Editing Labette County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Labette County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Big Hill Lake, Labette County, Kansas.jpg
|ex image cap       = [[Big Hill Lake]] (2015)
|founded            = February 26, 1867
|named for          = Pierre La Bette
|seat wl            = Oswego
|largest city wl    = Parsons
|area_total_sq_mi   = 653
|area_land_sq_mi    = 645
|area_water_sq_mi   = 7.8
|area percentage    = 1.2%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF"/>
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 20184
|pop_est_footnotes  =
|pop_est_as_of      =
|population_est     =
|population_density_sq_mi = 31.3

|area codes         = [[Area code 620|620]]
|district           = 2nd
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|https://www.labettecounty.com/|LabetteCounty.com}}
|coordinates        = {{coord|37|12|N|95|17|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Labette County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in [[Southeast Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] is [[Oswego, Kansas|Oswego]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> and its most populous city is [[Parsons, Kansas|Parsons]].  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county population was 20,184.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Labette County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/labettecountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818013102/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/labettecountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was named after LaBette Creek,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.labettecounty.com/category/subcategory.php?categoryid=18 |title=Labette Co History |date=2013 |publisher=Labette County, Kansas |access-date=May 9, 2016 |archive-date=June 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605093013/http://www.labettecounty.com/category/subcategory.php?categoryid=18 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=KSHistory>{{cite web |url=https://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_counties/view/county:LB |title=Kansas Counties:Labette County, Kansas |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref> the second-largest creek in the county, which runs roughly north-northwest-south-southeast from near Parsons to [[Chetopa, Kansas|Chetopa]]. The creek in turn was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette, who had moved to the area, living along the [[Neosho River]], and marrying into the [[Osage people|Osage tribe]] in the 1830s and 1840s.<ref name=KSHistory/>

==History==
{{See also|History of Kansas}}

In the 1840s Labette County had a population mainly consisting of [[Osage people]], although there were also many Cherokee and Euro-Americans. Many of the Euro-Americans were merchants with Osage or Cherokee wives.<ref>[http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/labette/1901/20-26.shtml Nelson Case's history of Labette County, Kansas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707025259/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/labette/1901/20-26.shtml |date=July 7, 2009 }}</ref>

Between 1871 and 1873, at least eleven people vanished in the vicinity of an inn and general store operated by the [[Bloody Benders|Bender 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. Governor [[Thomas A. Osborn]] offered a reward of $2,000 for the apprehension of the Benders, but they were never found.<ref>[http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/bender-knife/10106 "Bender Knife".]  [http://www.kshs.org/ Kansas Historical Society.]  Retrieved May 6, 2016.</ref><ref>Potter, Tim.  [http://www.kansas.com/news/article1121436.html "The Bloody Benders: 140-year-old crime scene still fascinates today".]  [http://www.kansas.com/ ''Wichita Eagle''.]  August 24, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2016.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|653|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|645|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.8|sqmi}} (1.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Neosho County, Kansas|Neosho County]] (north)
* [[Crawford County, Kansas|Crawford County]] (northeast)
* [[Cherokee County, Kansas|Cherokee County]] (east)
* [[Craig County, Oklahoma|Craig County]], [[Oklahoma]] (south)
* [[Nowata County, Oklahoma|Nowata County]], [[Oklahoma]] (southwest)
* [[Montgomery County, Kansas|Montgomery County]] (west)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Labette County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1870= 9973
|1880= 22735
|1890= 27586
|1900= 27387
|1910= 31423
|1920= 34047
|1930= 31346
|1940= 30352
|1950= 29285
|1960= 26805
|1970= 25775
|1980= 25682
|1990= 23693
|2000= 22169
|2010= 21607
|2020= 20184
|estyear=2023
|estimate=19728
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 26, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 26, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ks190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 26, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 26, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

The '''Parsons, KS [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]]''' includes all of Labette County.

