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Shawnee County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
 United States Post Office andHistoric Courthouse inTopeka (2013) | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKansas | |
 Kansas's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°54′12″N95°49′53″W / 38.9033°N 95.8314°W /38.9033; -95.8314 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | August 25, 1855[1] |
| Named after | Shawnee people |
| Seat | Topeka |
| Largest city | Topeka |
| Area | |
• Total | 556 sq mi (1,440 km2) |
| • Land | 544 sq mi (1,410 km2) |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (31 km2) 2.1% |
| Population | |
• Total | 178,909 |
• Estimate (2023)[3] | 177,746 |
| • Density | 328.9/sq mi (127.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | snco.us |
Shawnee County is located in northeastKansas, in thecentral United States. Itscounty seat and most populous city isTopeka, the statecapital.[4] As of the2020 census, the population was 178,909,[2] making it the third-most populous county in Kansas. The county was one of the original 33 counties created by the first territorial legislature in 1855, and it was named for theShawnee tribe.
For manymillennia, theGreat Plains of North America was inhabited bynomadicNative Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, theKingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after theFrench and Indian War, France secretly cededNew France to Spain, per theTreaty of Fontainebleau.
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land formodern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mileLouisiana Purchase for 2.83cents peracre.
In 1854, theKansas Territory was organized, then in 1861Kansas became the 34thU.S. state. In 1855,Shawnee County was established.
Before the treaty of 1854, the Shawnee, Kansas, and Pottowatomie Indian tribes inhabited the area now known as Shawnee County. Westward expansion brought the country its first white settler in 1830 when Frederick Choteau opened a trading post on American Chief (nowMission) Creek. In 1855, Shawnee became one of the first counties established by the Kansas territorial legislature with a population of 250. General H. J. Strickler, of Tecumseh, a member of the council in 1855, and the joint committee on Counties, claimed Shawnee for the name of his county. At that time, Shawnee County borders were entirely south of the Kansas River and extended south to include Osage City and Carbondale. The legislature later desired to make Topeka the county seat and moved the borders of the county to their present locations to make Topeka centrally located in the county.
1855 also saw the first ever meeting of the Shawnee County Board of Commissioners. Tecumseh was the first county seat, and the first county courthouse was opened there in 1856. The building was 40x50 feet but was never finished. Topeka was made the county seat by popular vote in 1858, and a new courthouse was built at 4th Street and Kansas Avenue in 1867. In 1896, a new larger courthouse was constructed at 5th and Van Buren, with more than 50,000 residents then living in the county. That building remained in use until the current courthouse at 7th and Quincy opened in 1965.
Concerning the origin of the names in this county, it is generally understood Shawnee County receives its name from that well known tribe of Indians.[5]
Shawnee County is in the northeastern part ofKansas, in the third tier of counties west of theMissouri River and about fifty-four miles south ofNebraska. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 556 square miles (1,440 km2), of which 544 square miles (1,410 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.1%) is water.[6] It is bordered byJackson County on the north,Jefferson County on the north and east,Douglas County on the east,Osage County on the south,Wabaunsee County on the west, andPottawatomie County on the west. Its extent in either direction is not more than twenty-four miles. The secondstandard parallel south passes through the county's northern half.
When the county was formed in 1855, it was bounded by theKansas River on the north, and the southern boundary was nine miles (14 km) further south. On February 23, 1860, the legislature changed the boundaries with the southern portion being granted toOsage County, and the northern boundary was moved a few miles north of the river (to the second standard parallel). The present northern line (six miles north of the second standard parallel) was established in 1868.[7]
TheKansas River runs east across the county, just north of the center, being bordered on its north bank by the townships of Rossville, Silver Lake, Menoken, and Soldier, and on its south bank by the townships of Dover, Mission, and Tecumseh. The city of Topeka primarily lies to the south of the river. There is little or no current major river traffic, but it is used extensively for irrigation in the county. Major creeks emptying into the Kansas River include Cross, Soldier, Mission, Indian, and Shunganunga Creeks. TheWakarusa River, which, flowing east and northeast, empties into the Kansas River in the northeastern part ofDouglas County. It has its sources in the township of Auburn, and waters the southern sections of Auburn, Williamsport and Monmouth—the tributary creeks flowing into it on either side forming the drainage and water system of the three townships.
The soil is a rich dark loam, varying from fifteen feet in some parts of the bottoms, to a uniform surface covering the upland prairie from one to three feet. The underlying formation is limestone. Beds of clay, are well distributed. Coal is found in detached and non-continuous beds, and is mined in a small way for local purposes in Topeka, Soldier and Menoken.
