Decatur County, Kansas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Decatur County, Kansas | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Kansas |
|
 Kansas's location in the U.S. |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | March 20, 1873 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Oberlin |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
894 sq mi (2,316 km²) 894 sq mi (2,314 km²) 1 sq mi (2 km²), 0.07% |
| PopulationEst. - (2006) - Density |
3,120 3.5/sq mi (1.3/km²) |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
Decatur County (county code DC) is a county located in Northwest Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was estimated to be 3,120 in the year 2006.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Oberlin.[2] The county is named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.
Contents |
[edit] 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., who served during the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. Oberlin was the site of the last Native American (specifically the Northern Cheyenne) Raid in Kansas.
[edit] 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.[3]
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 894 square miles (2,316 km²), of which 894 square miles (2,314 km²) is land and 1 square miles (2 km²), or 0.07%, is water.[4]
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Red Willow County, Nebraska (north)
- Furnas County, Nebraska (northeast)
- Norton County (east)
- Sheridan County (south)
- Thomas County (southwest)
- Rawlins County (west)
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | |
Decatur County's population was estimated to be 3,120 in the year 2006, a decrease of 341, or -9.9%, over the previous six years.[1]
As of the U.S. Census in 2000,[4] 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.
[edit] Cities and towns
[edit] Incorporated cities
Name and population (2004 estimate):
[edit] Unincorporated places
- Allison
- Cedar Bluffs
- Kanona
- Leoville
- Lyle
- Traer
[edit] 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% | ||
| Altory | 01650 | 16 | 0 (0) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0 % | ||
| Bassettville | 04475 | 26 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0 % | ||
| Beaver | 05050 | 86 | 1 (2) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.11% | ||
| Center | 11650 | 60 | 1 (2) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | ||
| Cook | 15375 | 44 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | ||
| Custer | 16850 | 27 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | ||
| Dresden | 18625 | 141 | 2 (4) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | ||
| Finley | 23425 | 39 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0 % | ||
| Garfield | 25525 | 41 | 0 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0 % | ||
| Grant | 27600 | 31 | 0 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | ||
| Harlan | 30050 | 51 | 1 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.05% | ||
| Jennings | 35400 | 173 | 2 (5) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.34% | ||
| Liberty | 39975 | 48 | 1 (1) | 91 (35) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | ||
| Lincoln | 40600 | 203 | 2 (6) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | ||
| Logan | 41825 | 52 | 1 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0 % | ||
| Lyon | 43450 | 24 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0 % | ||
| Oberlin | 52025 | 91 | 1 (3) | 89 (34) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | ||
| Olive | 52675 | 68 | 1 (2) | 92 (35) | 1 (0) | 0.65% | ||
| Pleasant Valley | 56525 | 46 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.05% | ||
| Prairie Dog | 57475 | 50 | 1 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | ||
| Roosevelt | 61025 | 32 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | ||
| Sappa | 63050 | 43 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | ||
| Sherman | 64900 | 25 | 0 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | ||
| Summit | 69075 | 22 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.09% | ||
| Sources: Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files. U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. | ||||||||
[edit] Education
[edit] Unified school districts
- Oberlin USD 294: DCHS (Decatur Community High School) OES (Oberlin Elementary School) Oberlin was going to have a Community College, however, this proposal was voted against and the college went to Colby, where it is now Colby Community College.
[edit] See also
Information on this and other counties in Kansas
- List of counties in Kansas
- List of Kansas county name etymologies
- Kansas locations by per capita income
Other information for Kansas
- List of cities in Kansas
- List of unified school districts in Kansas
- List of colleges and universities in Kansas
[edit] References
- ^ a b Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Annual estimates of the population to 2006-07-01. Released 2007-03-22. Six year change is from 2000-07-01 to 2006-07-01.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Map of Wet and Dry Counties. Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue (November 2006). Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
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