Bourbon County, Kansas

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Bourbon County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Fort Scott.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> As of the 2020 census, the county population was 14,360.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was named after Bourbon County, Kentucky, the former home of many early settlers.

History

Early history

Template:See also 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

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,<ref>National Atlas Template:Webarchive</ref> U.S. Census Bureau<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

File:USA Bourbon County, Kansas age pyramid.svg

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Template:US Census population

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 15,379 people, 6,161 households, and 4,127 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,135 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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. Template:Hidden

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Colleges

Fort Scott Community College

Unified school districts

Communities

File:Map of Bourbon Co, Ks, USA.png

2005 map of Bourbon County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Bourbon County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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

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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%	Template:Coord
Franklin	24300		312	2 (4)	185 (71)	0 (0)	0.13%	Template:Coord
Freedom	24600	Fulton	505	4 (12)	113 (44)	0 (0)	0.17%	Template:Coord
Marion	44650	Bronson, Uniontown	1,165	4 (12)	259 (100)	0 (0)	0.19%	Template:Coord
Marmaton	44900		815	6 (15)	145 (56)	0 (0)	0.13%	Template:Coord
Mill Creek	46675		472	3 (9)	136 (52)	1 (0)	0.42%	Template:Coord
Osage	53100		394	3 (8)	125 (48)	0 (0)	0.16%	Template:Coord
Pawnee	54775		308	2 (6)	126 (49)	0 (0)	0.31%	Template:Coord
Scott	63500		2,326	13 (34)	179 (69)	2 (1)	0.94%	Template:Coord
Timberhill	70600	Mapleton	256	3 (7)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%	Template:Coord
Walnut	74850		135	1 (2)	154 (59)	0 (0)	0.13%	Template:Coord
Sources: Template:Cite web

Notable people

Richard Christy (b. 1974), drummer, radio personality; born and raised in Bourbon County<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Jonathan Davis (1871–1943), 22nd Governor of Kansas; born in Bourbon County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sarah Hall (1832–1926), president of Bourbon County Equal Suffrage Association; lived in Fort Scott, Bourbon County 1870–1911<ref name="TheFort1889">Template:Cite news Template:Source-attribution</ref>
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

References

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External links

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County

Maps

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

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