Decatur County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

County in Kansas

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

Kansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 39°48′N 100°28′W﻿ / ﻿39.800°N 100.467°W﻿ / 39.800; -100.467Coordinates: 39°48′N 100°28′W﻿ / ﻿39.800°N 100.467°W﻿ / 39.800; -100.467
Country|  United States
State|  Kansas
Founded| March 20, 1873
Named for| Stephen Decatur, Jr.
Seat| Oberlin
Largest city| Oberlin
Area

• Total| 894 sq mi (2,320 km2)
• Land| 894 sq mi (2,320 km2)
• Water| 0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.07%%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total| 2,764
• Density| 3.1/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code| 785
Congressional district| 1st
Website| oberlinks.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.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Early history
* 1.2 19th century
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 4.1 Presidential elections
* 4.2 Laws
* 5 Education
* 5.1 Unified school districts
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Unincorporated places
* 6.3 Townships
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading
* 10 External links

## History

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### Early history

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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

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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.

In 1878, the Sappa Creek valley in Decatur county was the scene of the last raid by Native Americans (Indians) in Kansas. In the Northern Cheyenne Exodus after the Battle of Punished Woman's Fork, a band of Cheyenne needing horses and provisions raged through the valley, killing more than 30 civilians and raping several woman. Several Cheyenne elderly, women, and children were also killed in the region by soldiers and civilians.[4] In Oberlin, the Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum commemorates the Cheyenne raid.[5][6]

## Geography

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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.[7]

### Adjacent counties

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* Red Willow County, Nebraska (north)
* Furnas County, Nebraska (northeast)
* Norton County (east)
* Sheridan County (south)
* Thomas County (southwest)
* Rawlins County (west)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1880| 4,180| | —
1890| 8,414| | 101.3%
1900| 9,234| | 9.7%
1910| 8,976| | −2.8%
1920| 8,121| | −9.5%
1930| 8,866| | 9.2%
1940| 7,434| | −16.2%
1950| 6,185| | −16.8%
1960| 5,778| | −6.6%
1970| 4,988| | −13.7%
1980| 4,509| | −9.6%
1990| 4,021| | −10.8%
2000| 3,472| | −13.7%
2010| 2,961| | −14.7%
2020| 2,764| | −6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]
File:USA Decatur County, Kansas age pyramid.svgPopulation pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[12] 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

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

### Presidential elections

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United States presidential election results for Decatur County, Kansas[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 1,260  | 84.11% | 218  | 14.55%  | 20  | 1.34%
2016 | 1,210  | 83.33% | 178  | 12.26%  | 64  | 4.41%
2012 | 1,218  | 79.50% | 266  | 17.36%  | 48  | 3.13%
2008 | 1,189  | 76.81% | 343  | 22.16%  | 16  | 1.03%
2004 | 1,355  | 77.87% | 355  | 20.40%  | 30  | 1.72%
2000 | 1,255  | 71.35% | 424  | 24.10%  | 80  | 4.55%
1996 | 1,255  | 68.06% | 417  | 22.61%  | 172  | 9.33%
1992 | 940  | 45.00% | 576  | 27.57%  | 573  | 27.43%
1988 | 1,291  | 60.10% | 793  | 36.92%  | 64  | 2.98%
1984 | 1,770  | 78.15% | 467  | 20.62%  | 28  | 1.24%
1980 | 1,642  | 72.98% | 443  | 19.69%  | 165  | 7.33%
1976 | 1,232  | 52.74% | 1,011  | 43.28%  | 93  | 3.98%
1972 | 1,707  | 70.22% | 616  | 25.34%  | 108  | 4.44%
1968 | 1,654  | 65.74% | 652  | 25.91%  | 210  | 8.35%
1964 | 1,382  | 50.96% | 1,314  | 48.45%  | 16  | 0.59%
1960 | 1,846  | 63.83% | 1,038  | 35.89%  | 8  | 0.28%
1956 | 2,028  | 68.58% | 920  | 31.11%  | 9  | 0.30%
1952 | 2,451  | 74.54% | 821  | 24.97%  | 16  | 0.49%
1948 | 1,545  | 51.41% | 1,402  | 46.66%  | 58  | 1.93%
1944 | 1,758  | 59.92% | 1,159  | 39.50%  | 17  | 0.58%
1940 | 2,018  | 56.16% | 1,546  | 43.03%  | 29  | 0.81%
1936 | 1,727  | 42.08%  | 2,362  | 57.55% | 15  | 0.37%
1932 | 1,439  | 36.26%  | 2,422  | 61.02% | 108  | 2.72%
1928 | 2,314  | 66.53% | 1,129  | 32.46%  | 35  | 1.01%
1924 | 1,621  | 46.89% | 1,218  | 35.23%  | 618  | 17.88%
1920 | 1,448  | 51.55% | 1,221  | 43.47%  | 140  | 4.98%
1916 | 1,007  | 27.73%  | 2,431  | 66.95% | 193  | 5.32%
1912 | 256  | 14.88%  | 955  | 55.52% | 509  | 29.59%
1908 | 898  | 39.33%  | 1,250  | 54.75% | 135  | 5.91%
1904 | 1,215  | 59.71% | 411  | 20.20%  | 409  | 20.10%
1900 | 848  | 41.77%  | 1,158  | 57.04% | 24  | 1.18%
1896 | 594  | 36.37%  | 1,032  | 63.20% | 7  | 0.43%
1892 | 619  | 38.59%  | 0  | 0.00%  | 985  | 61.41%
1888 | 1,224  | 57.41% | 731  | 34.29%  | 177  | 8.30%

