Editing Pottawatomie County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Pottawatomie County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = PottawatomieCoCH.JPG
|ex image cap       = Pottawatomie County Courthouse in [[Westmoreland, Kansas|Westmoreland]] (2009)
|founded            = February 20, 1857
|named for          = [[Potawatomi|Potawatomi tribe]]
|seat wl            = Westmoreland
|largest city wl    = Manhattan
|area_total_sq_mi   = 862
|area_land_sq_mi    = 841
|area_water_sq_mi   = 21
|area percentage    = 2.4%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF" />
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 25348
|pop_est_footnotes  = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|pop_est_as_of      = 2023
|population_est     = 26382 {{increase}}
|population_density_sq_mi = 30.1

|district           = 1st
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|https://www.pottcounty.org/|pottcounty.org}}
}}

'''Pottawatomie County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] is [[Westmoreland, Kansas|Westmoreland]].<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>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county population was 25,348.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Pottawatomie County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pottawatomiecountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819063143/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pottawatomiecountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was named for the [[Potawatomi]] tribe.

==History==

===Early history===
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For millennia, the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] were inhabited by nomadic [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. From the 16th to 18th centuries, the [[Kingdom of France]] claimed ownership of large parts of [[North America]]. In 1762, after the [[French and Indian War]], France secretly ceded [[New France]] to [[Spain]], by the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]].

===19th century===
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile [[Louisiana Purchase]].

In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized under the provisions of the [[Kansas–Nebraska Act]], then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]].

In 1857, '''Pottawatomie County''' was established by the Kansas Territorial legislature, out of land formerly included in Riley County. The present county seat of Westmoreland was selected by a vote held in 1882.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|862|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|841|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|21|sqmi}} (2.4%) 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===
* [[Marshall County, Kansas|Marshall County]] (north)
* [[Nemaha County, Kansas|Nemaha County]] (northeast)
* [[Jackson County, Kansas|Jackson County]] (east)
* [[Shawnee County, Kansas|Shawnee County]] (southeast)
* [[Wabaunsee County, Kansas|Wabaunsee County]] (south)
* [[Riley County, Kansas|Riley County]] (west)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Pottawatomie County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1860= 1529
|1870= 7848
|1880= 16350
|1890= 17722
|1900= 18470
|1910= 17522
|1920= 16154
|1930= 15862
|1940= 14015
|1950= 12344
|1960= 11957
|1970= 11755
|1980= 14782
|1990= 16128
|2000= 18209
|2010= 21604
|2020= 25348
|estyear=2023
|estimate=26382
|estref=<ref>{{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 28, 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 28, 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 28, 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 28, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}
Pottawatomie County is part of the [[Manhattan metropolitan area]].

As of the [[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> of 2000, there were 18,209 people, 6,771 households, and 4,929 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|22|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 7,311 housing units at an average density of {{convert|9|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.32% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.66% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.59% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.32% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.60% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.50% from two or more races. 2.26% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 6,771 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.50% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,176, and the median income for a family was $47,261. Males had a median income of $31,368 versus $23,238 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,785. About 6.40% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===Presidential elections===
{{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=Pottawatomie 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|9,811|3,394|267|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|9,452|3,313|318|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|7,612|2,225|856|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|6,804|2,335|340|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|6,929|2,599|349|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6,326|2,176|321|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,985|2,037|709|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,504|1,997|1,243|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,106|2,099|2,785|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,897|2,544|108|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,598|1,798|72|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,895|1,724|525|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,483|2,316|98|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,947|1,298|124|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,267|1,368|495|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,606|2,432|32|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,666|2,125|13|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,335|1,422|25|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,944|1,387|12|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,709|2,167|45|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,074|1,727|18|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,045|2,226|28|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|3,977|3,284|137|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,339|3,910|97|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,451|2,341|24|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,340|1,471|545|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,481|1,293|49|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,688|2,834|104|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,058|1,599|1,559|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,650|1,680|30|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,632|1,045|91|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,556|1,929|46|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,308|2,276|37|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,107|0|2,124|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|2,419|1,471|214|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

Typical of rural Kansas, Pottawatomie County is mostly Republican. The only Democratic presidential candidate to gain a majority in Pottawatomie County has been [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in 1932, while since 1940 only Lyndon Johnson in 1964 has received so much as forty percent of the county's vote.

