Labette County, Kansas

Labette County (county code LB) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020, 20,184 people lived there.^[1] Its county seat is Oswego.^[2] Its biggest city is Parsons. The county was named after LaBette creek,^[3][4] the second-biggest creek in the county. The creek was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette who had moved to the area.^[4]

Labette County
County
Big Hill Lake (2015)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°12′N 95°17′W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	Pierre La Bette
Seat	Oswego
Largest city	Parsons
Area
• Total	653 sq mi (1,690 km2)
• Land	645 sq mi (1,670 km2)
• Water	7.8 sq mi (20 km2)  1.2%
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	20,184
• Density	31.3/sq mi (12.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	620
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.labettecounty.com

History

In the 1840s, most of the people living in Labette County were Osage people. There were also many Cherokee and Euro-Americans. Many of the Euro-Americans were merchants with Osage or Cherokee wives.^[5]

Between 1871 and 1873, at least eleven people disappeared near an inn and general store run by the Bender family in Labette County. After the disappareance of the Benders in 1873, it was found that they had apparently murdered many travelers. Between eight and eleven bodies were found buried at the inn. Governor Thomas A. Osborn offered a reward of $2,000 for anyone who caught the Benders, but they were never found.^[6][7]

Geography

The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 653 square miles (1,690 km²). Of that, 645 square miles (1,670 km²) is land and 7.8 square miles (20 km²) (1.2%) is water.^[8]

Demographics

Census	Pop.		%±
1870	9,973		—
1880	22,735		128.0%
1890	27,586		21.3%
1900	27,387		−0.7%
1910	31,423		14.7%
1920	34,047		8.4%
1930	31,346		−7.9%
1940	30,352		−3.2%
1950	29,285		−3.5%
1960	26,805		−8.5%
1970	25,775		−3.8%
1980	25,682		−0.4%
1990	23,693		−7.7%
2000	22,169		−6.4%
2010	21,607		−2.5%
2020	20,184		−6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

Population pyramid

The Parsons, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Labette County.

The 2020 Census says that Labette County had 20,184 people living there. The median age was 40. The race of the people were 79.7% non-Hispanic white, 4.2% African-American, 2.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% non-Hispanics of some other race, 8.7% non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 4.7% Hispanic or Latino.^[13]

Government

Presidential elections

Labette County is mostly Republican. It has a slight Democratic lean to it like many counties in Southeast Kansas. Although Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton both won the county once each, it has become more Republican.

Presidential election results

Presidential Elections Results^[14]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	67.0% 5,735	31.0% 2,655	2.0% 173
2016	64.9% 5,335	27.9% 2,291	7.2% 592
2012	59.0% 4,742	38.8% 3,117	2.2% 178
2008	55.4% 5,001	42.5% 3,839	2.1% 191
2004	59.1% 5,400	39.6% 3,615	1.4% 124
2000	52.4% 4,475	43.9% 3,745	3.7% 318
1996	45.7% 4,283	41.9% 3,931	12.4% 1,166
1992	33.1% 3,368	41.2% 4,196	25.7% 2,613
1988	52.9% 5,125	45.8% 4,433	1.3% 126
1984	63.8% 6,542	35.4% 3,631	0.9% 87
1980	52.9% 5,244	39.8% 3,947	7.4% 730
1976	45.6% 4,640	52.0% 5,294	2.4% 243
1972	64.8% 6,399	32.5% 3,210	2.8% 272
1968	51.2% 5,503	37.0% 3,974	11.8% 1,273
1964	43.0% 4,761	56.1% 6,208	0.8% 93
1960	58.5% 7,491	41.0% 5,248	0.5% 68
1956	59.4% 7,677	40.2% 5,202	0.4% 57
1952	62.0% 8,624	37.5% 5,219	0.5% 70
1948	50.1% 6,298	48.7% 6,113	1.2% 154
1944	57.9% 7,480	41.8% 5,398	0.4% 48
1940	54.2% 8,210	45.3% 6,860	0.6% 87
1936	44.9% 6,610	54.7% 8,050	0.4% 59
1932	42.1% 5,794	55.7% 7,667	2.1% 294
1928	74.2% 9,048	24.4% 2,969	1.4% 174
1924	55.3% 6,593	24.9% 2,971	19.9% 2,369
1920	57.9% 6,596	38.0% 4,328	4.0% 460
1916	42.6% 5,328	51.4% 6,421	6.0% 755
1912	21.9% 1,516	37.0% 2,568	41.1% 2,853[a]
1908	49.2% 3,367	40.6% 2,783	10.2% 698
1904	58.7% 3,700	26.0% 1,637	15.4% 968
1900	48.8% 3,319	50.3% 3,425	0.9% 61
1896	46.2% 3,206	52.9% 3,669	0.9% 64
1892	47.9% 2,950		52.1% 3,210
1888	47.4% 2,870	16.1% 976	36.5% 2,211

Education

Unified school districts

• Cherokee USD 247 (Web site) is a school district of 300 square miles (780 km²) primarily covering portions of Crawford and Cherokee counties, but also includes small portions of Labette and Neosho counties.^[15]
• Parsons USD 503 (Web site)
• Oswego USD 504 (Web site)
• Chetopa-St. Paul USD 505 (Web site)
• Labette County USD 506 (Web site)

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Labette County (map legend)

Cities

• Altamont
• Bartlett
• Chetopa
• Edna
• Labette
• Mound Valley
• Oswego
• Parsons