### Laws

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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.[14]

## Education

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### Unified school districts

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* Oberlin USD 294

## Communities

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File:Map of Decatur Co, Ks, USA.png2005 KDOT Map of Decatur County (map legend)

### Cities

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* Clayton
* Dresden
* Jennings
* Norcatur
* Oberlin

### Unincorporated places

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* Allison
* Cedar Bluffs
* Kanona
* Leoville
* Lyle
* Traer

### Townships

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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 August 2, 2002.

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Decatur County, Kansas

Community information for Kansas

* Kansas locations by per capita income
* List of counties in Kansas
* List of townships in Kansas
* List of cities in Kansas
* List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
* List of ghost towns in Kansas

Education information for Kansas

* List of colleges and universities in Kansas
* List of high schools in Kansas
* List of unified school districts in Kansas

Historical information for Kansas

* List of museums in Kansas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas

|

## References

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1. ^ 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 May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 102.
4. ^ Leiker, James N.; Powers, Ramon (2011). The Northern Cheyenne Exodus in History and Memory. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 59–67. ISBN 9780806142210.
5. ^ "Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum". Decatur County. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
6. ^ Weiser, Kathy (March 2012). "Cheyenne Raid in Kansas". Legendsofkansas.com. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
14. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007.

## Further reading

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

* Handbook of Decatur County, Kansas; C.S. Burch Publishing Co; 25 pages; 1885.
* Standard Atlas of Decatur County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 80 pages; 1921.
* Standard Atlas of Decatur County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 69 pages; 1905.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Decatur County, Kansas.

County

* Decatur County - Official
* Decatur County - Directory of Public Officials

Maps

* Decatur County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
* Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
* Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

Places adjacent to Decatur County, Kansas

| Hitchcock County, Nebraska | Red Willow County, Nebraska | Furnas County, Nebraska

|
|

|  |
Rawlins County |

Decatur County, Kansas

| Norton County
|  |
Thomas County | Sheridan County | Graham County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Decatur County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Oberlin

Cities|

* Clayton‡
* Dresden
* Jennings
* Norcatur
* Oberlin

Map of Kansas highlighting Decatur CountyMap of Kansas highlighting Decatur County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Allison
* Cedar Bluffs
* Kanona
* Leoville
* Lyle
* Traer

Ghost towns|

* Bassetville
* Decatur
* Hawkeye
* Hooker
* Jackson
* Lund
* Sheffield
* Shibboleth
* Stephen
* Vallonia

Townships|

* Allison
* Altory
* Bassettville
* Beaver
* Center
* Cook
* Custer
* Dresden
* Finley
* Garfield
* Grant
* Harlan
* Jennings
* Liberty
* Lincoln
* Logan
* Lyon
* Oberlin
* Olive
* Pleasant Valley
* Prairie Dog
* Roosevelt
* Sappa
* Sherman
* Summit

Footnotes|

‡This community also has portions in an adjacent county or counties.

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Kansas

Topeka (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Geography
* History
* Bleeding Kansas
* Constitutions
* Capitals
* Capitols
* Timeline
* Governors
* Delegations
* Landmarks
* People
* Places
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Politics

Regions|

* Cherokee Strip
* Cross Timbers
* Dissected Till Plains
* East Central
* Four State Area
* Flint Hills
* High Plains
* KC metro area
* North Central
* Osage Plains
* Ozarks
* Red Hills
* Santa Fe Trail Region
* Smoky Hills
* Southeast

Largest
cities|

* (1) Wichita
* (2) Overland Park
* (3) Kansas City
* (4) Olathe
* (5) Topeka
* (6) Lawrence
* (7) Shawnee
* (8) Manhattan
* (9) Lenexa
* (10) Salina
* (11) Hutchinson
* (12) Leavenworth
* (13) Leawood
* (14) Dodge City
* (15) Garden City
* (16) Junction City
* (17) Emporia
* (18) Derby
* (19) Prairie Village
* (20) Liberal
* (21) Hays
* (22) Pittsburg
* (23) Gardner
* (24) Newton
* (25) Great Bend
* (26) McPherson
* (27) El Dorado
* (28) Ottawa
* (29) Winfield
* (30) Arkansas City
* (31) Andover
* (32) Lansing
* (33) Merriam
* (34) Atchison
* (35) Haysville
* (36) Parsons
* (37) Coffeyville
* (38) Mission
* (39) Independence
* (40) Augusta
* (41) Chanute
* (42) Wellington
* (43) Fort Scott
* (44) Park City
* (45) Bonner Springs
* (46) Valley Center
* (47) Pratt
* (48) Bel Aire
* (49) Roeland Park
* (50) Abilene

Counties|

* Allen
* Anderson
* Atchison
* Barber
* Barton
* Bourbon
* Brown
* Butler
* Chase
* Chautauqua
* Cherokee
* Cheyenne
* Clark
* Clay
* Cloud
* Coffey
* Comanche
* Cowley
* Crawford
* Decatur
* Dickinson
* Doniphan
* Douglas
* Edwards
* Elk
* Ellis
* Ellsworth
* Finney
* Ford
* Franklin
* Geary
* Gove
* Graham
* Grant
* Gray
* Greeley
* Greenwood
* Hamilton
* Harper
* Harvey
* Haskell
* Hodgeman
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Jewell
* Johnson
* Kearny
* Kingman
* Kiowa
* Labette
* Lane
* Leavenworth
* Lincoln
* Linn
* Logan
* Lyon
* Marion
* Marshall
* McPherson
* Meade
* Miami
* Mitchell
* Montgomery
* Morris
* Morton
* Nemaha
* Neosho
* Ness
* Norton
* Osage
* Osborne
* Ottawa
* Pawnee
* Phillips
* Pottawatomie
* Pratt
* Rawlins
* Reno
* Republic
* Rice
* Riley
* Rooks
* Rush
* Russell
* Saline
* Scott
* Sedgwick
* Seward
* Shawnee
* Sheridan
* Sherman
* Smith
* Stafford
* Stanton
* Stevens
* Sumner
* Thomas
* Trego
* Wabaunsee
* Wallace
* Washington
* Wichita
* Wilson
* Woodson
* Wyandotte

Lists|

* List of counties in Kansas
* List of townships in Kansas
* List of cities in Kansas
* List of census-designated places in Kansas
* List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
* List of ghost towns in Kansas
* Lists of people from Kansas

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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