Along the western border the landscape is hilly with theFlint Hills a few miles further west inWabaunsee County. Burnett's Mound is in the southwest part of Topeka. The highest point in Shawnee county is in Auburn (38° 53' 5 N, 95° 56' 35 W). Government and county surveys described the land as "bottom land, 31%; upland, 69%; forest 8%; prairie, 92%." Wooded areas are mainly found along rivers and creeks with no true forests. The growth consists of elm, cottonwood, black walnut, oak, sycamore, box elder, hickory and ash.
The county consists of twelvetownships: Soldier, Menoken, Silver Lake, Grove, and Rossville north of theKansas River; Tecumseh, Topeka, Mission, and Dover south of the river; and Monmouth, Williamsport, and Auburn in the southernmost tier of townships occupying theWakarusa River valley. Being acity of the first class, thecity of Topeka is independent of any townships and excluded from the census figures for the townships. It occupies over ten percent of the county's land area and ranks fourth in population among all cities in Kansas. Altogether, the county has fiveincorporated cities with the other four being cities of the third class:Auburn,Rossville,Silver Lake, andWillard.
Tecumseh Township was one of the two original townships formed in 1855, and it originally extended over all the county south of the Kansas River to the Wakarusa River.[8] The other, Yocum Township, named after county commissioner William Yocum, contained the area south of the Wakarusa River. The formation of the townships of Topeka (1857) and Monmouth (1860) reduced Tecumseh Township to its current greatest extent of about seven miles (11 km) from north to south from the Kansas River and less than seven miles (11 km) from east to west from the county's eastern border. Small portions in the western part have been annexed by the city of Topeka, and its present area is 36 square miles (93 km2). It contains the (unincorporated) towns ofTecumseh,Spencer, andWatson. The town and township were named for the famousShawnee chief.[9]
Topeka Township was carved out of the western portion of Tecumseh Township in 1857.[10] Following the creation of newer townships and annexations by the city of Topeka, the size of the township has been significantly reduced. Today, it occupies 12 square miles (31 km2), and it is in extent about three miles (4.8 km) from north to south and five miles (8.0 km) from east to west. It contains the town ofPauline.[11][12]
Monmouth Township, in the county's southeastern corner, has an area of 56 square miles (150 km2). In extent it is eight miles (13 km) north to south and seven miles (11 km) east to west. It contains the town ofBerryton.Richland, which was in the township's far southeast corner, was purchased by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1960s as a part of the land acquired for Clinton Lake. By 1974, the town was vacated and the remaining buildings were demolished shortly afterward.[citation needed]
Williamsport Township, established in 1860, was named afterWilliamsport,Pennsylvania.[13] With an area of 41 square miles (110 km2), it is in extent six miles (9.7 km) from north to south to the county's southern border and seven miles (11 km) from east to west between Monmouth and Auburn townships. It contains the towns ofWakarusa andCullen Village and the greater portion ofForbes Field (airport).
Auburn Township, 56 square miles (150 km2) in area, occupies the county's southwestern corner. In extent it is six miles (9.7 km) from north to south and ten miles (16 km) from east to west, and it contains the city of Auburn.
Dover Township was carved from northern portions of Auburn Township in 1867 and named afterDover,New Hampshire.[14] In extent it is twelve miles (19 km) from north to south from the Kansas River and six miles (9.7 km) from east to west to the county's western border, with an area of 57 square miles (150 km2). It includes the city of Willard and the towns ofDover andValencia.
Mission Township was formed from parts of Dover and Topeka townships in 1871.[15] The City of Topeka has since annexed northeastern portions of the township. It now occupies 32 square miles (83 km2), and its greatest extent is not more than eight miles (13 km) from north to south and six miles (9.7 km) from east to west. It contains several subdivisions and theSherwood Lake area.
Soldier Township was organized following the change in the county's borders in 1860, and it contained all of the county north of the Kansas River until the formation of Silver Lake Township in 1868.[16] A southern portion of the township has been annexed by the city of Topeka. With an area of 63 square miles (160 km2), it is in extent less than ten miles (16 km) from north to south from the county's northern border and less than eight miles (13 km) from east to west from the county's eastern border. It contains the town ofElmont.
