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Bourbon County, Kansas

Coordinates: 37°51′N 94°51′W / 37.850°N 94.850°W / 37.850; -94.850
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Bourbon County
County
Bourbon County Courthouse in Fort Scott (2016)
Bourbon County Courthouse in Fort Scott (2016)
Map of Kansas highlighting Bourbon County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°51′N 94°51′W / 37.850°N 94.850°W / 37.850; -94.850
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedAugust 25, 1855
Named forBourbon County, Kentucky
SeatFort Scott
Largest cityFort Scott
Area
 • Total
639 sq mi (1,660 km2)
 • Land635 sq mi (1,640 km2)
 • Water3.6 sq mi (9 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
14,360
 • Density22.6/sq mi (8.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code620
Congressional district2nd
WebsiteBourbonCountyKS.org

Bourbon County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Fort Scott.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 14,360.[1] The county was named after Bourbon County, Kentucky, the former home of many early settlers.

History

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Early history

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See also: History of Kansas

In 1855, Bourbon County was established and named after Bourbon County, Kentucky, due to the significant number of settlers from that region. Its early history is tied to the establishment of Fort Scott in 1842 to manage relations with Indian tribes in the region, and particularly with the Osage.[3] The county's first settlers, many of whom were pro-slavery, faced opposition from free-state advocates, leading to violent confrontations during the Bleeding Kansas era and later during the Civil War, such the Battle of Mine Creek in 1864.[4]

The aftermath of the Civil War brought economic and demographic changes; many ex-soldiers settled in the area, contributing to its agricultural growth. Post-war years saw the railroad's arrival, connecting Bourbon County to broader markets and facilitating the expansion of coal mining and agriculture, particularly wheat, corn, and later, sorghum[4].

21st century

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Bourbon virus, a new strain of thogotovirus, was first discovered in Bourbon County. In the spring of 2014 an otherwise healthy man was bitten by a tick, contracting the virus, dying 11 days later from organ failure.[5][6]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 639 square miles (1,660 km2), of which 635 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2) (0.6%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Major highways

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Sources: National Atlas,[8] U.S. Census Bureau[9]

Demographics

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Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18606,101—
187015,076147.1%
188019,59129.9%
189028,57545.9%
190024,712−13.5%
191024,007−2.9%
192023,198−3.4%
193022,386−3.5%
194020,944−6.4%
195019,153−8.6%
196016,090−16.0%
197015,215−5.4%
198015,9695.0%
199014,966−6.3%
200015,3792.8%
201015,173−1.3%
202014,360−5.4%
2023 (est.)14,408[10]0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[1]

As of the 2000 census,[15] there were 15,379 people, 6,161 households, and 4,127 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 7,135 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.06% White, 3.08% Black or African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.

There were 6,161 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,199, and the median income for a family was $39,239. Males had a median income of $27,043 versus $20,983 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,393. About 9.50% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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Bourbon County is a strongly Republican county. Only six presidential elections from 1888 to the present have resulted in Republicans failing to win the county, with the last of these being in 1964.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Bourbon County, Kansas[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 4,921 76.06% 1,426 22.04% 123 1.90%
2020 5,023 75.24% 1,541 23.08% 112 1.68%
2016 4,424 71.64% 1,336 21.64% 415 6.72%
2012 4,102 65.59% 1,996 31.92% 156 2.49%
2008 4,240 62.53% 2,394 35.30% 147 2.17%
2004 4,372 65.39% 2,216 33.14% 98 1.47%
2000 3,852 61.07% 2,211 35.05% 245 3.88%
1996 3,318 50.17% 2,491 37.66% 805 12.17%
1992 2,876 40.17% 2,509 35.05% 1,774 24.78%
1988 3,660 57.80% 2,623 41.42% 49 0.77%
1984 4,858 68.40% 2,175 30.63% 69 0.97%
1980 4,263 59.22% 2,605 36.19% 331 4.60%
1976 3,589 51.80% 3,237 46.72% 103 1.49%
1972 4,776 70.09% 1,912 28.06% 126 1.85%
1968 3,983 56.87% 2,241 32.00% 780 11.14%
1964 3,290 44.93% 3,980 54.35% 53 0.72%
1960 5,062 63.03% 2,928 36.46% 41 0.51%
1956 5,306 62.39% 3,151 37.05% 47 0.55%
1952 5,785 65.26% 3,023 34.10% 56 0.63%
1948 4,225 51.43% 3,879 47.22% 111 1.35%
1944 4,790 56.68% 3,622 42.86% 39 0.46%
1940 5,751 53.61% 4,898 45.66% 78 0.73%
1936 5,402 48.58% 5,714 51.38% 4 0.04%
1932 4,277 42.62% 5,577 55.58% 181 1.80%
1928 7,251 75.88% 2,223 23.26% 82 0.86%
1924 4,210 48.96% 2,850 33.15% 1,538 17.89%
1920 4,194 52.09% 3,632 45.11% 225 2.79%
1916 3,370 37.58% 5,209 58.09% 388 4.33%
1912 1,448 27.04% 2,209 41.25% 1,698 31.71%
1908 2,695 47.83% 2,686 47.67% 253 4.49%
1904 3,234 59.26% 1,808 33.13% 415 7.60%
1900 3,024 51.36% 2,799 47.54% 65 1.10%
1896 2,900 48.20% 3,067 50.97% 50 0.83%
1892 2,803 49.24% 0 0.00% 2,889 50.76%
1888 3,569 57.07% 1,831 29.28% 854 13.66%

