Decatur County, Kansas
Encyclopedia : D : DE : DEC : Decatur County, Kansas
 Counties in Kansas | |
| County seat | Oberlin |
| Largest city | Oberlin |
| Area —Total —Land —Water, % | 2,316 square kilometre>km² (894 mi²) 2,314 km² (894 mi²) 2 km² (1 mi²), 0.07% |
| Population —Total (2000) —Density | 3,472 2/km² (4/mi²) |
| Established | March 20, 1873 |
| Time zone | Central : UTC-6/-5 |
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.Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,316 km² (894 mi²). 2,314 km² (894 mi²) of it is land and 2 km² (1 mi²) of it (0.07%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Red Willow County, Nebraska (north)
- Furnas County, Nebraska (northeast)
- Norton County (east)
- Sheridan County (south)
- Thomas County (southwest)
- Rawlins County (west)
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 3,472 people, 1,494 households, and 981 families residing in the county. The population density was 2/km² (4/mi²). There were 1,821 housing units at an average density of 1/km² (2/mi²). 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. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.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.
Population has been in decline ever since the 1890's.
Cities and towns
Incorporated cities
Name and population (2004 estimate):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 (/mi²) | Land area km² (mi²) | Water area km² (mi²) | Water % | Geographic coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison | 01300 | 39 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | [39°47′22″N, 100°21′15″W]
|-
| 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% ||
|}EducationUnified school districtsSee also the complete list of unified school districts in Kansas.
External links
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