Decatur County, Kansas

Decatur County
County
Bank of Oberlin (2014)
Bank of Oberlin (2014)
Map of Kansas highlighting Decatur County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N 100°28′W / 39.800°N 100.467°W / 39.800; -100.467
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Named forStephen Decatur, Jr.
SeatOberlin
Largest cityOberlin
Area
 • Total894 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Land894 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.07%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,764
 • Density3.1/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
Websiteoberlinks.com

Decatur County (county code DC) is a county in Northwest Kansas. In 2020, 2,764 people lived there. Its county seat is Oberlin. Oberlin is also the biggest city in Decatur County. The county is named after Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.

History

Decatur County was created on March 20, 1873 and organized on December 15, 1879. It is named after the Navy war hero Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.. He served during the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War and the War of 1812.

Oberlin was where the last Native American (specifically the Northern Cheyenne) Raid in Kansas happened.

Geography

The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 894 square miles (2,320 km2). Of that, 894 square miles (2,320 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.07%) is water.

People

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18804,180—
18908,414101.3%
19009,2349.7%
19108,976−2.8%
19208,121−9.5%
19308,8669.2%
19407,434−16.2%
19506,185−16.8%
19605,778−6.6%
19704,988−13.7%
19804,509−9.6%
19904,021−10.8%
20003,472−13.7%
20102,961−14.7%
20202,764−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020
Population pyramid

Government

Decatur county is very Republican. The last time a democratic candidate won the county was in 1936 by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Presidential elections

Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 84.1% 1,260 14.6% 218 1.3% 20
2016 83.0% 1,210 12.2% 178 4.7% 69
2012 79.5% 1,218 17.4% 266 3.1% 48
2008 76.8% 1,189 22.2% 343 1.0% 16
2004 77.9% 1,355 20.4% 355 1.7% 30
2000 71.4% 1,255 24.1% 424 4.6% 80
1996 68.1% 1,255 22.6% 417 9.3% 172
1992 45.0% 940 27.6% 576 27.4% 573
1988 60.1% 1,291 36.9% 793 3.0% 64
1984 78.2% 1,770 20.6% 467 1.2% 28
1980 73.0% 1,642 19.7% 443 7.3% 165
1976 52.7% 1,232 43.3% 1,011 4.0% 93
1972 70.2% 1,707 25.3% 616 4.4% 108
1968 65.7% 1,654 25.9% 652 8.4% 210
1964 51.0% 1,382 48.5% 1,314 0.6% 16
1960 63.8% 1,846 35.9% 1,038 0.3% 8
1956 68.6% 2,028 31.1% 920 0.3% 9
1952 74.5% 2,451 25.0% 821 0.5% 16
1948 51.4% 1,545 46.7% 1,402 1.9% 58
1944 59.9% 1,758 39.5% 1,159 0.6% 17
1940 56.2% 2,018 43.0% 1,546 0.8% 29
1936 42.1% 1,727 57.6% 2,362 0.4% 15
1932 36.3% 1,439 61.0% 2,422 2.7% 108
1928 66.5% 2,314 32.5% 1,129 1.0% 35
1924 46.9% 1,621 35.2% 1,218 17.9% 618
1920 51.6% 1,448 43.5% 1,221 5.0% 140
1916 27.7% 1,007 67.0% 2,431 5.3% 193
1912 14.9% 256 55.5% 955 29.6% 509
1908 39.3% 898 54.8% 1,250 5.9% 135
1904 59.7% 1,215 20.2% 411 20.1% 409
1900 41.8% 848 57.0% 1,158 1.2% 24
1896 36.4% 594 63.2% 1,032 0.4% 7
1892 38.6% 619 61.4% 985
1888 57.4% 1,224 34.3% 731 8.3% 177

Education

Unified school districts

  • Oberlin USD 294
  • Prairie Heights USD 295, dissolved as of July 1, 2006; absorbed by USD 294.

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Decatur County (map legend)

Cities

References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts: Decatur County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 102.
  4. ↑ Weiser, Kathy (March 2012). "Cheyenne Raid in Kansas". Legendsofkansas.com. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".

More reading

Other websites

County
Maps