Butler County, Kansas

Butler County (county code BU) is a county in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Kansas and is the largest county in the state by total area.[1] As of the 2010 census, the county population was 65,880.[2] Its county seat and most populous city is El Dorado.[3]

Butler County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedAugust 25, 1855
Named forAndrew Pickens Butler
SeatEl Dorado
Largest cityEl Dorado
Area
 • Total1,447 sq mi (3,750 km2)
 • Land1,430 sq mi (3,700 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total65,880
 • Estimate 
(2018)
66,765
 • Density46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code316
Congressional district4th
Websitebucoks.com

History

Early history
See also: History of Kansas

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, 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, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but 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 for 2.83 cents per acre. In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

19th century

In 1855, Butler County was founded. It was named in honor of a U.S. Senator from South Carolina, Andrew Butler (1796–1857), who was one of the authors of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 and a strong advocate of Kansas becoming a slave state.[4]

In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado, in 1881 it was extended to Douglass, and later to Arkansas City.[5] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942.[6] The original branch line connected Florence, Burns, De Graff, El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rock, Akron, Winfield, Arkansas City.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington to Caldwell.[7] This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington, Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT". The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

21st century

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Butler County (near Potwin, Towanda, Augusta, Douglass), with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).[8][9] A pumping station named Burns was built 2 miles north of Potwin, and new power lines were built from a high-voltage line 0.3 mile east of De Graff.[10]

In an unusual technical glitch, a farmstead about 4 miles northeast of Potwin became the default site of 600 million IP addresses (due to their lack of fine granularity) when the Massachusetts-based digital mapping company MaxMind changed the putative geographic center of the contiguous United States from 39.8333333,-98.585522 to 38.0000,-97.0000.[11][12]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,447 square miles (3,750 km2), of which 1,430 square miles (3,700 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (1.2%) is water.[13] It is the largest county by area in Kansas.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas,[14] U.S. Census Bureau[15]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860437—
18703,035594.5%
188018,586512.4%
189024,05529.4%
190023,363−2.9%
191023,059−1.3%
192043,84290.1%
193035,904−18.1%
194032,013−10.8%
195031,001−3.2%
196038,39523.9%
197038,6580.7%
198044,78215.8%
199050,58012.9%
200059,48217.6%
201065,88010.8%
2018 (est.)66,765[16]1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19]
1990-2000[20] 2010-2016[2]
Population pyramid

Butler County is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,[21] 59,482 people, 21,527 households, and 16,059 families resided in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile (16/km2). There were 23,176 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km2). The county's racial makeup was 94.94% White, 1.38% Black or African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.69% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 21,527 households, of which 37.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.60% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.40% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.

The county's median household income was $45,474, and the median family income was $53,632. Males had a median income of $38,675 versus $26,109 for females. The county's per capita income was $20,150. About 5.40% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 69.0% 19,073 23.8% 6,573 7.3% 2,011
2012 69.6% 18,157 27.9% 7,282 2.5% 646
2008 65.1% 18,155 32.9% 9,159 2.0% 559
2004 70.2% 18,438 28.5% 7,495 1.3% 347
2000 63.7% 13,377 32.2% 6,755 4.2% 870
1996 58.7% 13,979 30.6% 7,294 10.7% 2,543
1992 38.8% 9,166 29.8% 7,029 31.5% 7,434
1988 57.6% 10,976 40.4% 7,690 2.1% 390
1984 66.3% 12,976 32.6% 6,371 1.1% 217
1980 55.3% 10,210 37.3% 6,875 7.4% 1,368
1976 48.5% 8,390 49.3% 8,540 2.2% 386
1972 67.4% 11,045 28.5% 4,669 4.1% 675
1968 50.8% 7,893 38.3% 5,952 10.9% 1,696
1964 41.0% 6,364 58.3% 9,061 0.7% 107
1960 58.4% 10,059 41.3% 7,112 0.4% 61
1956 60.7% 9,591 39.0% 6,158 0.3% 45
1952 65.0% 10,179 34.2% 5,359 0.7% 113
1948 50.6% 6,551 48.4% 6,269 1.0% 132
1944 53.5% 7,064 46.1% 6,084 0.4% 55
1940 49.6% 7,619 49.6% 7,615 0.8% 126
1936 40.0% 6,204 59.8% 9,283 0.2% 27
1932 43.7% 6,116 53.2% 7,447 3.1% 431
1928 79.4% 10,168 19.8% 2,533 0.8% 101
1924 57.9% 7,367 28.6% 3,642 13.4% 1,707
1920 60.6% 6,821 36.5% 4,112 2.9% 331
1916 43.2% 3,614 50.7% 4,248 6.1% 511
1912 18.3% 971 37.8% 2,005 43.9% 2,330
1908 54.0% 3,049 40.5% 2,290 5.5% 310
1904 61.9% 3,306 28.8% 1,540 9.3% 495
1900 50.6% 2,947 47.3% 2,752 2.1% 120
1896 44.9% 2,414 54.4% 2,926 0.7% 35
1892 48.6% 2,650 51.4% 2,800
1888 55.4% 3,172 28.2% 1,616 16.4% 942

