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Decatur County, Kansas

Decatur County (county code DC) is a county located in Northwest Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was estimated to be 3,120 in the year 2006. Its county seat and most populous city is Oberlin. The county is named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.

History

The county was established March 20, 1873 and organized on December 15, 1879. It is named for the Navy war hero Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr., who served during the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. Oberlin was the site of the last Native American (specifically the Northern Cheyenne) Raid in Kansas.

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2002, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 894 square miles (2,316 km²), of which 894 square miles (2,314 km²) is land and 1 square miles (2 km²), or 0.07%, is water.

Adjacent counties

Red Willow County, Nebraska (north)
Furnas County, Nebraska (northeast)
Norton County (east)
Sheridan County (south)
Thomas County (southwest)
Rawlins County (west)

Demographics

Decatur County's population was estimated to be 3,120 in the year 2006, a decrease of 341, or -9.9%, over the previous six years.

As of the U.S. Census in 2000, there were 3,472 people, 1,494 households, and 981 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 1,821 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.87% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 1,494 households out of which 25.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.60% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 26.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,257, and the median income for a family was $34,982. Males had a median income of $25,139 versus $17,368 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,348. About 8.00% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

Oberlin, 1,862 (county seat)
Norcatur, 162
Jennings, 134
Clayton, 65
Dresden, 49

Unincorporated places

Allison
Cedar Bluffs
Kanona
Leoville
Lyle
Traer

Townships

Decatur County is divided into twenty-five townships. The city of Oberlin 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	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %
Allison	01300	39	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%
Altory	01650	16	0 (0)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Bassettville	04475	26	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Beaver	05050	86	1 (2)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.11%
Center	11650	60	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%
Cook	15375	44	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.08%
Custer	16850	27	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%
Dresden	18625	141	2 (4)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%
Finley	23425	39	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Garfield	25525	41	0 (1)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Grant	27600	31	0 (1)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%
Harlan	30050	51	1 (1)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%
Jennings	35400	173	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.34%
Liberty	39975	48	1 (1)	91 (35)	0 (0)	0.03%
Lincoln	40600	203	2 (6)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%
Logan	41825	52	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Lyon	43450	24	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %
Oberlin	52025	91	1 (3)	89 (34)	0 (0)	0.08%
Olive	52675	68	1 (2)	92 (35)	1 (0)	0.65%
Pleasant Valley	56525	46	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%
Prairie Dog	57475	50	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%
Roosevelt	61025	32	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%
Sappa	63050	43	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%
Sherman	64900	25	0 (1)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%
Summit	69075	22	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.09%
Sources: Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files. U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. .

Education

Unified school districts

Oberlin USD 294: DCHS (Decatur Community High School) OES (Oberlin Elementary School) Oberlin was going to have a Community College, however, this proposal was voted against and the college went to Colby, where it is now Colby Community College.