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 / 37.200°N 95.283°W / 37.200; -95.283
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	LabetteCounty.com

Labette County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Oswego,^[2] and its most populous city is Parsons. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 20,184.^[1] The county was named after LaBette creek,^[3][4] the second-largest creek in the county, which runs roughly NNW-SSE from near Parsons to Chetopa. The creek in turn was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette who had moved to the area, living along the Neosho River, and marrying into the Osage tribe in the 1830s and 1840s.^[4]

History

In the 1840s Labette County had a population mainly consisting of Osage people, although 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 vanished in the vicinity of an inn and general store operated by the Bender family in Labette County. Following the disappearance of the Benders in 1873, it was discovered that they had apparently murdered a number of travellers. Between eight and eleven bodies were discovered buried on the premises. Governor Thomas A. Osborn offered a reward of $2,000 for the apprehension of the Benders, but they were never found.^[6][7]

Geography

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

Adjacent counties

• Neosho County (north)
• Crawford County (northeast)
• Cherokee County (east)
• Craig County, Oklahoma (south)
• Nowata County, Oklahoma (southwest)
• Montgomery County (west)

Demographics

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

As of the 2010 Census Labette County had a population of 21,607. The median age was 41. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 85.5% non-Hispanic white, 4.7% African-American, 2.2% Native America, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanics of some other race, 3.6% non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 4.0% Hispanic or Latino.^[14]

As of the 2000 census,^[15] there were 22,835 people, 9,194 households, and 6,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 inhabitants per square mile (14/km²). There were 10,306 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.28% White, 4.66% Black or African American, 1.95% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.07% of the population.

There were 9,194 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,875, and the median income for a family was $37,519. Males had a median income of $29,043 versus $21,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,525. About 8.90% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Similar to most Kansas counties Labette County is strongly Republican. While Jimmy Carter & Bill Clinton both won the county once each, it has shifted strongly away from the Democratic Party, with Hillary Clinton garnering the lowest percentage since 1928.