County in Kansas, United States
County in Kansas
Butler County is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas and is the largest county in the state by total area.[ 3] county seat is El Dorado and its most populous city is Andover .[ 4] 2020 census , the county population was 67,380.[ 1] Andrew Butler , a U.S. Senator from South Carolina who coauthored the Kansas–Nebraska Act .
History
Early history
For many millennia , the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans . From the 16th century to 18th century, 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 , per the Treaty of Fontainebleau . In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles.
In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre . In 1848, after the Mexican–American War , the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state .
19th century
In 1855, Butler County was founded. It was named in honor of a U.S. Senator from South Carolina , Andrew Butler (1796-1857), who was one of the authors of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 and a strong advocate of Kansas becoming a slave state .[ 5]
In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado , in 1881 it was extended to Douglass , and later to Arkansas City .[ 6] Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway . The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942.[ 7] Florence , Burns , De Graff , El Dorado , Augusta , Douglass , Rock , Akron , Winfield , Arkansas City .
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington to Caldwell .[ 8] Herington , Lost Springs , Lincolnville , Antelope , Marion , Aulne , Peabody , Elbing , Whitewater , Furley , Kechi , Wichita , Peck , Corbin , Wellington , Caldwell . By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas . This line is called the "OKT". The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway , which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad , merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad , and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad . Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".
21st century
In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Butler County (near Potwin , Towanda , Augusta , Douglass ), with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).[ 9] [ 10] Burns was built 2 miles north of Potwin , and new power lines were built from a high-voltage line 0.3 mile east of De Graff .[ 11]
In an unusual technical glitch, a farmstead about 4 miles northeast of Potwin became the default site of 600 million IP addresses (due to their lack of fine granularity) when the Massachusetts-based digital mapping company MaxMind changed the putative geographic center of the contiguous United States from 39.8333333,-98.585522 to 38.0000,-97.0000.[ 12] [ 13]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has an area of 1,447 square miles (3,750 km2 ), of which 1,430 square miles (3,700 km2 ) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2 ) (1.2%) is water.[ 14]
Adjacent counties
Major highways
Sources: National Atlas,[ 15] [ 16]
Demographics
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
Census Pop. Note %± 1860 437 — 1870 3,035 594.5% 1880 18,586 512.4% 1890 24,055 29.4% 1900 23,363 −2.9% 1910 23,059 −1.3% 1920 43,842 90.1% 1930 35,904 −18.1% 1940 32,013 −10.8% 1950 31,001 −3.2% 1960 38,395 23.9% 1970 38,658 0.7% 1980 44,782 15.8% 1990 50,580 12.9% 2000 59,482 17.6% 2010 65,880 10.8% 2020 67,380 2.3% 2023 (est.) 68,632 [ 2] 1.9%
Butler County is part of the Wichita , KS Metropolitan Statistical Area .
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, 59,482 people, 21,527 households, and 16,059 families resided in the county. The population density was 42 inhabitants per square mile (16/km2 ). There were 23,176 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km2 ). The county's racial makeup was 94.94% White , 1.38% Black or African American , 0.91% Native American , 0.40% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.66% from other races, and 1.69% two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.
There were 21,527 households , of which 37.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.60% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.40% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.
The county's median household income was $45,474, and the median family income was $53,632. Males had a median income of $38,675 versus $26,109 for females. The county's per capita income was $20,150. About 5.40% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Presidential elections
