Leavenworth County, Kansas

Leavenworth County (county code LV) is located in the U.S. state of Kansas and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.[3] Its county seat and most populous city is Leavenworth.[4] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 81,881.[1] The county was named after Henry Leavenworth, a general in the Indian Wars who established Fort Leavenworth.

Leavenworth County
County
Leavenworth County Courthouse in Leavenworth
Leavenworth County Courthouse in Leavenworth
Map of Kansas highlighting Leavenworth County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°16′07″N 95°07′32″W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedAugust 25, 1855
Named forHenry Leavenworth
SeatLeavenworth
Largest cityLeavenworth
Area
 • Total469 sq mi (1,210 km2)
 • Land463 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Water6.1 sq mi (16 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total81,881
 • Estimate 
(2021 Increase)[2]
82,184
 • Density176.8/sq mi (68.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteleavenworthcounty.gov

History

Early history
See also: History of Kansas

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.

19th century

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 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Leavenworth County was established, and is among the first 33 counties, which were formed by the first territorial government. It was named, as was its county seat, after Henry Leavenworth, an officer in the War of 1812.[5]

Leavenworth County had the first Kansas State University extension agent in the State.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 469 square miles (1,210 km2), of which 463 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km2) (1.3%) is water.[6] It is the fifth-smallest county in Kansas by total area.

This county's watershed connects with both the Kansas River basin on the south via Stranger Creek and has a Missouri River port city to the east.[7][8]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186012,606—
187032,444157.4%
188032,355−0.3%
189038,48518.9%
190040,9406.4%
191041,2070.7%
192038,402−6.8%
193042,67311.1%
194041,112−3.7%
195042,3613.0%
196048,52414.5%
197053,3409.9%
198054,8092.8%
199064,37117.4%
200068,6916.7%
201076,22711.0%
202081,8817.4%
2021 (est.)82,184[2]0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

The county is a part of the Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census of 2000, there were 68,691 people, 23,071 households, and 17,210 families residing in the county. The population density was 148 people per square mile (57 people/km2). There were 24,401 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.2% White, 10.4% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.

There were 23,071 households, out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 113.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,114, and the median income for a family was $55,805. Males had a median income of $40,047 versus $26,029 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,292. About 4.8% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Leavenworth County, Kansas[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 21,610 59.22% 13,886 38.05% 994 2.72%
2016 17,638 57.57% 10,209 33.32% 2,792 9.11%
2012 17,059 58.65% 11,357 39.05% 669 2.30%
2008 16,791 54.89% 13,255 43.33% 545 1.78%
2004 15,949 58.35% 11,039 40.39% 343 1.25%
2000 12,583 54.07% 9,733 41.82% 955 4.10%
1996 10,778 47.90% 9,098 40.44% 2,624 11.66%
1992 7,738 33.39% 8,077 34.86% 7,357 31.75%
1988 9,913 52.53% 8,797 46.62% 160 0.85%
1984 11,194 62.29% 6,604 36.75% 172 0.96%
1980 9,157 54.98% 6,354 38.15% 1,145 6.87%
1976 8,407 50.11% 8,022 47.81% 349 2.08%
1972 10,762 67.70% 4,727 29.74% 408 2.57%
1968 7,081 48.35% 5,546 37.87% 2,018 13.78%
1964 5,544 42.36% 7,479 57.14% 66 0.50%
1960 7,870 53.06% 6,926 46.70% 36 0.24%
1956 8,826 61.55% 5,480 38.22% 33 0.23%
1952 9,046 61.19% 5,698 38.54% 39 0.26%
1948 6,474 48.61% 6,740 50.61% 103 0.77%
1944 7,282 58.55% 5,097 40.98% 59 0.47%
1940 8,503 58.25% 6,053 41.46% 42 0.29%
1936 8,532 51.39% 7,996 48.17% 73 0.44%
1932 6,484 40.24% 9,507 59.00% 123 0.76%
1928 8,472 56.27% 6,539 43.43% 45 0.30%
1924 9,429 68.05% 2,982 21.52% 1,445 10.43%
1920 6,846 65.05% 3,409 32.39% 269 2.56%
1916 5,536 45.46% 6,002 49.29% 640 5.26%
1912 2,562 33.05% 3,099 39.97% 2,092 26.98%
1908 4,846 53.87% 3,818 42.44% 332 3.69%
1904 5,771 64.15% 2,775 30.85% 450 5.00%
1900 4,162 49.84% 4,109 49.20% 80 0.96%
1896 4,004 45.83% 4,665 53.39% 68 0.78%
1892 3,471 46.96% 0 0.00% 3,921 53.04%
1888 3,272 45.48% 3,516 48.87% 406 5.64%

Laws

Leavenworth 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 percent food sales requirement.[14]

The county voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas Value Them Both Amendment, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 59% to 41% despite backing Donald Trump with 59% of the vote to Joe Biden's 38% in the 2020 presidential election.[15]

Education

Colleges and universities

Unified school districts

School districts include:[16]

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Leavenworth County (map legend)

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Leavenworth County is divided into ten townships. The cities of Lansing and Leavenworth 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Alexandria011008597 (18)123 (48)1 (0)0.62%39°16′8″N 95°7′33″W
Delaware174501,36122 (57)62 (24)3 (1)4.19%39°14′50″N 94°52′40″W
Easton196251,24511 (30)109 (42)0 (0)0.11%39°21′57″N 95°7′27″W
Fairmount22325Basehor6,26661 (159)102 (39)0 (0)0.39%39°8′4″N 94°56′26″W
High Prairie321251,76814 (37)124 (48)0 (0)0.27%39°15′30″N 95°0′34″W
Kickapoo367001,76015 (40)114 (44)3 (1)2.39%39°20′45″N 94°59′29″W
Reno589501,14310 (27)111 (43)2 (1)1.56%39°1′8″N 95°8′8″W
Sherman650002,36722 (57)108 (42)3 (1)2.44%39°0′59″N 95°0′27″W
Stranger685002,45119 (50)127 (49)0 (0)0.17%39°8′16″N 95°2′2″W
Tonganoxie70825Tonganoxie (part)4,85235 (91)137 (53)1 (0)0.66%39°7′0″N 95°6′35″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

Notable people
See also: List of people from Leavenworth County, Kansas

See also
Community information for Kansas

References
  1. "QuickFacts; Leavenworth County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  3. "Population Data and Maps | MARC".
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 183.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. Big Stranger Creek Rogers, H.D., and Johnson, A. Keith. Kansas and Indian territory in The Atlas of the U.S. of North America, Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Mexico, Central America, Cuba and Jamaica. London: E. Stanford, 1857 (no scale). A historical reference showing the Kansas Territory including parts of Colorado. Shows the westward trails.
  8. Lower Kansas (Surf Your Watershed)
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  12. "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 26, 2014.
  13. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  14. "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 28, 2007.
  15. Panetta, Grace (August 3, 2022). "14 of the 19 Kansas counties that rejected an anti-abortion amendment voted for Trump in 2020". Business Insider. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  16. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Leavenworth County, KS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022. - Text list
  17. "Basehor-Linwood School District". www.usd458.org.
  18. USD 449, Easton (May 21, 2023). "Easton USD 449". www.easton449.org.
  19. "Tonganoxie USD 464". www.tong464.org.

Further reading
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leavenworth County, Kansas.
Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Leavenworth County, Kansas.
County
Maps

39°14′N 95°02′W

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