Wabaunsee County, Kansas

"Wabaunsee" redirects here. For the Potawatomi leader, see Chief Wabaunsee.

Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newbury
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1859
Seat	Alma
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	799.80 sq mi (2,071 km²) 797.38 sq mi (2,065 km²) 2.41 sq mi (6 km²), 0.30%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	7,053 8.7/sq mi (3.4/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.Wabaunsee.KansasGov.com

Wabaunsee County (standard abbreviation: WB) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 7,053. Its county seat is Alma. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is derived from the Potawatomi "Wah-bon-seh", meaning "dawn of day" literally.

Law and government

Wabaunsee 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.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 799.80 square miles (2,071.5 km²), of which 797.38 square miles (2,065.2 km²) (or 99.70%) is land and 2.41 square miles (6.2 km²) (or 0.30%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Pottawatomie County (north)
• Shawnee County (east)
• Osage County (southeast)
• Lyon County (south)
• Morris County (southwest)
• Geary County (west)
• Riley County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	12,813		—
1910	12,721		−0.7%
1920	11,424		−10.2%
1930	10,830		−5.2%
1940	9,219		−14.9%
1950	7,212		−21.8%
1960	6,648		−7.8%
1970	6,397		−3.8%
1980	6,867		7.3%
1990	6,603		−3.8%
2000	6,885		4.3%
2010	7,053		2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Age pyramid

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,885 people, 2,633 households, and 1,958 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,033 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.24% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 1.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,633 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.30% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 102.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,710, and the median income for a family was $47,500. Males had a median income of $31,629 versus $23,148 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,704. About 5.80% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

• Alma, 768 (county seat)
• Eskridge, 579
• Maple Hill, 491
• Alta Vista, 431
• McFarland, 268
• Harveyville, 256
• Paxico, 215
• Willard, 84 (Small portion of corporate limits extends into Wabaunsee Co.)
• St. Marys (Small portion of corporate limits extends into Wabaunsee Co.)

Unincorporated towns

• Wabaunsee

Townships

Wabaunsee County is divided into thirteen townships. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the townships include those of the cities. 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Alma	01375		1,137	11 (28)	104 (40)	0 (0)	0 %	39°1′8″N 96°17′33″W
Farmer	23125		119	1 (2)	172 (66)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°55′37″N 96°18′44″W
Garfield	25850		590	5 (13)	118 (45)	0 (0)	0.09%	38°51′44″N 96°27′20″W
Kaw	36150		242	2 (6)	110 (42)	2 (1)	1.55%	39°10′16″N 96°9′46″W
Maple Hill	44525		930	5 (13)	190 (73)	1 (0)	0.55%	39°4′43″N 96°0′52″W
Mill Creek	46725		293	2 (4)	192 (74)	1 (0)	0.43%	38°53′23″N 96°11′23″W
Mission Creek	47300		495	2 (6)	209 (81)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°55′49″N 96°3′0″W
Newbury	50275		1,045	5 (13)	203 (78)	0 (0)	0.06%	39°3′44″N 96°11′18″W
Plumb	56800		640	5 (13)	129 (50)	0 (0)	0.17%	38°47′56″N 95°58′36″W
Rock Creek	60650		84	0 (1)	171 (66)	0 (0)	0.05%	38°46′58″N 96°18′15″W
Wabaunsee	74250		455	3 (7)	172 (66)	2 (1)	1.05%	39°6′57″N 96°18′21″W
Washington	75800		83	1 (1)	148 (57)	0 (0)	0.02%	38°57′49″N 96°25′14″W
Wilmington	79525		772	5 (13)	150 (58)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°49′54″N 96°6′14″W

Education

2005 KDOT Map of Wabaunsee County from KDOT (map legend)

Unified school districts

• Mill Creek Valley USD 329
• Wabaunsee East USD 330

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wabaunsee County, Kansas

Information on this and other counties in Kansas

• List of counties in Kansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas
• Kansas locations by per capita income

Other information for Kansas

• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unified school districts in Kansas
• List of colleges and universities in Kansas

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

Official

• County website

General Information

• Blue Skyways

Kansas County Data

• Kansas Statistical Abstract

Wabaunsee County local history and genealogy

• Kansas State Historical Society
• William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas
• Wabaunsee County GenWeb website
• Wabaunsee County history, including Underground Railroad stations

Maps

• Wabaunsee County Map, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
• Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE