Decatur County, Kansas
| Decatur County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
 Location in the U.S. state of Kansas |
|
 Kansas's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | March 20, 1873 |
| Named for | Stephen Decatur, Jr. |
| Seat | Oberlin |
| Largest city | Oberlin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 894 sq mi (2,315 km2) |
| • Land | 894 sq mi (2,315 km2) |
| • Water | 0.6 sq mi (2 km2), 0.07% |
| Population | |
| • (2010) | 2,961 |
| • Density | 3.3/sq mi (1/km²) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
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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.
Contents
History
The 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.[citation needed]
Law and government
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.[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
- Red Willow County, Nebraska (north)
- Furnas County, Nebraska (northeast)
- Norton County (east)
- Sheridan County (south)
- Thomas County (southwest)
- Rawlins County (west)
Demographics
| 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% | |
| Est. 2014 | 2,908 | [6] | −1.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1] |
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As of the U.S. Census in 2000,[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.
Education
Unified school districts
- Oberlin USD 294
- Prairie Heights USD 295, dissolved as of July 1, 2006; absorbed by USD 294.
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated places
- Allison
- Cedar Bluffs
- Kanona
- Leoville
- Lyle
- Traer
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% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Altory | 01650 | 16 | 0 (0) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Bassettville | 04475 | 26 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Beaver | 05050 | 86 | 1 (2) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.11% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Center | 11650 | 60 | 1 (2) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Cook | 15375 | 44 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Custer | 16850 | 27 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Dresden | 18625 | 141 | 2 (4) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Finley | 23425 | 39 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Garfield | 25525 | 41 | 0 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Grant | 27600 | 31 | 0 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Harlan | 30050 | 51 | 1 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.05% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Jennings | 35400 | 173 | 2 (5) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.34% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Liberty | 39975 | 48 | 1 (1) | 91 (35) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Lincoln | 40600 | 203 | 2 (6) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Logan | 41825 | 52 | 1 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Lyon | 43450 | 24 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Oberlin | 52025 | 91 | 1 (3) | 89 (34) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Olive | 52675 | 68 | 1 (2) | 92 (35) | 1 (0) | 0.65% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Pleasant Valley | 56525 | 46 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.05% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Prairie Dog | 57475 | 50 | 1 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Roosevelt | 61025 | 32 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Sappa | 63050 | 43 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Sherman | 64900 | 25 | 0 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Summit | 69075 | 22 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.09% | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
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See also
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References
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Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook), (Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Decatur County, Kansas. |
- Maps
- Decatur County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
- Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
- Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society
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Hitchcock County, Nebraska | Red Willow County, Nebraska | Furnas County, Nebraska | |
| Rawlins County |  |
Norton County | ||
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| Thomas County | Sheridan County | Graham County |
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Municipalities and communities of Decatur County, Kansas, United States
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| Cities |
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| Unincorporated communities |
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| Townships | ||
| Footnotes |
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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