Silver Lake Township was carved out of the western portion of Soldier Township after the county's northern border was moved in 1868.[16] The formation of the surrounding townships of Rossville (1871) to the west, Menoken (1879) to the east, and Grove (1918) to the north has reduced the size of the township. With an area of 18 square miles (47 km2), its greatest extent is about five miles (8.0 km) from north to south to the Kansas River and five miles (8.0 km) from east to west. It contains the city of Silver Lake, and it is named after acrescent-shaped lake near the city.[17]
Rossville Township, occupying the county's northwestern corner, was carved out of the western part of Silver Lake Township in 1871.[18] It has an area of 52 square miles (130 km2), and its greatest extent is about nine miles (14 km) from north to south to the Kansas River and seven miles (11 km) from east to west. It includes the city of Rossville. The township and city were named for William W. Ross, the brother of SenatorEdmund G. Ross.[19]
Menoken Township, 45 square miles (120 km2) in area, was carved out of the eastern portions of Silver Lake Township in 1879.[15] Extending from the county's northern border to the Kansas River, it is not more than eleven miles (18 km) in extent from north to south and less than five miles (8.0 km) from east to west. The township's name is derived from a Native American word meaning "fine growth" or "a place for fine growing".[15]
Grove Township is the youngest of the townships. It was carved out of the northern portion of Silver Lake Township in 1918.[20] Very little remains of its only town,Grove. With an area of 30 square miles (78 km2), the township is six miles (9.7 km) in extent from north to south from the county's northern border and five miles (8.0 km) from east to west between Menoken and Rossville townships.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 3,513 | — | |
| 1870 | 13,121 | 273.5% | |
| 1880 | 29,093 | 121.7% | |
| 1890 | 49,172 | 69.0% | |
| 1900 | 53,727 | 9.3% | |
| 1910 | 61,874 | 15.2% | |
| 1920 | 69,159 | 11.8% | |
| 1930 | 85,200 | 23.2% | |
| 1940 | 91,247 | 7.1% | |
| 1950 | 105,418 | 15.5% | |
| 1960 | 141,286 | 34.0% | |
| 1970 | 155,322 | 9.9% | |
| 1980 | 154,916 | −0.3% | |
| 1990 | 160,976 | 3.9% | |
| 2000 | 169,871 | 5.5% | |
| 2010 | 177,934 | 4.7% | |
| 2020 | 178,909 | 0.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 177,746 | [21] | −0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[22] 1790-1960[23] 1900-1990[24] 1990-2000[25] 2010-2020[2] | |||
Shawnee County is included in the TopekaMetropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 232,670 in 2021.[26]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 169,871 people, 68,920 households, and 44,660 families residing in the county. The population density was 309 inhabitants per square mile (119/km2). There were 73,768 housing units at an average density of 134 per square mile (52/km2). The county's racial makeup was 82.89%White, 9.03%Black orAfrican American, 1.17%Native American, 0.95%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 3.20% fromother races, and 2.72% from two or more races. 7.26% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 68,920households, of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.60% weremarried couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% 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 2.98.
25.30% of the county's residents were under the age of 18, 8.80% were from 18 to 24, 28.40% were from 25 to 44, 23.70% were from 45 to 64, and 13.70% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.
The county'smedian household income was $40,988, and the median family income was $51,464. Males had a median income of $35,586 versus $26,491 for females. The county'sper capita income was $20,904. About 6.30% of families and 9.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.
At the state level, Shawnee County has frequently voted for Democratic candidates. In fact, the county has gone Democratic in eight of the last eleven gubernatorial races since 1974.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 4,403 | 72.49% | 1,548 | 25.49% | 123 | 2.03% |
| 1884 | 5,987 | 68.41% | 2,482 | 28.36% | 283 | 3.23% |
| 1888 | 7,672 | 68.48% | 3,143 | 28.05% | 388 | 3.46% |
| 1892 | 6,759 | 60.82% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,354 | 39.18% |
| 1896 | 6,958 | 55.16% | 5,536 | 43.89% | 120 | 0.95% |
| 1900 | 7,667 | 60.28% | 4,875 | 38.33% | 177 | 1.39% |
| 1904 | 8,409 | 73.18% | 2,441 | 21.24% | 641 | 5.58% |
| 1908 | 7,554 | 56.28% | 5,585 | 41.61% | 282 | 2.10% |