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.<ref>2010 census general population statistics on Labette County, Kansa]</ref>

As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 22,835 people, 9,194 households, and 6,114 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|35|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 10,306 housing units at an average density of {{convert|16|/mi2|/km2|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 89.28% [[White American|White]], 4.66% [[Black American|Black]] or [[African American]], 1.95% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.32% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]], 1.20% from other races, and 2.58% from [[Multiracial|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] of any race were 3.07% of the population.

There were 9,194 [[household]]s, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were [[Marriage|married 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.

The [[Median household income|median 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. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,525. About 8.90% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===Presidential elections===
Similar to most rural Kansas counties, Labette County votes predominantly Republican. While [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Bill Clinton]] won the county once each, it has shifted strongly away from the Democratic Party, with [[Hillary Clinton]] garnering the lowest percentage since 1928.
{{Hidden
|headercss  = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|contentcss = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|header     = Presidential election results
|content    =
{{PresHead|place=Labette County, Kansas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,410|2,385|126|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,735|2,655|173|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,335|2,291|592|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,742|3,117|178|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,001|3,839|191|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,400|3,615|124|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,475|3,745|318|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,283|3,931|1,166|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,368|4,196|2,613|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,125|4,433|126|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,542|3,631|87|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,244|3,947|730|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,640|5,294|243|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|6,399|3,210|272|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,503|3,974|1,273|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,761|6,208|93|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|7,491|5,248|68|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|7,677|5,202|57|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,624|5,219|70|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,298|6,113|154|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|7,480|5,398|48|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|8,210|6,860|87|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|6,610|8,050|59|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|5,794|7,667|294|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|9,048|2,969|174|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,593|2,971|2,369|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,596|4,328|460|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|5,328|6,421|755|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,516|2,568|2,853|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,367|2,783|698|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,700|1,637|968|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|3,319|3,425|61|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|3,206|3,669|64|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|2,950|0|3,210|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|2,870|976|2,211|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

===Laws===
Following amendment to the [[Kansas Constitution]] in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or [[dry county|"dry"]], county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm |title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties |publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue |date=November 2006 |access-date=December 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008013617/http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm |archive-date=October 8, 2007 }}</ref>

==Education==

===Colleges===
* [[Labette Community College]]

===Unified school districts===
* [[Parsons USD 503]]
* [[Oswego USD 504]] 
* [[Chetopa–St. Paul USD 505]]
* [[Labette County USD 506]]

;District Office In Neighboring County
* [[Southeast USD 247]]

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Labette Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Labette County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|map legend]])]]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Labette County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Labette County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/labette.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523055322/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/labette.PDF |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |date=September 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Altamont, Kansas|Altamont]]
* [[Bartlett, Kansas|Bartlett]]
* [[Chetopa, Kansas|Chetopa]]
* [[Edna, Kansas|Edna]]
* [[Labette, Kansas|Labette]]
* [[Mound Valley, Kansas|Mound Valley]]
* [[Oswego, Kansas|Oswego]] (county seat)
* [[Parsons, Kansas|Parsons]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
† means a community is designated a [[Census-designated place|Census-Designated Place]] (CDP) by the [[United States Census Bureau]].
{{div col}}
* [[Angola, Kansas|Angola]]
* [[Dennis, Kansas|Dennis]]†
* [[Montana, Kansas|Montana]]
* [[Valeda, Kansas|Valeda]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Mortimer, Kansas|Mortimer]]

===Townships===
Labette County is divided into sixteen [[Civil township|townships]]. The cities of [[Chetopa, Kansas|Chetopa]], [[Oswego, Kansas|Oswego]], and [[Parsons, Kansas|Parsons]] are considered ''governmentally 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.

