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Bourbon County, Kansas

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Bourbon County, Kansas
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
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 (9.3 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
14,360
 • Estimate 
(2025)
14,319 Decrease
 • Density22.6/sq mi (8.73/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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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, in particular with the Osage.[3] The county's first settlers, many of whom were proslavery, 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. Postwar years saw the railroad's arrival, connecting Bourbon County to broader markets and facilitating the expansion of coalmining and agriculture, particularly wheat, corn, and later, grain 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 and 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 3.6 sq mi (9.3 km2) (0.6%) are covered by 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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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%
2025 (est.)14,319[10] Decrease−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,360.[15] The median age was 38.6 years; 25.5% of residents were under 18 and 19.8% were 65 or older.[16] For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 96.3 males 18 and over.[17] About 51.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 48.2% lived in rural areas.[17]

The racial makeup of the county was 87.6% White, 3.3% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 6.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.[15]

Of the 5,666 households in the county, 31.2% had children under18 living with them, 25.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, 28.8% were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.[16]

The county had 6,770 housing units, of which 16.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.4% were owner-occupied and 30.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.[16]

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census,[18] 15,379 people, 6,161 households, and 4,127 families resided in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). The 7,135 housing units had 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. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.29% of the population.

Of the 6,161 households, 30.5% had children under 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were not families. About 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the age distribution was 25.8% under 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median income in the county for a household was $31,199 and 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 9.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under 18 and 13.4% of those 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[19][20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1888 3,569 57.07% 1,831 29.28% 854 13.66%
1892 2,803 49.24% 0 0.00% 2,889 50.76%
1896 2,900 48.20% 3,067 50.97% 50 0.83%
1900 3,024 51.36% 2,799 47.54% 65 1.10%
1904 3,234 59.26% 1,808 33.13% 415 7.60%
1908 2,695 47.83% 2,686 47.67% 253 4.49%
1912 1,448 27.04% 2,209 41.25% 1,698 31.71%
1916 3,370 37.58% 5,209 58.09% 388 4.33%
1920 4,194 52.09% 3,632 45.11% 225 2.79%
1924 4,210 48.96% 2,850 33.15% 1,538 17.89%
1928 7,251 75.88% 2,223 23.26% 82 0.86%
1932 4,277 42.62% 5,577 55.58% 181 1.80%
1936 5,402 48.58% 5,714 51.38% 4 0.04%
1940 5,751 53.61% 4,898 45.66% 78 0.73%
1944 4,790 56.68% 3,622 42.86% 39 0.46%
1948 4,225 51.43% 3,879 47.22% 111 1.35%
1952 5,785 65.26% 3,023 34.10% 56 0.63%
1956 5,306 62.39% 3,151 37.05% 47 0.55%
1960 5,062 63.03% 2,928 36.46% 41 0.51%
1964 3,290 44.93% 3,980 54.35% 53 0.72%
1968 3,983 56.87% 2,241 32.00% 780 11.14%
1972 4,776 70.09% 1,912 28.06% 126 1.85%
1976 3,589 51.80% 3,237 46.72% 103 1.49%
1980 4,263 59.22% 2,605 36.19% 331 4.60%
1984 4,858 68.40% 2,175 30.63% 69 0.97%
1988 3,660 57.80% 2,623 41.42% 49 0.77%
1992 2,876 40.17% 2,509 35.05% 1,774 24.78%
1996 3,318 50.17% 2,491 37.66% 805 12.17%
2000 3,852 61.07% 2,211 35.05% 245 3.88%
2004 4,372 65.39% 2,216 33.14% 98 1.47%
2008 4,240 62.53% 2,394 35.30% 147 2.17%
2012 4,102 65.59% 1,996 31.92% 156 2.49%
2016 4,424 72.61% 1,336 21.93% 333 5.47%
2020 5,023 75.24% 1,541 23.08% 112 1.68%
2024 5,003 76.13% 1,444 21.97% 125 1.90%

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.[21]

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[22] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Bourbon County.[22]

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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† means a community is designated a census-designated place by the United States Census Bureau

Townships

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Bourbon County is divided into 11 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Drywood187503943 (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
Franklin243003122 (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
Freedom24600Fulton5054 (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
Marion44650Bronson,
Uniontown		1,1654 (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
Marmaton449008156 (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 Creek466754723 (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
Osage531003943 (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
Pawnee547753082 (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
Scott635002,32613 (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
Timberhill70600Mapleton2563 (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
Walnut748501351 (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

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Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "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. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  4. 1 2 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. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  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. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. ↑ Kobach, Kris (November 8, 2016). "2016 General Election Presidential Results by County". Secretary of State of Kansas. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ Schwab, Scott (November 5, 2024). "Election Results". Secretary of State of Kansas. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  21. ↑ "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.
  22. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Bourbon County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). October 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 5, 2024.
  23. ↑ Hogg, Ben (February 12, 2012). "Richard Christy – From Rags to Richard". Metal Maniacs. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Jonathan M. Davis". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  25. ↑ "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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[edit]
County
Maps
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