Bourbon County, Kansas

Early history

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, in particular with the Osage.^[3] The county's first settlers, many of whom were proslavery, 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.^[4]

The aftermath of the Civil War brought economic and demographic changes; many ex-soldiers settled in the area, contributing to its agricultural growth. Postwar years saw the railroad's arrival, connecting Bourbon County to broader markets and facilitating the expansion of coalmining and agriculture, particularly wheat, corn, and later, grain sorghum.^[4]

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 and dying 11 days later from organ failure.^[5][6]

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,^[8] U.S. Census Bureau^[9]

• U.S. Route 54
• U.S. Route 69
• Kansas Highway 3
• Kansas Highway 7
• Kansas Highway 31
• Kansas Highway 39
• Kansas Highway 65

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,360.^[15] The median age was 38.6 years; 25.5% of residents were under 18 and 19.8% were 65 or older.^[16] For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 96.3 males 18 and over.^[17] About 51.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 48.2% lived in rural areas.^[17]

The racial makeup of the county was 87.6% White, 3.3% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 6.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.^[15]

Of the 5,666 households in the county, 31.2% had children under18 living with them, 25.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, 28.8% were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.^[16]

The county had 6,770 housing units, of which 16.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.4% were owner-occupied and 30.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.^[16]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,^[18] 15,379 people, 6,161 households, and 4,127 families resided in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km²). The 7,135 housing units had an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km²). 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. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.29% of the population.

Of the 6,161 households, 30.5% had children under 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were not families. About 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the age distribution was 25.8% under 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median income in the county for a household was $31,199 and 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 9.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under 18 and 13.4% of those 65 or over.

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.

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.^[21]

Colleges

• Fort Scott Community College

Unified school districts

• Fort Scott USD 234
• Uniontown USD 235

Cities

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a census-designated place by the United States Census Bureau

Townships

Bourbon County is divided into 11 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.