| 1912 | 3,592 | 27.33% | 5,094 | 38.76% | 4,455 | 33.90% |
| 1916 | 12,634 | 54.90% | 9,468 | 41.14% | 912 | 3.96% |
| 1920 | 14,814 | 66.28% | 7,217 | 32.29% | 318 | 1.42% |
| 1924 | 20,132 | 72.21% | 5,099 | 18.29% | 2,647 | 9.49% |
| 1928 | 24,723 | 76.46% | 7,433 | 22.99% | 180 | 0.56% |
| 1932 | 19,847 | 53.44% | 16,471 | 44.35% | 823 | 2.22% |
| 1936 | 19,785 | 46.13% | 22,942 | 53.49% | 162 | 0.38% |
| 1940 | 23,882 | 54.96% | 19,375 | 44.59% | 197 | 0.45% |
| 1944 | 21,396 | 59.03% | 14,678 | 40.49% | 173 | 0.48% |
| 1948 | 23,673 | 52.83% | 20,346 | 45.41% | 789 | 1.76% |
| 1952 | 33,201 | 65.01% | 17,651 | 34.56% | 215 | 0.42% |
| 1956 | 32,647 | 66.52% | 16,298 | 33.21% | 130 | 0.26% |
| 1960 | 33,803 | 60.63% | 21,799 | 39.10% | 147 | 0.26% |
| 1964 | 25,736 | 45.45% | 30,626 | 54.09% | 263 | 0.46% |
| 1968 | 31,140 | 52.03% | 21,735 | 36.32% | 6,975 | 11.65% |
| 1972 | 43,727 | 66.75% | 20,383 | 31.12% | 1,396 | 2.13% |
| 1976 | 37,101 | 55.07% | 28,578 | 42.42% | 1,691 | 2.51% |
| 1980 | 36,290 | 53.54% | 24,852 | 36.67% | 6,634 | 9.79% |
| 1984 | 43,465 | 61.57% | 26,338 | 37.31% | 786 | 1.11% |
| 1988 | 35,489 | 50.56% | 33,940 | 48.35% | 768 | 1.09% |
| 1992 | 29,344 | 35.66% | 31,972 | 38.86% | 20,968 | 25.48% |
| 1996 | 34,845 | 46.05% | 32,803 | 43.35% | 8,015 | 10.59% |
| 2000 | 35,894 | 48.26% | 34,818 | 46.82% | 3,661 | 4.92% |
| 2004 | 44,188 | 54.17% | 36,264 | 44.45% | 1,125 | 1.38% |
| 2008 | 41,476 | 49.05% | 41,235 | 48.77% | 1,839 | 2.18% |
| 2012 | 37,782 | 49.38% | 36,975 | 48.33% | 1,751 | 2.29% |
| 2016 | 35,934 | 46.81% | 33,926 | 44.19% | 6,906 | 9.00% |
| 2020 | 40,443 | 46.96% | 43,015 | 49.95% | 2,664 | 3.09% |
| 2024 | 39,901 | 48.45% | 40,308 | 48.95% | 2,141 | 2.60% |
Since 1992, Shawnee County has become competitive in presidential elections with a slightRepublican tilt.Bill Clinton in1992 remained the last Democratic candidate to win Shawnee County until Joe Biden won the county in 2020.
FromBob Dole in1996 to 2016, Republicans carried the county with a plurality, with the sole exception beingGeorge W. Bush in his2004 reelection bid. In 2008, RepublicanJohn McCain won Shawnee County over DemocratBarack Obama by a margin of 49.05% to 48.77%, a margin of 241 votes. In2016,Donald Trump won the county againstHillary Clinton with a margin of 48% to 45.17%, a 2.83% margin, or 2,079 votes.
In 2020,Biden won Shawnee by a 3% margin, the first Democratic victory in the capital county in 28 years. His performance was the best in the county sinceLyndon Johnson's 54% showing in 1964, as Clinton only managed 38% in his 1992 victory in the county. Shawnee was one of two counties to be won by Clinton once and then vote Republican before being won by Biden in 2020, the other beingHays County in Texas.
In 2024,Donald Trump became the first Republican to win a presidential election without carrying Shawnee.
Shawnee County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until theKansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 1994.[28]
The county voted "No" on the2022 Kansas abortion referendum, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 66% to 34%, outpacing its narrow support ofJoe Biden during the2020 presidential election.[29]
Interstate 70 crosses the county, as does theKansas Turnpike.U.S. Route 75 crosses the county north to south andU.S. Route 24 andU.S. Route 40 cross the county west to east.K-4 serves part of the county from Dover in the southwestern corner through Topeka, across the Kansas River and north into Jefferson County.
Forbes Field Air National Guard base and airport is south of Topeka, near Pauline. The airport was served byAllegiant Air with biweekly service toLas Vegas. Other airports in the county includePhilip Billard Municipal Airport in the Oakland neighborhood of Topeka.
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Shawnee County.[30]
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
† means a community is designated aCensus-Designated Place (CDP) by theUnited States Census Bureau.
Shawnee County is divided into 12 townships. As a city of the first class,Topeka is consideredgovernmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the city included in that township's population total.
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Places adjacent to Shawnee County, Kansas | |
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Municipalities and communities ofShawnee County, Kansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Townships | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This community also has portions in an adjacent county or counties. | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
