County in Kansas
| Labette County | |
|---|---|
| County | |
 Big Hill Lake (2015) | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kansas | |
 Kansas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 37°12′N 95°17′W / 37.200°N 95.283°W / 37.200; -95.283 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | February 26, 1867 |
| Named for | Pierre La Bette |
| Seat | Oswego |
| Largest city | Parsons |
| Area | |
| • Total | 653 sq mi (1,690 km) |
| • Land | 645 sq mi (1,670 km) |
| • Water | 7.8 sq mi (20 km) 1.2% |
| Population | |
| • Total | 20,184 |
| • Density | 31.3/sq mi (12.1/km) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 620 |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | LabetteCounty.com |
Labette County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Oswego, and its most populous city is Parsons. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 20,184. The county was named after LaBette creek, 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.
History
See also: History of KansasIn 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.
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.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 653 square miles (1,690 km), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km) is land and 7.8 square miles (20 km) (1.2%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Neosho County (north)
- Crawford County (northeast)
- Cherokee County (east)
- Craig County, Oklahoma (south)
- Nowata County, Oklahoma (southwest)
- Montgomery County (west)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 9,973 | — | |
| 1880 | 22,735 | 128.0% | |
| 1890 | 27,586 | 21.3% | |
| 1900 | 27,387 | −0.7% | |
| 1910 | 31,423 | 14.7% | |
| 1920 | 34,047 | 8.4% | |
| 1930 | 31,346 | −7.9% | |
| 1940 | 30,352 | −3.2% | |
| 1950 | 29,285 | −3.5% | |
| 1960 | 26,805 | −8.5% | |
| 1970 | 25,775 | −3.8% | |
| 1980 | 25,682 | −0.4% | |
| 1990 | 23,693 | −7.7% | |
| 2000 | 22,169 | −6.4% | |
| 2010 | 21,607 | −2.5% | |
| 2020 | 20,184 | −6.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 19,728 | −2.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 | |||
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.
As of the 2000 census, there were 22,835 people, 9,194 households, and 6,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 inhabitants per square mile (14/km). There were 10,306 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km). 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 won the county once each, it has shifted strongly away from the Democratic Party, with Hillary Clinton garnering the lowest percentage since 1928.
Presidential election results| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 5,328 | 68.26% | 2,352 | 30.13% | 126 | 1.61% |
| 2020 | 5,735 | 66.97% | 2,655 | 31.01% | 173 | 2.02% |
| 2016 | 5,335 | 64.92% | 2,291 | 27.88% | 592 | 7.20% |
| 2012 | 4,742 | 59.00% | 3,117 | 38.78% | 178 | 2.21% |
| 2008 | 5,001 | 55.38% | 3,839 | 42.51% | 191 | 2.11% |
| 2004 | 5,400 | 59.09% | 3,615 | 39.56% | 124 | 1.36% |
| 2000 | 4,475 | 52.41% | 3,745 | 43.86% | 318 | 3.72% |
| 1996 | 4,283 | 45.66% | 3,931 | 41.91% | 1,166 | 12.43% |
| 1992 | 3,368 | 33.09% | 4,196 | 41.23% | 2,613 | 25.68% |
| 1988 | 5,125 | 52.92% | 4,433 | 45.78% | 126 | 1.30% |
| 1984 | 6,542 | 63.76% | 3,631 | 35.39% | 87 | 0.85% |
| 1980 | 5,244 | 52.86% | 3,947 | 39.78% | 730 | 7.36% |
| 1976 | 4,640 | 45.59% | 5,294 | 52.02% | 243 | 2.39% |
| 1972 | 6,399 | 64.76% | 3,210 | 32.49% | 272 | 2.75% |
| 1968 | 5,503 | 51.19% | 3,974 | 36.97% | 1,273 | 11.84% |
| 1964 | 4,761 | 43.04% | 6,208 | 56.12% | 93 | 0.84% |
| 1960 | 7,491 | 58.49% | 5,248 | 40.98% | 68 | 0.53% |
| 1956 | 7,677 | 59.35% | 5,202 | 40.21% | 57 | 0.44% |
| 1952 | 8,624 | 61.99% | 5,219 | 37.51% | 70 | 0.50% |
| 1948 | 6,298 | 50.12% | 6,113 | 48.65% | 154 | 1.23% |
| 1944 | 7,480 | 57.87% | 5,398 | 41.76% | 48 | 0.37% |
| 1940 | 8,210 | 54.17% | 6,860 | 45.26% | 87 | 0.57% |
| 1936 | 6,610 | 44.91% | 8,050 | 54.69% | 59 | 0.40% |
| 1932 | 5,794 | 42.12% | 7,667 | 55.74% | 294 | 2.14% |
| 1928 | 9,048 | 74.22% | 2,969 | 24.35% | 174 | 1.43% |
| 1924 | 6,593 | 55.25% | 2,971 | 24.90% | 2,369 | 19.85% |
| 1920 | 6,596 | 57.94% | 4,328 | 38.02% | 460 | 4.04% |
| 1916 | 5,328 | 42.61% | 6,421 | 51.35% | 755 | 6.04% |
| 1912 | 1,516 | 21.85% | 2,568 | 37.02% | 2,853 | 41.13% |
| 1908 | 3,367 | 49.17% | 2,783 | 40.64% | 698 | 10.19% |
| 1904 | 3,700 | 58.68% | 1,637 | 25.96% | 968 | 15.35% |
| 1900 | 3,319 | 48.77% | 3,425 | 50.33% | 61 | 0.90% |
| 1896 | 3,206 | 46.20% | 3,669 | 52.88% | 64 | 0.92% |
| 1892 | 2,950 | 47.89% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,210 | 52.11% |
| 1888 | 2,870 | 47.38% | 976 | 16.11% | 2,211 | 36.50% |
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.
Education
Colleges
Unified school districts
- District Office In Neighboring County
Communities
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Labette County.
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.
See also
- 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
References
- ^ "QuickFacts; Labette County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- "Labette Co History". Labette County, Kansas. 2013. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ "Kansas Counties:Labette County, Kansas". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- Nelson Case's history of Labette County, Kansas Archived July 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- "Bender Knife". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- Potter, Tim. "The Bloody Benders: 140-year-old crime scene still fascinates today". Wichita Eagle. August 24, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- 2010 census general population statistics on Labette County, Kansa]
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- "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.
- ^ "General Highway Map of Labette County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). September 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 23, 2024.
- Notes
Further reading
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities- History of Labette County, Kansas, and Representative Citizens; Nelson Case; Biographical Publishing Co; 846 pages; 1901.
- Atlas and Plat Book of Labette County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 40 pages; 1916.
- Standard Atlas of Labette County, Kansas; Kenyon Company; 53 pages; 1906.
External links
- County
- Historical
- Labette County History and Heritage Project, Genealogy
- Maps
- Labette 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 Labette County, Kansas | ||||||||||||||||
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Labette County, Kansas
| Municipalities and communities of Labette County, Kansas, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| County seat: Oswego | ||
| Cities |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Townships | ||