Like of most of Kansas’ counties, Butler county is solidly Republican. In 2008, John McCain carried the county by a nearly two-to-one margin over Barack Obama. Since 1992, no Democratic candidate has received so much as forty percent of the county's vote.[23] The last Democratic candidate to carry the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.[24]

Laws

Butler 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.[25]

Education

College

Unified school districts
School district office in neighboring county

Private schools

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Butler County (map legend)

Cities

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated places

Ghost towns
  • Aikman
  • Alki
  • Amador
  • Browntown
  • Chelsea (now lies under El Dorado Lake)
  • Durachen
  • Frazier
  • Lorena
  • Magna City
  • Midian
  • Oil Hill
  • Oil Valley
  • Ophir
  • Plum Grove
  • Providence
  • Ramsey
  • Salter
  • Vanora
  • Wingate

Townships

Butler County is divided into twenty-nine townships. The cities of Augusta and El Dorado are considered governmentally independent and are 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Augusta033251,40517 (43)84 (32)1 (0)0.68%37°41′32″N 96°59′15″W
Benton06200Benton2,21124 (61)93 (36)0 (0)0%37°47′0″N 97°6′11″W
Bloomington075005446 (15)93 (36)0 (0)0%37°35′57″N 96°54′1″W
Bruno08825Andover9,744107 (278)91 (35)0 (0)0.10%37°41′37″N 97°6′48″W
Chelsea127501901 (2)261 (101)17 (7)6.15%37°55′27″N 96°44′34″W
Clay13575831 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0.22%37°31′21″N 96°45′39″W
Clifford141752592 (6)108 (42)0 (0)0.18%38°2′7″N 96°58′41″W
Douglass18425Douglass2,30625 (64)93 (36)0 (0)0.32%37°31′1″N 97°0′33″W
El Dorado201001,70012 (32)140 (54)2 (1)1.46%37°48′38″N 96°52′23″W
Fairmount22275Elbing5115 (14)94 (36)0 (0)0.14%38°2′34″N 97°5′53″W
Fairview224504915 (14)92 (36)0 (0)0.14%37°52′15″N 96°59′46″W
Glencoe264002391 (4)161 (62)1 (0)0.60%37°41′29″N 96°36′57″W
Hickory31750901 (1)162 (62)1 (0)0.67%37°37′5″N 96°37′45″W
Lincoln405003171 (3)257 (99)2 (1)0.64%37°57′6″N 96°53′1″W
Little Walnut41625Leon1,00211 (28)94 (36)0 (0)0.44%37°41′34″N 96°46′37″W
Logan417751542 (4)94 (36)0 (0)0.16%37°37′15″N 96°45′13″W
Milton46875Whitewater1,13612 (31)94 (36)0 (0)0.15%37°57′21″N 97°7′14″W
Murdock492253784 (10)93 (36)0 (0)0%37°51′42″N 97°6′23″W
Pleasant56200Rose Hill (part)4,64950 (129)93 (36)0 (0)0.11%37°35′49″N 97°6′54″W
Plum Grove56850Potwin6617 (19)92 (36)1 (0)0.58%37°56′46″N 97°0′51″W
Prospect577752,03310 (26)203 (78)16 (6)7.20%37°49′25″N 96°45′35″W
Richland59250Rose Hill (part)2,39926 (66)94 (36)0 (0)0.02%37°31′37″N 97°6′29″W
Rock Creek604752993 (8)94 (36)0 (0)0%37°31′19″N 96°53′3″W
Rosalia611255894 (9)162 (63)1 (0)0.58%37°46′47″N 96°37′22″W
Spring672751,56617 (43)94 (36)0 (0)0.13%37°41′36″N 96°52′52″W
Sycamore69700Cassoday3331 (3)295 (114)2 (1)0.76%38°1′15″N 96°40′19″W
Towanda71150Towanda2,72729 (76)93 (36)0 (0)0.14%37°47′32″N 96°59′43″W
Union72050Latham2261 (4)161 (62)1 (0)0.72%37°32′2″N 96°38′41″W
Walnut749007608 (21)92 (36)1 (0)0.77%37°36′4″N 96°59′31″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

See also

References
  1. http://www.usa.com/rank/kansas-state--land-area--county-rank.htm
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 261.
  5. Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
  6. Railway Abandonment 1942
  7. "Rock Island Rail History". Archived from the original on 2011-06-19. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  8. Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
  10. Keystone Pipeline - Burns Pumping Station - New Powerline Map; Trow Engineering Consultants and TransCanda; 2010.
  11. Hill, Kashmir (2016-04-10). "How an internet mapping glitch turned a random Kansas farm into a digital hell". Fusion. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  12. Kansas couple sues over internet glitch targeting their home; The Wichita Eagle; August 8, 2016.
  13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  14. National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  15. "U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files". Archived from the original on 2017-05-23. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  16. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  17. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  18. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  19. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  20. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  21. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  22. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  23. The New York Times Electoral Map (Zoom in on Kansas)
  24. David Leip's Presidential Election Atlas - 1976 statistics
  25. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-26.

Further reading
See also: List of books about State of Kansas (which includes historical information about its counties and cities too)
County
Historical
Maps
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