Labette County, Kansas Explained

County:Labette County
State:Kansas
Type:County
Ex Image:Big Hill Lake, Labette County, Kansas.jpg
Ex Image Cap:Big Hill Lake (2015)
Founded:February 26, 1867
Named For:Pierre La Bette
Seat Wl:Oswego
Largest City Wl:Parsons
Area Total Sq Mi:653
Area Land Sq Mi:645
Area Water Sq Mi:7.8
Area Percentage:1.2%
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:20184
Population Density Sq Mi:31.3
Area Codes:620
District:2nd
Time Zone:Central
Coordinates:37.2°N -112°W

Labette County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Oswego,[1] and its most populous city is Parsons. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 20,184.[2] The county was named after LaBette creek,[3] [4] the second-largest creek in the county, which runs roughly NNW-SSE from near Parsons to Chetopa. The creek in turn was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette who had moved to the area, living along the Neosho River, and marrying into the Osage tribe in the 1830s and 1840s.[4]

History

See also: History of Kansas.

In the 1840s Labette County had a population mainly consisting of Osage people, although there were also many Cherokee and Euro-Americans. Many of the Euro-Americans were merchants with Osage or Cherokee wives.[5]

Between 1871 and 1873, at least eleven people vanished in the vicinity of an inn and general store operated by the Bender family in Labette County. Following the disappearance of the Benders in 1873, it was discovered that they had apparently murdered a number of travellers. Between eight and eleven bodies were discovered buried on the premises. Governor Thomas A. Osborn offered a reward of $2,000 for the apprehension of the Benders, but they were never found.[6] [7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (1.2%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

The Parsons, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Labette County.

As of the 2010 Census Labette County had a population of 21,607. The median age was 41. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 85.5% non-Hispanic white, 4.7% African-American, 2.2% Native America, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanics of some other race, 3.6% non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 4.0% Hispanic or Latino.[9]

As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 22,835 people, 9,194 households, and 6,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 35sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 10,306 housing units at an average density of 16/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 89.28% White, 4.66% Black or African American, 1.95% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.07% of the population.

There were 9,194 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,875, and the median income for a family was $37,519. Males had a median income of $29,043 versus $21,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,525. About 8.90% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Similar to most Kansas counties Labette County is strongly Republican. While Jimmy Carter & Bill Clinton both won the county once each, it has shifted strongly away from the Democratic Party, with Hillary Clinton garnering the lowest percentage since 1928.

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[11]

Education

Colleges

Unified school districts

District Office In Neighboring County

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Labette County.[12]

Cities

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost towns

Townships

Labette County is divided into sixteen townships. The cities of Chetopa, Oswego, and Parsons are considered governmentally independent and are 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 Population
center
Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi)
Land area
km2 (sq mi)
Water area
km2 (sq mi)
Water %Geographic coordinates
Canada 10325 217 2 (5) 103 (40) 0 (0) 0.22% 37.105°N -95.4511°W
Elm Grove 20750 798 6 (16) 130 (50) 0 (0) 0.17% 37.0561°N -95.3367°W
Fairview 22550 239 3 (7) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.11% 37.1692°N -95.2017°W
Hackberry 29350 403 3 (8) 131 (51) 0 (0) 0.15% 37.0583°N -95.2122°W
Howard 33300 357 3 (8) 111 (43) 0 (0) 0.13% 37.0397°N -95.4592°W
Labette 37400 373 4 (10) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.18% 37.2619°N -95.315°W
Liberty 40175 395 4 (11) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0.11% 37.2631°N -95.1958°W
Montana 47850 179 3 (7) 71 (27) 1 (1) 1.90% 37.2578°N -95.1261°W
Mound Valley 48850 806 5 (13) 166 (64) 0 (0) 0.11% 37.2083°N -95.4278°W
Mount Pleasant 48950 1,351 14 (37) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.34% 37.1806°N -95.3039°W
Neosho 49775 222 3 (8) 70 (27) 2 (1) 2.40% 37.3364°N -95.1103°W
North 50975 612 7 (19) 83 (32) 0 (0) 0.16% 37.3275°N -95.2111°W
Osage 53150 703 4 (12) 157 (61) 5 (2) 2.93% 37.3344°N -95.4383°W
Oswego 53475 310 5 (12) 66 (25) 1 (0) 1.73% 37.1558°N -95.1061°W
Richland 59425 303 3 (8) 97 (38) 0 (0) 0.43% 37.0581°N -95.1053°W
Walton 75250 726 9 (23) 83 (32) 0 (0) 0.16% 37.3497°N -95.3172°W
Sources: Web site: Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files . U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html . August 2, 2002 .

See also

References

Notes

Further reading

External links

County
Historical
Maps

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties.
  2. Web site: QuickFacts; Labette County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 . United States Census Bureau . August 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210818013102/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/labettecountykansas/POP010220 . August 18, 2021 . live.
  3. Web site: Labette Co History . 2013 . Labette County, Kansas . May 9, 2016 . June 5, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160605093013/http://www.labettecounty.com/category/subcategory.php?categoryid=18 . dead .
  4. Web site: Kansas Counties:Labette County, Kansas . Kansas Historical Society . May 9, 2016.
  5. http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/labette/1901/20-26.shtml Nelson Case's history of Labette County, Kansas
  6. http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/bender-knife/10106 "Bender Knife".
  7. Potter, Tim. "The Bloody Benders: 140-year-old crime scene still fascinates today". Wichita Eagle. August 24, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  8. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  9. 2010 census general population statistics on Labette County, Kansa
  10. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  11. Web site: Map of Wet and Dry Counties . Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue . November 2006 . December 26, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071008013617/http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm . October 8, 2007 .
  12. Web site: General Highway Map of Labette County, Kansas . Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) . https://web.archive.org/web/20240523055322/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/labette.PDF . May 23, 2024 . September 2007 . live.