Pottawatomie County, Kansas

Early history

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.

Adjacent counties

• Marshall County (north)
• Nemaha County (northeast)
• Jackson County (east)
• Shawnee County (southeast)
• Wabaunsee County (south)
• Riley County (west)

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 25,348. The median age was 36.0 years. 29.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.8 males age 18 and over.^[18][19]

The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 7.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.6% of the population.^[19]

34.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 65.5% lived in rural areas.^[20]

There were 9,050 households in the county, of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[18]

There were 9,866 housing units, of which 8.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.7% were owner-occupied and 21.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.6%.^[18]

2000 census

As of the census^[21] 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.

Presidential elections

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.^[23]

Unified school districts

The Unified School Districts that serve Pottawatomie County include:^[24]

• Wamego USD 320
• Kaw Valley USD 321
• Onaga USD 322
• Rock Creek USD 323

School district office in neighboring county^[24]

• Riley County USD 378
• Manhattan–Ogden USD 383
• Blue Valley USD 384
• Valley Heights USD 498
• Vermillion USD 380

Private schools

• St. Marys Academy & College (St. Marys)
• Flint Hills Christian School (Manhattan)

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.