===Laws===
Pottawatomie County was a prohibition, or [[dry county|"dry"]], county until the [[Kansas Constitution]] was amended in 1986 and 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 28, 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==
[[Image:St. Columbkillane Church.JPG|right|thumb|St. Columbkillane Church in [[Blaine, Kansas|Blaine]]]]

===Unified school districts===
The [[Unified school district|Unified School Districts]] that serve Pottawatomie County include:<ref name=CensusSDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20149_pottawatomie/DC20SD_C20149.pdf|title=2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Pottawatomie County, KS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-02}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20149_pottawatomie/DC20SD_C20149_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Wamego USD 320]]
* [[Kaw Valley USD 321]]
* [[Onaga USD 322]]
* [[Rock Creek USD 323]]

;School district office in neighboring county<ref name=CensusSDMap2020/>
* [[Riley County USD 378]]
* [[Manhattan–Ogden USD 383]]
* [[Blue Valley USD 384]]
* [[Valley Heights USD 498]]
* [[Vermillion USD 380]]

===Private schools===
* [http://www.smac.edu St. Marys Academy & College] (St. Marys)
* [https://flinthillschristianschool.com/ Flint Hills Christian School] (Manhattan)

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Pottawatomie Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|350px|2005 map of Pottawatomie 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 Pottawatomie County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Pottawatomie County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/pottawatomie.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727202558/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/pottawatomie.PDF |archive-date=July 27, 2023 |date=October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
{{div col}}
* [[Belvue, Kansas|Belvue]]
* [[Emmett, Kansas|Emmett]]
* [[Havensville, Kansas|Havensville]]
* [[Louisville, Kansas|Louisville]]
* [[Manhattan, Kansas|Manhattan]]‡ (most in [[Riley County, Kansas|Riley County]])
* [[Olsburg, Kansas|Olsburg]]
* [[Onaga, Kansas|Onaga]]
* [[St. George, Kansas|St. George]]
* [[St. Marys, Kansas|St. Marys]]‡
* [[Wamego, Kansas|Wamego]]
* [[Westmoreland, Kansas|Westmoreland]] (county seat) 
* [[Wheaton, Kansas|Wheaton]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Blaine, Kansas|Blaine]]
* [[Duluth, Kansas|Duluth]]
* [[Flush, Kansas|Flush]]
* [[Fostoria, Kansas|Fostoria]]
* [[Saint Clere, Kansas|Saint Clere]]
* [[Swamp Angel, Kansas|Swamp Angel]]
{{div col end}}

===Former communities===
Prior to the creation of [[Tuttle Creek Lake]], the community of Garrison existed in west central Pottawatomie County.

===Townships===
Pottawatomie County is divided into twenty-three [[Civil township|townships]]. The city of [[Manhattan, Kansas|Manhattan]] 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.