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Butler County, Kansas[ 21]
Year
Republican
Democratic
Third party(ies)
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
2024 22,426
69.57%
9,150
28.38%
660
2.05%
2020 22,634
69.60%
9,181
28.23%
705
2.17%
2016 19,073
68.96%
6,573
23.77%
2,011
7.27%
2012 18,157
69.61%
7,282
27.92%
646
2.48%
2008 18,155
65.13%
9,159
32.86%
559
2.01%
2004 18,438
70.16%
7,495
28.52%
347
1.32%
2000 13,377
63.69%
6,755
32.16%
870
4.14%
1996 13,979
58.70%
7,294
30.63%
2,543
10.68%
1992 9,166
38.79%
7,029
29.75%
7,434
31.46%
1988 10,976
57.60%
7,690
40.35%
390
2.05%
1984 12,976
66.33%
6,371
32.56%
217
1.11%
1980 10,210
55.33%
6,875
37.26%
1,368
7.41%
1976 8,390
48.45%
8,540
49.32%
386
2.23%
1972 11,045
67.39%
4,669
28.49%
675
4.12%
1968 7,893
50.79%
5,952
38.30%
1,696
10.91%
1964 6,364
40.97%
9,061
58.34%
107
0.69%
1960 10,059
58.37%
7,112
41.27%
61
0.35%
1956 9,591
60.73%
6,158
38.99%
45
0.28%
1952 10,179
65.04%
5,359
34.24%
113
0.72%
1948 6,551
50.58%
6,269
48.40%
132
1.02%
1944 7,064
53.50%
6,084
46.08%
55
0.42%
1940 7,619
49.60%
7,615
49.58%
126
0.82%
1936 6,204
39.99%
9,283
59.84%
27
0.17%
1932 6,116
43.70%
7,447
53.22%
431
3.08%
1928 10,168
79.43%
2,533
19.79%
101
0.79%
1924 7,367
57.93%
3,642
28.64%
1,707
13.42%
1920 6,821
60.56%
4,112
36.51%
331
2.94%
1916 3,614
43.16%
4,248
50.73%
511
6.10%
1912 971
18.30%
2,005
37.79%
2,330
43.91%
1908 3,049
53.97%
2,290
40.54%
310
5.49%
1904 3,306
61.90%
1,540
28.83%
495
9.27%
1900 2,947
50.64%
2,752
47.29%
120
2.06%
1896 2,414
44.91%
2,926
54.44%
35
0.65%
1892 2,650
48.62%
0
0.00%
2,800
51.38%
1888 3,172
55.36%
1,616
28.20%
942
16.44%
Like of most of Kansas’ counties, Butler county is solidly Republican. In 2008, John McCain carried the county by a nearly two-to-one margin over Barack Obama . Since 1992, no Democratic candidate has received so much as forty percent of the county's vote.[ 22] Jimmy Carter in 1976.[ 23]
Laws
Butler County was a prohibition, or "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.[ 24]
Education
College
Unified school districts
School district office in neighboring county
Private schools
Communities
2005 map of Butler County[ 25] map legend ) List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Butler County.[ 25]
Cities
Unincorporated communities
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau .
Ghost towns
Aikman
Alki
Amador
Browntown
Chelsea (now lies under El Dorado Lake)
Durachen
Frazier
Lorena
Magna City
Midian
Oil Hill Oil Valley
Ophir
Plum Grove Providence
Ramsey
Salter
Vanora
Wingate
Townships
Butler County is divided into twenty-nine townships . The cities of Augusta and El Dorado 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.
Township
FIPS Population
Population
Population/km2 (/sq mi)
Land areakm2 (sq mi)
Water areakm2 (sq mi)
Water %
Geographic coordinates
Augusta 03325
1,405
17 (43)
84 (32)
1 (0)
0.68%
37°41′32″N 96°59′15″W / 37.69222°N 96.98750°W / 37.69222; -96.98750
Benton 06200
Benton 2,211
24 (61)
93 (36)
0 (0)
0%
37°47′0″N 97°6′11″W / 37.78333°N 97.10306°W / 37.78333; -97.10306
Bloomington 07500
544
6 (15)
93 (36)
0 (0)
0%
37°35′57″N 96°54′1″W / 37.59917°N 96.90028°W / 37.59917; -96.90028
Bruno 08825
Andover 9,744
107 (278)
91 (35)
0 (0)
0.10%
37°41′37″N 97°6′48″W / 37.69361°N 97.11333°W / 37.69361; -97.11333
Chelsea 12750
190
1 (2)
261 (101)
17 (7)
6.15%
37°55′27″N 96°44′34″W / 37.92417°N 96.74278°W / 37.92417; -96.74278
Clay 13575
83
1 (2)
94 (36)
0 (0)
0.22%
37°31′21″N 96°45′39″W / 37.52250°N 96.76083°W / 37.52250; -96.76083
Clifford 14175
259
2 (6)
108 (42)
0 (0)
0.18%
38°2′7″N 96°58′41″W / 38.03528°N 96.97806°W / 38.03528; -96.97806
Douglass 18425
Douglass 2,306
25 (64)
93 (36)
0 (0)
0.32%
37°31′1″N 97°0′33″W / 37.51694°N 97.00917°W / 37.51694; -97.00917
El Dorado 20100
1,700
12 (32)
140 (54)
2 (1)
1.46%
37°48′38″N 96°52′23″W / 37.81056°N 96.87306°W / 37.81056; -96.87306
Fairmount 22275
Elbing 511
5 (14)
94 (36)
0 (0)
0.14%
38°2′34″N 97°5′53″W / 38.04278°N 97.09806°W / 38.04278; -97.09806
Fairview 22450
491
5 (14)
92 (36)
0 (0)
0.14%
37°52′15″N 96°59′46″W / 37.87083°N 96.99611°W / 37.87083; -96.99611
Glencoe 26400
239
1 (4)
161 (62)
1 (0)
0.60%
37°41′29″N 96°36′57″W / 37.69139°N 96.61583°W / 37.69139; -96.61583
Hickory 31750
90
1 (1)
162 (62)
1 (0)
0.67%
37°37′5″N 96°37′45″W / 37.61806°N 96.62917°W / 37.61806; -96.62917
Lincoln 40500
317
1 (3)
257 (99)
2 (1)
0.64%
