Osborne County, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Osborne County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Kansas
. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,858. The largest city and county seat
is Osborne
.
during the Civil War.
Frontiersman Charles "Buffalo" Jones
lived in a sod
house for a time in Osborne County prior to his co-founding Garden City
, Kansas, in 1879.
, county.
The geodetic center of North America
is located within the county.http://www.worldslargestthings.com/kansas/geodetic.htm The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located in neighboring Smith County
.
of 2000, there were 4,452 people, 1,940 households, and 1,208 families residing in the county. The population density
was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,419 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.61% White
, 0.07% Black
or African American
, 0.22% Native American
, 0.20% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.81% from two or more races. 0.38% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,940 households out of which 25.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples
living together, 5.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.70% were non-families. 35.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 25.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,145, and the median income for a family was $35,438. Males had a median income of $24,736 versus $16,516 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,236. About 7.20% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
. The city of Osborne
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.
General county information
County Level Data
Maps
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,858. The largest city and county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Osborne
Osborne, Kansas
Osborne is a city in and the county seat of Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,431.-History:...
.
19th century
Osborne County was named after Sergeant Vincent B. Osborne, Second Kansas Cavalry, who was wounded at the Battle of Wilson's CreekBattle of Wilson's Creek
The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River and is sometimes...
during the Civil War.
Frontiersman Charles "Buffalo" Jones
Charles "Buffalo" Jones
Charles Jesse Jones, known as Buffalo Jones , was an American frontiersman, farmer, rancher, hunter, and conservationist who cofounded Garden City, Kansas...
lived in a sod
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
house for a time in Osborne County prior to his co-founding Garden City
Garden City, Kansas
Garden City is a city in and the county seat of Finney County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,658. The city is home to Garden City Community College and the Lee Richardson Zoo, the largest zoological park in western Kansas.-History:In February 1878, James...
, Kansas, in 1879.
Law and government
Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Osborne County has remained a prohibition, or "dry"Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
, county.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 894.28 square miles (2,316.2 km²), of which 892.39 square miles (2,311.3 km²) (or 99.79%) is land and 1.89 square miles (4.9 km²) (or 0.21%) is water.The geodetic center of North America
Meades Ranch, Kansas
Meades Ranch is a location in Kansas, United States that was designated as the geodetic base point for the North American Datum of 1927 .-Location:...
is located within the county.http://www.worldslargestthings.com/kansas/geodetic.htm The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located in neighboring Smith County
Smith County, Kansas
Smith County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 3,853 for the 2010 census. Its county seat is Smith Center. It is named in memory of Maj. J. Nelson Smith, who was part of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, killed in action at the Battle of Westport on October 21,...
.
Adjacent counties
- Smith CountySmith County, KansasSmith County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 3,853 for the 2010 census. Its county seat is Smith Center. It is named in memory of Maj. J. Nelson Smith, who was part of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, killed in action at the Battle of Westport on October 21,...
(north) - Jewell CountyJewell County, KansasJewell County is a county located in North Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,077. Its county seat and most populous city is Mankato.-19th century:...
(northeast) - Mitchell CountyMitchell County, KansasMitchell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,373...
(east) - Lincoln CountyLincoln County, KansasLincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,241...
(southeast) - Russell CountyRussell County, KansasRussell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 6,970 for the 2010 census...
(south) - Ellis CountyEllis County, KansasEllis County is a county located in Northwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 28,452. Its county seat and most populous city is Hays...
(southwest) - Rooks CountyRooks County, KansasRooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 5,181. The county seat is Stockton and the largest city is Plainville. The county was named for Private John C...
(west)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,452 people, 1,940 households, and 1,208 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,419 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.61% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.07% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.22% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.07% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.81% from two or more races. 0.38% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,940 households out of which 25.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.70% were non-families. 35.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 25.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,145, and the median income for a family was $35,438. Males had a median income of $24,736 versus $16,516 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $16,236. About 7.20% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Incorporated cities
Name and population (2004 estimate):- OsborneOsborne, KansasOsborne is a city in and the county seat of Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,431.-History:...
, 1,461 (county seat) - DownsDowns, KansasDowns is a city in Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 900.-History:Downs began as the end point of the Central Branch Railroad in 1879. It became an incorporated town in December of the same year. In 1910, the city had a population of 1,427...
, 953 - NatomaNatoma, KansasNatoma is a city in Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 335.-History:Natoma was established in 1888, named after an American Indian railroad employee by a railroad officer. The name means "new born." The first post office had opened under the name...