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|+align="bottom"|Sources: [https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html 2000 U.S. Gazetteer] from the [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
|- 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
|-
| Belvue || 05950 || || 404 || 4 (11) || 96 (37) || 1 (0) || 1.05% || {{coord|39|14|7|N|96|11|21|W|}}
|-
| Blue || 07550 || || 1,802 || 16 (41) || 114 (44) || 14 (5) || 10.66% || {{coord|39|13|44|N|96|31|49|W|}}
|-
| Blue Valley || 07725 || || 339 || 3 (8) || 115 (44) || 13 (5) || 9.95% || {{coord|39|26|22|N|96|38|6|W|}}
|-
| Center || 12000 || || 104 || 1 (3) || 78 (30) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|39|21|4|N|96|14|10|W|}}
|-
| Clear Creek || 13800 || || 113 || 1 (3) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|31|6|N|96|23|36|W|}}
|-
| Emmett || 21125 || || 478 || 6 (16) || 77 (30) || 0 (0) || 0.61% || {{coord|39|18|11|N|96|3|46|W|}}
|-
| Grant || 27950 || || 293 || 4 (10) || 77 (30) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|31|27|N|96|5|4|W|}}
|-
| Green || 28450 || || 188 || 2 (4) || 125 (48) || 14 (5) || 9.91% || {{coord|39|21|14|N|96|36|6|W|}}
|-
| Lincoln || 41000 || || 124 || 2 (4) || 77 (30) || 0 (0) || 0.18% || {{coord|39|25|37|N|96|3|26|W|}}
|-
| Lone Tree || 42550 || || 239 || 3 (7) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|30|54|N|96|18|18|W|}}
|-
| Louisville || 42950 || || 735 || 8 (20) || 95 (37) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|39|15|40|N|96|19|10|W|}}
|-
| Mill Creek || 46700 || || 1,000 || 9 (24) || 108 (42) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|30|11|N|96|10|50|W|}}
|-
| Pottawatomie || 57250 || || 499 || 3 (8) || 155 (60) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|39|20|5|N|96|26|26|W|}}
|-
| Rock Creek || 60625 || || 653 || 7 (18) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.19% || {{coord|39|25|41|N|96|24|10|W|}}
|-
| St. Clere || 62150 || || 83 || 1 (3) || 77 (30) || 0 (0) || 0.21% || {{coord|39|21|36|N|96|5|30|W|}}
|-
| St. George || 62225 || || 2,629 || 30 (79) || 87 (33) || 1 (1) || 1.69% || {{coord|39|11|46|N|96|24|56|W|}}
|-
| St. Marys || 62425 || || 2,789 || 28 (73) || 99 (38) || 1 (0) || 0.60% || {{coord|39|11|58|N|96|4|19|W|}}
|-
| Shannon || 64300 || || 235 || 2 (6) || 104 (40) || 0 (0) || 0.08% || {{coord|39|26|19|N|96|30|50|W|}}
|-
| Sherman || 65050 || || 126 || 1 (3) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|39|25|54|N|96|17|29|W|}}
|-
| Spring Creek || 67475 || || 61 || 1 (2) || 103 (40) || 0 (0) || 0.08% || {{coord|39|31|50|N|96|31|19|W|}}
|-
| Union || 72250 || || 164 || 2 (5) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|20|20|N|96|19|34|W|}}
|-
| Vienna || 73875 || || 92 || 1 (3) || 78 (30) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|25|40|N|96|10|28|W|}}
|-
| Wamego || 75350 || || 5,056 || 100 (260) || 50 (19) || 2 (1) || 3.20% || {{coord|39|12|19|N|96|18|20|W|}}
|}

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

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

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/225302/ ''Handbook of Pottawatomie and Riley Counties, Kansas'']; Modern Ago; 20 pages; 1880s.
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209420/ ''Standard Atlas of Pottawatomie County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 57 pages; 1905.
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224040/ ''Onaga Courier's Township Map of Pottawatomie County, Kansas'']; Onaga Courier; 59 pages; 1899.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pottawatomie County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|https://www.pottcounty.org/|Pottawatomie County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260475 Pottawatomie County - Directory of Public Officials]
* [http://www.ecodevo.com Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation - PCEDC]
;Maps
* Pottawatomie County Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/pottawatomie.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
|Centre    = Pottawatomie County, Kansas
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Nemaha County, Kansas|Nemaha County]]
|East      = [[Jackson County, Kansas|Jackson County]]
|Southeast = [[Shawnee County, Kansas|Shawnee County]]
|South     = [[Wabaunsee County, Kansas|Wabaunsee County]]
|Southwest = [[Riley County, Kansas|Riley County]]
|West      = [[Riley County, Kansas|Riley County]]
|Northwest = [[Marshall County, Kansas|Marshall County]]
}}

{{Pottawatomie County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|39|20|N|96|18|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=title}}

[[Category:Pottawatomie County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:Kansas placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in Kansas Territory]]
[[Category:Manhattan, Kansas metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1857]]