Laws

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Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[17]

Education

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Colleges

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Unified school districts

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Communities

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2005 map of Bourbon County[18] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Bourbon County.[18]

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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

Townships

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Bourbon County is divided into eleven townships. The city of Fort Scott 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 (/sq mi) 		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water % Geographic coordinates
Drywood 18750 394 3 (8) 120 (47) 0 (0) 0.19% 37°43′19″N 94°40′36″W / 37.72194°N 94.67667°W / 37.72194; -94.67667
Franklin 24300 312 2 (4) 185 (71) 0 (0) 0.13% 37°59′41″N 94°59′14″W / 37.99472°N 94.98722°W / 37.99472; -94.98722
Freedom 24600 Fulton 505 4 (12) 113 (44) 0 (0) 0.17% 38°0′4″N 94°44′45″W / 38.00111°N 94.74583°W / 38.00111; -94.74583
Marion 44650 Bronson,
Uniontown		 1,165 4 (12) 259 (100) 0 (0) 0.19% 37°51′14″N 95°1′12″W / 37.85389°N 95.02000°W / 37.85389; -95.02000
Marmaton 44900 815 6 (15) 145 (56) 0 (0) 0.13% 37°48′57″N 94°50′16″W / 37.81583°N 94.83778°W / 37.81583; -94.83778
Mill Creek 46675 472 3 (9) 136 (52) 1 (0) 0.42% 37°54′45″N 94°50′14″W / 37.91250°N 94.83722°W / 37.91250; -94.83722
Osage 53100 394 3 (8) 125 (48) 0 (0) 0.16% 37°58′40″N 94°39′33″W / 37.97778°N 94.65917°W / 37.97778; -94.65917
Pawnee 54775 308 2 (6) 126 (49) 0 (0) 0.31% 37°43′31″N 94°50′30″W / 37.72528°N 94.84167°W / 37.72528; -94.84167
Scott 63500 2,326 13 (34) 179 (69) 2 (1) 0.94% 37°48′35″N 94°41′30″W / 37.80972°N 94.69167°W / 37.80972; -94.69167
Timberhill 70600 Mapleton 256 3 (7) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 38°0′31″N 94°52′57″W / 38.00861°N 94.88250°W / 38.00861; -94.88250
Walnut 74850 135 1 (2) 154 (59) 0 (0) 0.13% 37°43′10″N 94°59′0″W / 37.71944°N 94.98333°W / 37.71944; -94.98333
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

Notable people

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See also

[edit]
Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Bourbon County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Cutler, William G.; Andreas, Alfred Theodore (1883). History of the State of Kansas, Containing a Full Account of Its Growth from an Uninhabited Territory to a Wealthy and Important State ...: Also, a Supplementary History and Description of Its Counties, Cities, Towns, and Villages ... A.T. Andreas. ISBN 978-0-598-27697-1.
  4. ^ a b Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. ... with a Supplementary Volume Devoted to Selected Personal History and Reminiscence. Standard Publishing Company.
  5. ^ "New details on mystery virus that killed Kansas man". CBS News. February 20, 2015.
  6. ^ "New so-called Bourbon virus linked to Kansas man's death after tick bite". UPI.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files". Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  14. ^ "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 21, 2014.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Bourbon County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). October 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 5, 2024.
  19. ^ Hogg, Ben (February 12, 2012). "Richard Christy – From Rags to Richard". Metal Maniacs. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  20. ^ "Jonathan M. Davis". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  21. ^ "Bourbon County Equal Suffrage Association". The Fort Scott Weekly Tribune. November 28, 1889. p. 5. Retrieved April 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

Further reading

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See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
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