, 332 - PortisPortis, KansasPortis is a city in Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 103.-19th century:Portis is located on the north fork of the Solomon River. Since 1871 it has been an ideal trading point because of its location. When it first became a town in May 1879 it...
, 116 - AltonAlton, KansasAlton is a city in Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 103.-Geography:Alton is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 117 people,...
, 110
Unincorporated places
- Academy
- Bloomington
- Bristow
- Cheyenne
- Covert
- Delhi
- Grand Center
- Kill CreekKill Creek, KansasKill Creek Township is a township in Osborne County, Kansas, United States. The population was 35 at the 2000 census. Kill Creek was named after the creek that it sits on, which was named after an Indian massacre that occurred there in the 1860's...
- Twin Creek
- Vincent
Townships
Osborne County is divided into twenty-three townshipsCivil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
. The city of Osborne
Osborne, Kansas
Osborne is a city in and the county seat of Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,431.-History:...
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany | 06425 | Portis | 199 | 2 (6) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0 % | 39°31′58"N 98°39′54"W |
| Bloom | 07400 | 81 | 1 (1) | 140 (54) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°20′9"N 98°33′7"W | |
| Corinth | 15625 | 51 | 1 (1) | 92 (35) | 0 (0) | 0.24% | 39°25′38"N 98°32′32"W | |
| Covert | 16100 | 19 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.18% | 39°15′25"N 98°46′49"W | |
| Delhi | 17500 | 37 | 0 (1) | 139 (54) | 0 (0) | 0.31% | 39°11′46"N 98°32′11"W | |
| Grant | 27875 | 28 | 0 (1) | 91 (35) | 1 (0) | 0.55% | 39°31′0"N 98°59′6"W | |
| Hancock | 29825 | 21 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.24% | 39°21′36"N 98°38′36"W | |
| Hawkeye | 30850 | 36 | 0 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.46% | 39°32′24"N 98°51′34"W | |
| Independence | 33925 | 32 | 0 (1) | 92 (35) | 0 (0) | 0.24% | 39°21′31"N 98°45′36"W | |
| Jackson | 34875 | 42 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.09% | 39°11′2"N 98°38′54"W | |
| Kill Creek | 36750 | 35 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.20% | 39°21′9"N 98°52′52"W | |
| Lawrence | 38925 | 37 | 0 (1) | 90 (35) | 0 (0) | 0.37% | 39°31′56"N 98°45′56"W | |
| Liberty | 40300 | 31 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.27% | 39°11′33"N 98°54′29"W | |
| Mount Ayr | 48875 | 41 | 0 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 39°21′0"N 98°59′11"W | |
| Natoma | 49450 | Natoma | 402 | 4 (11) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.34% | 39°11′8"N 99°0′49"W |
| Penn | 55350 | 129 | 1 (3) | 119 (46) | 0 (0) | 0.05% | 39°26′29"N 98°39′59"W | |
| Ross | 61375 | Downs | 1,166 | 13 (33) | 92 (35) | 1 (0) | 0.81% | 39°30′30"N 98°32′46"W |
| Round Mound | 61475 | 59 | 1 (2) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.11% | 39°16′23"N 99°0′7"W | |
| Sumner | 69150 | Alton | 206 | 1 (4) | 139 (54) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 39°27′19"N 98°58′14"W |
| Tilden | 70575 | 116 | 1 (3) | 107 (41) | 0 (0) | 0.21% | 39°26′15"N 98°48′58"W | |
| Valley | 73000 | 37 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | 39°9′52"N 98°45′44"W | |
| Victor | 73750 | 24 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 39°16′16"N 98°53′13"W | |
| Winfield | 79975 | 16 | 0 (0) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.20% | 39°15′35"N 98°40′7"W |
Unified school districts
See also
- Dry counties
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Osborne County, KansasNational Register of Historic Places listings in Osborne County, KansasThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Osborne County, Kansas.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties on the National Register of Historic Places in Osborne County, Kansas, United States...
- Meades Ranch, KansasMeades Ranch, KansasMeades Ranch is a location in Kansas, United States that was designated as the geodetic base point for the North American Datum of 1927 .-Location:...
, the geodetic base point for the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27), which was used as a reference point until 1983.
Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
OfficialGeneral county information
County Level Data
Maps
- Osborne County Map, KDOT
- Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
- Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
- Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE