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Pottawatomie County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pottawatomie County, Kansasmap

Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Westmoreland.[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 25,348.[1] The county was named for the Potawatomi tribe.

Quick Facts Country, State ...
Pottawatomie County
County
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Pottawatomie County Courthouse in Westmoreland (2009)
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Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
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Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°20′00″N 96°18′00″W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 20, 1857
Named forPotawatomi tribe
SeatWestmoreland
Largest cityManhattan
Area
 • Total
862 sq mi (2,230 km2)
 • Land841 sq mi (2,180 km2)
 • Water21 sq mi (50 km2)  2.4%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
25,348
 • Estimate 
(2023)[2]
26,382
 • Density30.1/sq mi (11.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitepottcounty.org
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History

Early history

See also: History of Kansas

For millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic 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.

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 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 862 square miles (2,230 km2), of which 841 square miles (2,180 km2) is land and 21 square miles (54 km2) (2.4%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

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Perspective
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Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
More information Census, Pop. ...
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,529—
18707,848413.3%
188016,350108.3%
189017,7228.4%
190018,4704.2%
191017,522−5.1%
192016,154−7.8%
193015,862−1.8%
194014,015−11.6%
195012,344−11.9%
196011,957−3.1%
197011,755−1.7%
198014,78225.8%
199016,1289.1%
200018,20912.9%
201021,60418.6%
202025,34817.3%
2023 (est.)26,382[5]4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]
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Pottawatomie County is part of the Manhattan metropolitan area.

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 18,209 people, 6,771 households, and 4,929 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km2). There were 7,311 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.32% White, 0.66% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 2.26% of the population were Hispanic or 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 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

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Presidential elections

More information Year, Republican ...
United States presidential election results for Pottawatomie County, Kansas[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 9,811 72.83% 3,394 25.19% 267 1.98%
2020 9,452 72.25% 3,313 25.32% 318 2.43%
2016 7,612 71.19% 2,225 20.81% 856 8.01%
2012 6,804 71.78% 2,335 24.63% 340 3.59%
2008 6,929 70.15% 2,599 26.31% 349 3.53%
2004 6,326 71.70% 2,176 24.66% 321 3.64%
2000 4,985 64.48% 2,037 26.35% 709 9.17%
1996 4,504 58.16% 1,997 25.79% 1,243 16.05%
1992 3,106 38.87% 2,099 26.27% 2,785 34.86%
1988 3,897 59.51% 2,544 38.85% 108 1.65%
1984 4,598 71.09% 1,798 27.80% 72 1.11%
1980 3,895 63.40% 1,724 28.06% 525 8.54%
1976 3,483 59.06% 2,316 39.27% 98 1.66%
1972 3,947 73.51% 1,298 24.18% 124 2.31%
1968 3,267 63.68% 1,368 26.67% 495 9.65%
1964 2,606 51.40% 2,432 47.97% 32 0.63%
1960 3,666 63.16% 2,125 36.61% 13 0.22%
1956 4,335 74.97% 1,422 24.59% 25 0.43%
1952 4,944 77.94% 1,387 21.87% 12 0.19%
1948 3,709 62.64% 2,167 36.60% 45 0.76%
1944 4,074 70.01% 1,727 29.68% 18 0.31%
1940 5,045 69.12% 2,226 30.50% 28 0.38%
1936 3,977 53.76% 3,284 44.39% 137 1.85%
1932 3,339 45.45% 3,910 53.23% 97 1.32%
1928 4,451 65.30% 2,341 34.35% 24 0.35%
1924 4,340 68.28% 1,471 23.14% 545 8.57%
1920 4,481 76.95% 1,293 22.21% 49 0.84%
1916 3,688 55.66% 2,834 42.77% 104 1.57%
1912 1,058 25.09% 1,599 37.93% 1,559 36.98%
1908 2,650 60.78% 1,680 38.53% 30 0.69%
1904 2,632 69.85% 1,045 27.73% 91 2.42%
1900 2,556 56.41% 1,929 42.57% 46 1.02%
1896 2,308 49.95% 2,276 49.25% 37 0.80%
1892 2,107 49.80% 0 0.00% 2,124 50.20%
1888 2,419 58.94% 1,471 35.84% 214 5.21%
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Presidential election results

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 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.[12]

In 2024, John Paul Washburn was elected Pottawatomie County Attorney after a silent exit by former County Attorney Sherri Schuck. Washburn immediately hired his former employer, Rachel Phelps Hockenberger, daughter of controversial Westboro Church founder Fred Phelps https://www.adl.org/resources/news/westboro-baptist-church-legacy-hate. Washburn's action has caused an uproar in the county https://themercury.com/news/assistant-pott-co-attorney-says-affiliation-with-westboro-baptist-doesnt-affect-her-work/article_f649f461-343c-5fc8-97d4-8400417f65cf.html

Education

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St. Columbkillane Church in Blaine

Unified school districts

The Unified School Districts that serve Pottawatomie County include:[13]

School district office in neighboring county[13]

Private schools

Communities

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2005 map of Pottawatomie County[14] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Pottawatomie County.[14]

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Unincorporated communities

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 townships. The city of 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.

More information Township, FIPS ...
Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Belvue059504044 (11)96 (37)1 (0)1.05%39°14′7″N 96°11′21″W
Blue075501,80216 (41)114 (44)14 (5)10.66%39°13′44″N 96°31′49″W
Blue Valley077253393 (8)115 (44)13 (5)9.95%39°26′22″N 96°38′6″W
Center120001041 (3)78 (30)0 (0)0.04%39°21′4″N 96°14′10″W
Clear Creek138001131 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°31′6″N 96°23′36″W
Emmett211254786 (16)77 (30)0 (0)0.61%39°18′11″N 96°3′46″W
Grant279502934 (10)77 (30)0 (0)0%39°31′27″N 96°5′4″W
Green284501882 (4)125 (48)14 (5)9.91%39°21′14″N 96°36′6″W
Lincoln410001242 (4)77 (30)0 (0)0.18%39°25′37″N 96°3′26″W
Lone Tree425502393 (7)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°30′54″N 96°18′18″W
Louisville429507358 (20)95 (37)0 (0)0.04%39°15′40″N 96°19′10″W
Mill Creek467001,0009 (24)108 (42)0 (0)0%39°30′11″N 96°10′50″W
Pottawatomie572504993 (8)155 (60)0 (0)0.02%39°20′5″N 96°26′26″W
Rock Creek606256537 (18)93 (36)0 (0)0.19%39°25′41″N 96°24′10″W
St. Clere62150831 (3)77 (30)0 (0)0.21%39°21′36″N 96°5′30″W
St. George622252,62930 (79)87 (33)1 (1)1.69%39°11′46″N 96°24′56″W
St. Marys624252,78928 (73)99 (38)1 (0)0.60%39°11′58″N 96°4′19″W
Shannon643002352 (6)104 (40)0 (0)0.08%39°26′19″N 96°30′50″W
Sherman650501261 (3)94 (36)0 (0)0.02%39°25′54″N 96°17′29″W
Spring Creek67475611 (2)103 (40)0 (0)0.08%39°31′50″N 96°31′19″W
Union722501642 (5)94 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°20′20″N 96°19′34″W
Vienna73875921 (3)78 (30)0 (0)0.03%39°25′40″N 96°10′28″W
Wamego753505,056100 (260)50 (19)2 (1)3.20%39°12′19″N 96°18′20″W
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See also

Community information for Kansas

References

Further reading

External links

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