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- style="background:#ccccff"
! Township !! [[FIPS place code|FIPS]] !! Population<br/>center
! Population !! Population<br/>density<br/><small>/km<sup>2</sup> (/sq&nbsp;mi)</small>
! Land area<br/><small>km<sup>2</sup> (sq&nbsp;mi)</small> !! Water area<br/><small>km<sup>2</sup> (sq&nbsp;mi)</small> !! Water %
! Geographic coordinates
|-
| Canada || 10325 || || 217 || 2 (5) || 103 (40) || 0 (0) || 0.22% || {{coord|37|6|18|N|95|27|4|W|}}
|-
| Elm Grove || 20750 || || 798 || 6 (16) || 130 (50) || 0 (0) || 0.17% || {{coord|37|3|22|N|95|20|12|W|}}
|-
| Fairview || 22550 || || 239 || 3 (7) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.11% || {{coord|37|10|9|N|95|12|6|W|}}
|-
| Hackberry || 29350 || || 403 || 3 (8) || 131 (51) || 0 (0) || 0.15% || {{coord|37|3|30|N|95|12|44|W|}}
|-
| Howard || 33300 || || 357 || 3 (8) || 111 (43) || 0 (0) || 0.13% || {{coord|37|2|23|N|95|27|33|W|}}
|-
| Labette || 37400 || || 373 || 4 (10) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.18% || {{coord|37|15|43|N|95|18|54|W|}}
|-
| Liberty || 40175 || || 395 || 4 (11) || 95 (37) || 0 (0) || 0.11% || {{coord|37|15|47|N|95|11|45|W|}}
|-
| Montana || 47850 || || 179 || 3 (7) || 71 (27) || 1 (1) || 1.90% || {{coord|37|15|28|N|95|7|34|W|}}
|-
| Mound Valley || 48850 || || 806 || 5 (13) || 166 (64) || 0 (0) || 0.11% || {{coord|37|12|30|N|95|25|40|W|}}
|-
| Mount Pleasant || 48950 || || 1,351 || 14 (37) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.34% || {{coord|37|10|50|N|95|18|14|W|}}
|-
| Neosho || 49775 || || 222 || 3 (8) || 70 (27) || 2 (1) || 2.40% || {{coord|37|20|11|N|95|6|37|W|}}
|-
| North || 50975 || || 612 || 7 (19) || 83 (32) || 0 (0) || 0.16% || {{coord|37|19|39|N|95|12|40|W|}}
|-
| Osage || 53150 || || 703 || 4 (12) || 157 (61) || 5 (2) || 2.93% || {{coord|37|20|4|N|95|26|18|W|}}
|-
| Oswego || 53475 || || 310 || 5 (12) || 66 (25) || 1 (0) || 1.73% || {{coord|37|9|21|N|95|6|22|W|}}
|-
| Richland || 59425 || || 303 || 3 (8) || 97 (38) || 0 (0) || 0.43% || {{coord|37|3|29|N|95|6|19|W|}}
|-
| Walton || 75250 || || 726 || 9 (23) || 83 (32) || 0 (0) || 0.16% || {{coord|37|20|59|N|95|19|2|W|}}
|-
|colspan=9|Sources: {{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html |title=Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html |archive-date=August 2, 2002 }}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Labette County, Kansas]]
{{See also Kansas counties}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
;Notes
{{Notelist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* [https://archive.org/details/historyoflabette00case/ ''History of Labette County, Kansas, and Representative Citizens'']; Nelson Case; Biographical Publishing Co; 846 pages; 1901.
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/223965/ ''Atlas and Plat Book of Labette County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 40 pages; 1916.
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209427/ ''Standard Atlas of Labette County, Kansas'']; Kenyon Company; 53 pages; 1906.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Labette County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|https://www.labettecounty.com/|Labette County - Official}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260450 Labette County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Historical
* [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kslabehp/ Labette County History and Heritage Project], Genealogy
;Maps
* Labette County Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/labette.PDF Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Highway Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Railroad Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/BurTransPlan/maps/RRStateMap.asp Current], [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227379 1996], [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227380 1915], KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

{{Geographic location
|Center    = Labette County, Kansas
|North     = [[Neosho County, Kansas|Neosho County]]
|Northeast = [[Crawford County, Kansas|Crawford County]]
|East      = [[Cherokee County, Kansas|Cherokee County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Craig County, Oklahoma]]
|Southwest = [[Nowata County, Oklahoma]]
|West      = [[Montgomery County, Kansas|Montgomery County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Labette County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Labette County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1867]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Kansas]]