Wabaunsee County, Kansas

Wabaunsee County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°01′07″N 96°17′33″W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	1859
Seat	Alma
Area
• Total	800 sq mi (2,071 km2)
• Land	797 sq mi (2,065 km2)
• Water	2 sq mi (6 km2)  0.30%
Population
• Estimate  (2005)	6,919
• Density	8.7/sq mi (3.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)

Wabaunsee County (standard abbreviation: WB) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of 2000, the population is 6,885. Its county seat is Alma.⁶ The county along with Shawnee, Jackson, Jefferson, and Osage counties is included in the Topeka Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has an estimated population of 226,268 in the year 2003. The name is derived from the Potawatomi "Wah-bon-seh", meaning "day a little" literally.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,071 km² (800 sq mi). 2,065 km² (797 sq mi) of it is land and 6 km² (2 sq mi) of it (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 population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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%

As of the census² of 2000, there were 6,885 people, 2,633 households, and 1,958 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/km² (9/sq mi). There were 3,033 housing units at an average density of 1/km² (4/sq mi). 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.

Age pyramid

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

Map of Wabaunsee County from KDOT (map legend)

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

Unincorporated towns

• Wabaunsee
• Zeandale

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

Unified school districts

• Alma USD 329
• Wabaunsee East USD 330

External links

General information on Wabaunsee County

• 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
• Wabaunse County GenWeb website