Decatur County, Kansas

Decatur County (county code DC) is a county located in Northwest Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,961.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Oberlin.[2] The county is named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.

Decatur County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates:
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
 • Estimate 
(2018)
2,871
 • Density3.3/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
Websiteoberlinks.com

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
CensusPop.%±
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%
2018 (est.)2,871[6]−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2016[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[11] 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
Presidential Elections Results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 83.3% 1,210 12.3% 178 4.4% 64
2012 79.5% 1,218 17.4% 266 3.1% 48
2008 76.8% 1,189 22.2% 343 1.0% 16
2004 77.9% 1,355 20.4% 355 1.7% 30
2000 71.4% 1,255 24.1% 424 4.6% 80
1996 68.1% 1,255 22.6% 417 9.3% 172
1992 45.0% 940 27.6% 576 27.4% 573
1988 60.1% 1,291 36.9% 793 3.0% 64
1984 78.2% 1,770 20.6% 467 1.2% 28
1980 73.0% 1,642 19.7% 443 7.3% 165
1976 52.7% 1,232 43.3% 1,011 4.0% 93
1972 70.2% 1,707 25.3% 616 4.4% 108
1968 65.7% 1,654 25.9% 652 8.4% 210
1964 51.0% 1,382 48.5% 1,314 0.6% 16
1960 63.8% 1,846 35.9% 1,038 0.3% 8
1956 68.6% 2,028 31.1% 920 0.3% 9
1952 74.5% 2,451 25.0% 821 0.5% 16
1948 51.4% 1,545 46.7% 1,402 1.9% 58
1944 59.9% 1,758 39.5% 1,159 0.6% 17
1940 56.2% 2,018 43.0% 1,546 0.8% 29
1936 42.1% 1,727 57.6% 2,362 0.4% 15
1932 36.3% 1,439 61.0% 2,422 2.7% 108
1928 66.5% 2,314 32.5% 1,129 1.0% 35
1924 46.9% 1,621 35.2% 1,218 17.9% 618
1920 51.6% 1,448 43.5% 1,221 5.0% 140
1916 27.7% 1,007 67.0% 2,431 5.3% 193
1912 14.9% 256 55.5% 955 29.6% 509
1908 39.3% 898 54.8% 1,250 5.9% 135
1904 59.7% 1,215 20.2% 411 20.1% 409
1900 41.8% 848 57.0% 1,158 1.2% 24
1896 36.4% 594 63.2% 1,032 0.4% 7
1892 38.6% 619 61.4% 985
1888 57.4% 1,224 34.3% 731 8.3% 177

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.[13]

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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Allison01300390 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.01%39°35′36″N 100°12′24″W
Altory01650160 (0)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°47′22″N 100°21′15″W
Bassettville04475260 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°41′12″N 100°40′38″W
Beaver05050861 (2)92 (36)0 (0)0.11%39°58′42″N 100°34′2″W
Center11650601 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°47′5″N 100°27′38″W
Cook15375440 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.08%39°36′16″N 100°40′32″W
Custer16850270 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.04%39°41′17″N 100°26′59″W
Dresden186251412 (4)92 (36)0 (0)0.01%39°36′39″N 100°27′5″W
Finley23425390 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°57′42″N 100°41′20″W
Garfield25525410 (1)92 (36)0 (0)0%39°46′38″N 100°14′44″W
Grant27600310 (1)92 (36)0 (0)0.07%39°57′36″N 100°14′11″W
Harlan30050511 (1)92 (36)0 (0)0.05%39°56′50″N 100°20′56″W
Jennings354001732 (5)93 (36)0 (0)0.34%39°40′35″N 100°18′56″W
Liberty39975481 (1)91 (35)0 (0)0.03%39°53′2″N 100°33′31″W
Lincoln406002032 (6)92 (36)0 (0)0.02%39°50′58″N 100°12′21″W
Logan41825521 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°52′38″N 100°42′42″W
Lyon43450240 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°36′52″N 100°21′8″W
Oberlin52025911 (3)89 (34)0 (0)0.08%39°47′32″N 100°34′20″W
Olive52675681 (2)92 (35)1 (0)0.65%39°51′43″N 100°28′18″W
Pleasant Valley56525460 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.05%39°41′53″N 100°13′59″W
Prairie Dog57475501 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.01%39°36′33″N 100°33′49″W
Roosevelt61025320 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.07%39°53′1″N 100°21′43″W
Sappa63050430 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.04%39°45′57″N 100°41′48″W
Sherman64900250 (1)92 (36)0 (0)0.01%39°57′5″N 100°28′7″W
Summit69075220 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.09%39°41′27″N 100°34′37″W
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. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  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. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  13. "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 State of Kansas (which includes historical information about its counties and cities too)
County
Maps
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