Bourbon County, Kansas

Bourbon County
County
Bourbon County Courthouse in Fort Scott (2016)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°51′N94°51′W / 37.850°N 94.850°W / 37.850; -94.850
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	August 25, 1855
Named for	Bourbon County, Kentucky
Seat	Fort Scott
Largest city	Fort Scott
Area
• Total	639 sq mi (1,660 km2)
• Land	635 sq mi (1,640 km2)
• Water	3.6 sq mi (9 km2)  0.6%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	14,360
• Density	22.6/sq mi (8.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	620
Congressional district	2nd
Website	BourbonCountyKS.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

Early history

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

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

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

• Linn County (north)
• Vernon County, Missouri (east)
• Crawford County (south)
• Neosho County (southwest)
• Allen County (west)
• Anderson County (northwest)

National protected area

• Fort Scott National Historic Site

Major highways

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

• U.S. Route 54
• U.S. Route 69
• Kansas Highway 3
• Kansas Highway 7
• Kansas Highway 31
• Kansas Highway 39
• Kansas Highway 65

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	6,101		—
1870	15,076		147.1%
1880	19,591		29.9%
1890	28,575		45.9%
1900	24,712		−13.5%
1910	24,007		−2.9%
1920	23,198		−3.4%
1930	22,386		−3.5%
1940	20,944		−6.4%
1950	19,153		−8.6%
1960	16,090		−16.0%
1970	15,215		−5.4%
1980	15,969		5.0%
1990	14,966		−6.3%
2000	15,379		2.8%
2010	15,173		−1.3%
2020	14,360		−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

Presidential elections

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	75.82%	1,426	21.97%	143	2.20%
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

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

Colleges

• Fort Scott Community College

Unified school districts

• Fort Scott USD 234
• Uniontown USD 235

Communities

2005 map of Bourbon County (map legend)

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

Cities

• Bronson
• Fort Scott (county seat)
• Fulton
• Mapleton
• Redfield
• Uniontown

Unincorporated communities

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

• Barnesville
• Berlin
• Devon†
• Garland†
• Godfrey
• Hammond
• Harding
• Hiattville
• Marmaton
• Pawnee Station
• Porterville
• Xenia

Townships

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″N94°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″N94°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″N94°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″N95°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″N94°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″N94°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″N94°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″N94°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″N94°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″N94°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″N94°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

• Richard Christy (b1974), drummer, radio personality; born and raised in Bourbon County ^[19]
• Jonathan Davis (1871–1943), 22nd Governor of Kansas; born in Bourbon County. ^[20]
• Sarah Hall (1832–1926), president of Bourbon County Equal Suffrage Association; lived in Fort Scott, Bourbon County 1870–1911 ^[21]
• Gordon Parks (1912–2006), photographer, composer, author, poet, and film director, who became prominent in U.S. documentary photojournalism in the 1940s; born in Bourbon County

See also

• Kansas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bourbon County, Kansas

Community information for Kansas

• Kansas locations by per capita income
• List of counties in Kansas
• List of townships in Kansas
• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
• List of ghost towns in Kansas

References

1. "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. 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. "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. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

Further reading

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

• Standard Atlas of Bourbon County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 67 pages; 1920.
• History of Bourbon County, Kansas: To the Close of 1865; Thomas F. Robley; 269 pages; 1894.
• An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Bourbon County, Kansas; Edwards Brothers of Missouri; 55 pages; 1878.

External links

County

• Bourbon County – Official
• Bourbon County – Directory of Public Officials

Maps

• Bourbon County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society