Labette County, Kansas
Labette County (county code LB) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020, 20,184 people lived there.[1] Its county seat is Oswego.[2] Its biggest city is Parsons. The county was named after LaBette creek,[3][4] the second-biggest creek in the county. The creek was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette who had moved to the area.[4]
Labette 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 | |
| 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 km2) |
| • Land | 645 sq mi (1,670 km2) |
| • Water | 7.8 sq mi (20 km2) 1.2% |
| Population | |
| • Total | 20,184 |
| • Density | 31.3/sq mi (12.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 620 |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
History
changeIn the 1840s, most of the people living in Labette County were Osage people. 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 disappeared near an inn and general store run by the Bender family in Labette County. After the disappareance of the Benders in 1873, it was found that they had apparently murdered many travelers. Between eight and eleven bodies were found buried at the inn. Governor Thomas A. Osborn offered a reward of $2,000 for anyone who caught the Benders, but they were never found.[6][7]
Geography
changeThe U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 653 square miles (1,690 km2). Of that, 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 7.8 square miles (20 km2) (1.2%) is water.[8]
Demographics
change| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1] | |||
The Parsons, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Labette County.
The 2020 Census says that Labette County had 20,184 people living there. The median age was 40. The race of the people were 79.7% non-Hispanic white, 4.2% African-American, 2.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% non-Hispanics of some other race, 8.7% non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 4.7% Hispanic or Latino.[13]
Government
changePresidential elections
changeLabette County is mostly Republican. It has a slight Democratic lean to it like many counties in Southeast Kansas. Although Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton both won the county once each, it has become more Republican.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 67.0% 5,735 | 31.0% 2,655 | 2.0% 173 |
| 2016 | 64.9% 5,335 | 27.9% 2,291 | 7.2% 592 |
| 2012 | 59.0% 4,742 | 38.8% 3,117 | 2.2% 178 |
| 2008 | 55.4% 5,001 | 42.5% 3,839 | 2.1% 191 |
| 2004 | 59.1% 5,400 | 39.6% 3,615 | 1.4% 124 |
| 2000 | 52.4% 4,475 | 43.9% 3,745 | 3.7% 318 |
| 1996 | 45.7% 4,283 | 41.9% 3,931 | 12.4% 1,166 |
| 1992 | 33.1% 3,368 | 41.2% 4,196 | 25.7% 2,613 |
| 1988 | 52.9% 5,125 | 45.8% 4,433 | 1.3% 126 |
| 1984 | 63.8% 6,542 | 35.4% 3,631 | 0.9% 87 |
| 1980 | 52.9% 5,244 | 39.8% 3,947 | 7.4% 730 |
| 1976 | 45.6% 4,640 | 52.0% 5,294 | 2.4% 243 |
| 1972 | 64.8% 6,399 | 32.5% 3,210 | 2.8% 272 |
| 1968 | 51.2% 5,503 | 37.0% 3,974 | 11.8% 1,273 |
| 1964 | 43.0% 4,761 | 56.1% 6,208 | 0.8% 93 |
| 1960 | 58.5% 7,491 | 41.0% 5,248 | 0.5% 68 |
| 1956 | 59.4% 7,677 | 40.2% 5,202 | 0.4% 57 |
| 1952 | 62.0% 8,624 | 37.5% 5,219 | 0.5% 70 |
| 1948 | 50.1% 6,298 | 48.7% 6,113 | 1.2% 154 |
| 1944 | 57.9% 7,480 | 41.8% 5,398 | 0.4% 48 |
| 1940 | 54.2% 8,210 | 45.3% 6,860 | 0.6% 87 |
| 1936 | 44.9% 6,610 | 54.7% 8,050 | 0.4% 59 |
| 1932 | 42.1% 5,794 | 55.7% 7,667 | 2.1% 294 |
| 1928 | 74.2% 9,048 | 24.4% 2,969 | 1.4% 174 |
| 1924 | 55.3% 6,593 | 24.9% 2,971 | 19.9% 2,369 |
| 1920 | 57.9% 6,596 | 38.0% 4,328 | 4.0% 460 |
| 1916 | 42.6% 5,328 | 51.4% 6,421 | 6.0% 755 |
| 1912 | 21.9% 1,516 | 37.0% 2,568 | 41.1% 2,853[a] |
| 1908 | 49.2% 3,367 | 40.6% 2,783 | 10.2% 698 |
| 1904 | 58.7% 3,700 | 26.0% 1,637 | 15.4% 968 |
| 1900 | 48.8% 3,319 | 50.3% 3,425 | 0.9% 61 |
| 1896 | 46.2% 3,206 | 52.9% 3,669 | 0.9% 64 |
| 1892 | 47.9% 2,950 | 52.1% 3,210 | |
| 1888 | 47.4% 2,870 | 16.1% 976 | 36.5% 2,211 |
Education
changeUnified school districts
change- Cherokee USD 247 (Web site) is a school district of 300 square miles (780 km2) primarily covering portions of Crawford and Cherokee counties, but also includes small portions of Labette and Neosho counties.[15]
- Parsons USD 503 (Web site)
- Oswego USD 504 (Web site)
- Chetopa-St. Paul USD 505 (Web site)
- Labette County USD 506 (Web site)
Communities
change
Cities
changeReferences
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "QuickFacts: Labette County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ "Labette Co History". Labette County, Kansas. 2013. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Kansas Counties:Labette County, Kansas". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ↑ Nelson Case's history of Labette County, Kansas Archived 2009-07-07 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. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. 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. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ↑ "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ↑ Burns, Tim (September 19, 2005). "Welcome To USD #247". Cherokee, USD 247. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
- Notes
- ↑ This total comprises 1,746 votes (25.2%) for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt and 1,107 votes (16.0%) for Socialist Eugene V. Debs.
More reading
change- 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.
Other websites
change
- County
- Historical
- Labette County History and Heritage Project, Genealogy
- Maps