Labette County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
 Big Hill Lake (2015) | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKansas | |
| Coordinates:37°12′N95°17′W / 37.200°N 95.283°W /37.200; -95.283 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | February 26, 1867 |
| Named after | 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 (2020) | |
• Total | 20,184 |
• Estimate (2024)[1] | 19,692 |
| • Density | 30.5/sq mi (11.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 620 |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | LabetteCounty.com |
Labette County is acounty located inSoutheast Kansas. Itscounty seat isOswego,[2] and its most populous city isParsons. As of the2020 census, the county population was 20,184.[3] The county was named after LaBette Creek,[4][5] the second-largest creek in the county, which runs roughly north-northwest-south-southeast from near Parsons toChetopa. The creek in turn was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette, who had moved to the area, living along theNeosho River, and marrying into theOsage tribe in the 1830s and 1840s.[5]
In the 1840s Labette County had a population mainly consisting ofOsage people, although there were also many Cherokee and Euro-Americans. Many of the Euro-Americans were merchants with Osage or Cherokee wives.[6]
Between 1871 and 1873, at least eleven people vanished in the vicinity of an inn and general store operated by theBender 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. GovernorThomas A. Osborn offered a reward of $2,000 for the apprehension of the Benders, but they were never found.[7][8]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 653 square miles (1,690 km2), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 7.8 square miles (20 km2) (1.2%) is water.[9]
| 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% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 19,692 | −2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[3][14] | |||
TheParsons, KSMicropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Labette County.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 20,184. The median age was 40.1 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males age 18 and over. 46.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 53.3% lived in rural areas.[15][16]
The racial makeup of the county was 81.6% White, 4.3%Black or African American, 2.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 10.1% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.[17]
There were 8,222 households in the county, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]
There were 9,524 housing units, of which 13.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.1% were owner-occupied and 30.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.0%.[16]
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.[18]
As of the2000 census,[19] 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/km2). There were 10,306 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 89.28%White, 4.66%Black orAfrican American, 1.95%Native American, 0.32%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 2.58% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.07% of the population.
There were 9,194households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% weremarried 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.
Themedian 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. Theper capita income for the county was $15,525. About 8.90% of families and 12.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Similar to most rural Kansas counties, Labette County votes predominantly Republican. WhileJimmy Carter andBill Clinton won the county once each, it has shifted strongly away from the Democratic Party, withHillary Clinton garnering the lowest percentage since 1928.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 2,870 | 47.38% | 976 | 16.11% | 2,211 | 36.50% |
| 1892 | 2,950 | 47.89% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,210 | 52.11% |
| 1896 | 3,206 | 46.20% | 3,669 | 52.88% | 64 | 0.92% |
| 1900 | 3,319 | 48.77% | 3,425 | 50.33% | 61 | 0.90% |
| 1904 | 3,700 | 58.68% | 1,637 | 25.96% | 968 | 15.35% |
| 1908 | 3,367 | 49.17% | 2,783 | 40.64% | 698 | 10.19% |
| 1912 | 1,516 | 21.85% | 2,568 | 37.02% | 2,853 | 41.13% |
| 1916 | 5,328 | 42.61% | 6,421 | 51.35% | 755 | 6.04% |
| 1920 | 6,596 | 57.94% | 4,328 | 38.02% | 460 | 4.04% |
| 1924 | 6,593 | 55.25% | 2,971 | 24.90% | 2,369 | 19.85% |
| 1928 | 9,048 | 74.22% | 2,969 | 24.35% | 174 | 1.43% |
| 1932 | 5,794 | 42.12% | 7,667 | 55.74% | 294 | 2.14% |
| 1936 | 6,610 | 44.91% | 8,050 | 54.69% | 59 | 0.40% |
| 1940 | 8,210 | 54.17% | 6,860 | 45.26% | 87 | 0.57% |
| 1944 | 7,480 | 57.87% | 5,398 | 41.76% | 48 | 0.37% |
| 1948 | 6,298 | 50.12% | 6,113 | 48.65% | 154 | 1.23% |
| 1952 | 8,624 | 61.99% | 5,219 | 37.51% | 70 | 0.50% |
| 1956 | 7,677 | 59.35% | 5,202 | 40.21% | 57 | 0.44% |
| 1960 | 7,491 | 58.49% | 5,248 | 40.98% | 68 | 0.53% |
| 1964 | 4,761 | 43.04% | 6,208 | 56.12% | 93 | 0.84% |
| 1968 | 5,503 | 51.19% | 3,974 | 36.97% | 1,273 | 11.84% |
| 1972 | 6,399 | 64.76% | 3,210 | 32.49% | 272 | 2.75% |
| 1976 | 4,640 | 45.59% | 5,294 | 52.02% | 243 | 2.39% |
| 1980 | 5,244 | 52.86% | 3,947 | 39.78% | 730 | 7.36% |
| 1984 | 6,542 | 63.76% | 3,631 | 35.39% | 87 | 0.85% |
| 1988 | 5,125 | 52.92% | 4,433 | 45.78% | 126 | 1.30% |
| 1992 | 3,368 | 33.09% | 4,196 | 41.23% | 2,613 | 25.68% |
| 1996 | 4,283 | 45.66% | 3,931 | 41.91% | 1,166 | 12.43% |
| 2000 | 4,475 | 52.41% | 3,745 | 43.86% | 318 | 3.72% |
| 2004 | 5,400 | 59.09% | 3,615 | 39.56% | 124 | 1.36% |
| 2008 | 5,001 | 55.38% | 3,839 | 42.51% | 191 | 2.11% |
| 2012 | 4,742 | 59.00% | 3,117 | 38.78% | 178 | 2.21% |
| 2016 | 5,335 | 64.92% | 2,291 | 27.88% | 592 | 7.20% |
| 2020 | 5,735 | 66.97% | 2,655 | 31.01% | 173 | 2.02% |
| 2024 | 5,410 | 68.30% | 2,385 | 30.11% | 126 | 1.59% |
Following amendment to theKansas 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.[21]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Labette County.[22]
† means a community is designated aCensus-Designated Place (CDP) by theUnited States Census Bureau.
Labette County is divided into sixteentownships. The cities ofChetopa,Oswego, andParsons are consideredgovernmentally 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.
Places adjacent to Labette County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofLabette County, Kansas,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Townships | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
