its most populous city is Parsons. The county was named after LaBette creek,[3][4] the second-largest creek in the county, which runs roughly NNW-SSE from near Parsons to Chetopa. The creek in turn was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette who had moved to the area, living along the Neosho River, and marrying into the Osage tribe in the 1830s and 1840s.[4]

History[]

In the 1840s Labette County had a population mainly consisting of Osage people, although there were also many Cherokee and Euro-Americans. Many of the Euro-Americans were merchants with Osage or Cherokee wives.[5]

Between 1871 and 1873, at least eleven people vanished in the vicinity of an inn and general store operated by the Bender family in Labette County. Following the disappareance of the Benders in 1873, it was discovered that they had apparently murdered a number of travellers. Between eight and eleven bodies were discovered buried on the premises. Governor Thomas A. Osborn offered a reward of $2,000 for the apprehension of the Benders, but they were never found.[6][7]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 653 square miles (1,690 km2), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 7.8 square miles (20 km2) (1.2%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18709,973—
188022,735128.0%
189027,58621.3%
190027,387−0.7%
191031,42314.7%
192034,0478.4%
193031,346−7.9%
194030,352−3.2%
195029,285−3.5%
196026,805−8.5%
197025,775−3.8%
198025,682−0.4%
199023,693−7.7%
200022,169−6.4%
201021,607−2.5%
202020,184−6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]
Population pyramid

The Parsons, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Labette County.

As of the 2010 Census Labette County had a population of 21,607. The median age was 41. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 85.5% non-Hispanic white, 4.7% African-American, 2.2% Native America, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanics of some other race, 3.6% non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 4.0% Hispanic or Latino.[13]

As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 22,835 people, 9,194 households, and 6,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14/km2). There were 10,306 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.28% White, 4.66% Black or African American, 1.95% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.07% of the population.

There were 9,194 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,875, and the median income for a family was $37,519. Males had a median income of $29,043 versus $21,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,525. About 8.90% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Presidential elections[]

Similar to most Kansas counties Labette County is primarily Republican, but has a slight Democratic lean to it like many counties in Southeast Kansas. While Jimmy Carter & Bill Clinton both won the county once each, it has shifted strongly away from the Democratic Party, with Hillary Clinton garnering the lowest percentage since 1928.

Presidential election results

Laws[]

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[16]

Education[]

Colleges[]

  • Labette Community College

Unified school districts[]

District Office In Neighboring County

Communities[]

2005 KDOT Map of Labette County (map legend)

Cities[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Townships[]

Labette County is divided into sixteen townships. The cities of Chetopa, Oswego, and Parsons are considered governmentally independent and are 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
Canada 10325 217 2 (5) 103 (40) 0 (0) 0.22% 37°6′18″N 95°27′4″W / 37.10500°N 95.45111°W / 37.10500; -95.45111
Elm Grove 20750 798 6 (16) 130 (50) 0 (0) 0.17% 37°3′22″N 95°20′12″W / 37.05611°N 95.33667°W / 37.05611; -95.33667
Fairview 22550 239 3 (7) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.11% 37°10′9″N 95°12′6″W / 37.16917°N 95.20167°W / 37.16917; -95.20167
Hackberry 29350 403 3 (8) 131 (51) 0 (0) 0.15% 37°3′30″N 95°12′44″W / 37.05833°N 95.21222°W / 37.05833; -95.21222
Howard 33300 357 3 (8) 111 (43) 0 (0) 0.13% 37°2′23″N 95°27′33″W / 37.03972°N 95.45917°W / 37.03972; -95.45917
Labette 37400 373 4 (10) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.18% 37°15′43″N 95°18′54″W / 37.26194°N 95.31500°W / 37.26194; -95.31500
Liberty 40175 395 4 (11) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0.11% 37°15′47″N 95°11′45″W / 37.26306°N 95.19583°W / 37.26306; -95.19583
Montana 47850 179 3 (7) 71 (27) 1 (1) 1.90% 37°15′28″N 95°7′34″W / 37.25778°N 95.12611°W / 37.25778; -95.12611
Mound Valley 48850 806 5 (13) 166 (64) 0 (0) 0.11% 37°12′30″N 95°25′40″W / 37.20833°N 95.42778°W / 37.20833; -95.42778
Mount Pleasant 48950 1,351 14 (37) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.34% 37°10′50″N 95°18′14″W / 37.18056°N 95.30389°W / 37.18056; -95.30389
Neosho 49775 222 3 (8) 70 (27) 2 (1) 2.40% 37°20′11″N 95°6′37″W / 37.33639°N 95.11028°W / 37.33639; -95.11028
North 50975 612 7 (19) 83 (32) 0 (0) 0.16% 37°19′39″N 95°12′40″W / 37.32750°N 95.21111°W / 37.32750; -95.21111
Osage 53150 703 4 (12) 157 (61) 5 (2) 2.93% 37°20′4″N 95°26′18″W / 37.33444°N 95.43833°W / 37.33444; -95.43833
Oswego 53475 310 5 (12) 66 (25) 1 (0) 1.73% 37°9′21″N 95°6′22″W / 37.15583°N 95.10611°W / 37.15583; -95.10611
Richland 59425 303 3 (8) 97 (38) 0 (0) 0.43% 37°3′29″N 95°6′19″W / 37.05806°N 95.10528°W / 37.05806; -95.10528
Walton 75250 726 9 (23) 83 (32) 0 (0) 0.16% 37°20′59″N 95°19′2″W / 37.34972°N 95.31722°W / 37.34972; -95.31722
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; Labette County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ "Labette Co History". Labette County, Kansas. 2013. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Kansas Counties:Labette County, Kansas". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  5. ^ Nelson Case's history of Labette County, Kansas Archived 2009-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Bender Knife". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  7. ^ Potter, Tim. "The Bloody Benders: 140-year-old crime scene still fascinates today". Wichita Eagle. August 24, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  13. ^ 2010 census general population statistics on Labette County, Kansa]
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  16. ^ "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.
Notes
  1. ^ This total comprises 1,746 votes (25.2%) for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt and 1,107 votes (16.0%) for Socialist Eugene V. Debs.

Further reading[]

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

External links[]

County
Historical
Maps

Coordinates: 37°12′N 95°17′W / 37.200°N 95.283°W / 37.200; -95.283

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