37°57′6″N 96°53′1″W / 37.95167°N 96.88361°W / 37.95167; -96.88361
Little Walnut 41625
Leon 1,002
11 (28)
94 (36)
0 (0)
0.44%
37°41′34″N 96°46′37″W / 37.69278°N 96.77694°W / 37.69278; -96.77694
Logan 41775
154
2 (4)
94 (36)
0 (0)
0.16%
37°37′15″N 96°45′13″W / 37.62083°N 96.75361°W / 37.62083; -96.75361
Milton 46875
Whitewater 1,136
12 (31)
94 (36)
0 (0)
0.15%
37°57′21″N 97°7′14″W / 37.95583°N 97.12056°W / 37.95583; -97.12056
Murdock 49225
378
4 (10)
93 (36)
0 (0)
0%
37°51′42″N 97°6′23″W / 37.86167°N 97.10639°W / 37.86167; -97.10639
Pleasant 56200
Rose Hill (part)4,649
50 (129)
93 (36)
0 (0)
0.11%
37°35′49″N 97°6′54″W / 37.59694°N 97.11500°W / 37.59694; -97.11500
Plum Grove 56850
Potwin 661
7 (19)
92 (36)
1 (0)
0.58%
37°56′46″N 97°0′51″W / 37.94611°N 97.01417°W / 37.94611; -97.01417
Prospect 57775
2,033
10 (26)
203 (78)
16 (6)
7.20%
37°49′25″N 96°45′35″W / 37.82361°N 96.75972°W / 37.82361; -96.75972
Richland 59250
Rose Hill (part)
2,399
26 (66)
94 (36)
0 (0)
0.02%
37°31′37″N 97°6′29″W / 37.52694°N 97.10806°W / 37.52694; -97.10806
Rock Creek 60475
299
3 (8)
94 (36)
0 (0)
0%
37°31′19″N 96°53′3″W / 37.52194°N 96.88417°W / 37.52194; -96.88417
Rosalia 61125
589
4 (9)
162 (63)
1 (0)
0.58%
37°46′47″N 96°37′22″W / 37.77972°N 96.62278°W / 37.77972; -96.62278
Spring 67275
1,566
17 (43)
94 (36)
0 (0)
0.13%
37°41′36″N 96°52′52″W / 37.69333°N 96.88111°W / 37.69333; -96.88111
Sycamore 69700
Cassoday 333
1 (3)
295 (114)
2 (1)
0.76%
38°1′15″N 96°40′19″W / 38.02083°N 96.67194°W / 38.02083; -96.67194
Towanda 71150
Towanda 2,727
29 (76)
93 (36)
0 (0)
0.14%
37°47′32″N 96°59′43″W / 37.79222°N 96.99528°W / 37.79222; -96.99528
Union 72050
Latham 226
1 (4)
161 (62)
1 (0)
0.72%
37°32′2″N 96°38′41″W / 37.53389°N 96.64472°W / 37.53389; -96.64472
Walnut 74900
760
8 (21)
92 (36)
1 (0)
0.77%
37°36′4″N 96°59′31″W / 37.60111°N 96.99194°W / 37.60111; -96.99194
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files" . U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.
See also
Community information for Kansas
References
^ a b c "QuickFacts; Butler County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010" . United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021 .^ a b "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023" . United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024 .^ "Kansas Land Area County Rank" .^ "Find a County" . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011 .^ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc 261 . ^ Marion County Kansas : Past and Present ; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.^ Railway Abandonment 1942 ^ "Rock Island Rail History" . Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011 .^ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal ; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ^ Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline ; December 10, 2010. ^ Keystone Pipeline - Burns Pumping Station - New Powerline Map; Trow Engineering Consultants and TransCanda; 2010. ^ Hill, Kashmir (April 10, 2016). "How an internet mapping glitch turned a random Kansas farm into a digital hell" . Fusion. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016 . ^ Kansas couple sues over internet glitch targeting their home; The Wichita Eagle; August 8, 2016. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990" . United States Census Bureau . February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011 .^ National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine ^ "U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files" . Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017 .^ "U.S. Decennial Census" . United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2014 .^ "Historical Census Browser" . University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 21, 2014 .^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990" . United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2014 .^ "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 .^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" .^ The New York Times Electoral Map (Zoom in on Kansas) ^ David Leip's Presidential Election Atlas - 1976 statistics ^ "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 .^ a b "General Highway Map of Butler County, Kansas" (PDF) . Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). May 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2024.
Further reading
External links
County Historical Maps
Places adjacent to Butler County, Kansas
International National Geographic Other
