Leavenworth County, Kansas

Leavenworth County, Kansas
Leavenworth County Courthouse in Leavenworth, Kansas
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	August 25, 1855
Seat	Leavenworth
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	468 sq mi (1,213 km²) 463 sq mi (1,200 km²) 5 sq mi (13 km²), 1.08%
PopulationEst.  - (2009)  - Density	75,227 162.4/sq mi (63/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.leavenworthcounty.org

Leavenworth County (county code LV) is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The county's population—one of the fastest growing in the state of Kansas—was estimated to be 75,227 in the year 2009, making it the sixth largest in the state. Its county seat and most populous city is Leavenworth. The county is a part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

Law and government

Leavenworth 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 U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 468 square miles (1,212.1 km2), of which 463 square miles (1,199.2 km2) is land and 5 square miles (12.9 km2), or 1.08%, is water.

This county's watershed connects with both the Kansas River basin on the south via Stranger Creek and has a Missouri River port city to the east.

Adjacent counties

Platte County, Missouri (north)

Wyandotte County (east)

Johnson County (southeast)

Douglas County (southwest)

Jefferson County (west)

Atchison County (northwest)

History

Leavenworth County was formed on August 30, 1866 from free territory and is among the first 33 counties, which were formed by the first territorial government. It was named, as was its county seat, after Henry Leavenworth, an officer in the War of 1812. Leavenworth County had the first Kansas State University extension agent in the State.

Demographics

Historical populations

Census Pop. %±

1900 40,940

—

1910 41,207 0.7%

1920 38,402 −6.8%

1930 42,673 11.1%

1940 41,112 −3.7%

1950 42,361 3.0%

1960 48,524 14.5%

1970 53,340 9.9%

1980 54,809 2.8%

1990 64,371 17.4%

2000 68,691 6.7%

Leavenworth County's population was estimated to be 75,227 in the year 2009, an increase of 6,536, or +9.5%, over the previous nine years; it has the fourth fastest growing and sixth largest population in the state.

As of the U.S. Census in 2000, there were 68,691 people, 23,071 households, and 17,210 families residing in the county. The population density was 148 people per square mile (57/km²). There were 24,401 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.18% White, 10.42% Black or African American, 0.74% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.24% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% of the population.

Population pyramid

There were 23,071 households out of which 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.40% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 33.00% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 113.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,114, and the median income for a family was $55,805. Males had a median income of $40,047 versus $26,029 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,292. About 4.80% of families and 6.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.80% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Map of Leavenworth County (map legend)

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2005 estimate):

Leavenworth, 35,213 (county seat)

Lansing, 10,214

Tonganoxie, 3,774

Basehor, 3,287

Linwood, 382

Easton, 357

Bonner Springs, which is also located in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties.

Unincorporated places

Coldspur

Fairmount

Fall Leaf

Jarbalo

Kickapoo

Lowemont

Millwood

Reno

Springdale

Notable residents

Sean Malto, professional skateboarder

Townships

Leavenworth County is divided into ten townships. The cities of Lansing and Leavenworth 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.

Township FIPS Population

center Population Population

density

/km² (/sq mi) Land area

km² (sq mi) Water area

km² (sq mi) Water % Geographic coordinates

Alexandria 01100 859 7 (18) 123 (48) 1 (0) 0.62% 39°16′8″N 95°7′33″W

Delaware 17450 1,361 22 (57) 62 (24) 3 (1) 4.19% 39°14′50″N 94°52′40″W

Easton 19625 1,245 11 (30) 109 (42) 0 (0) 0.11% 39°21′57″N 95°7′27″W

Fairmount 22325 Basehor 6,266 61 (159) 102 (39) 0 (0) 0.39% 39°8′4″N 94°56′26″W

High Prairie 32125 1,768 14 (37) 124 (48) 0 (0) 0.27% 39°15′30″N 95°0′34″W

Kickapoo 36700 1,760 15 (40) 114 (44) 3 (1) 2.39% 39°20′45″N 94°59′29″W

Reno 58950 1,143 10 (27) 111 (43) 2 (1) 1.56% 39°1′8″N 95°8′8″W

Sherman 65000 2,367 22 (57) 108 (42) 3 (1) 2.44% 39°0′59″N 95°0′27″W

Stranger 68500 2,451 19 (50) 127 (49) 0 (0) 0.17% 39°8′16″N 95°2′2″W

Tonganoxie 70825 Tonganoxie (part) 4,852 35 (91) 137 (53) 1 (0) 0.66% 39°7′0″N 95°6′35″W

Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division.

Education

Unified school districts

Fort Leavenworth USD 207 (Web site)

Easton USD 449 (Web site)

Leavenworth USD 453 (Web site)

Basehor-Linwood USD 458 (Web site)

Tonganoxie USD 464 (Web site)

Lansing USD 469 (Web site)

Colleges/Universities

Leavenworth Normal School closed

United States Army Command and General Staff College

University of Saint Mary

(source:wikipedia)