Decatur County (county code DC) is a county in Northwest Kansas. In 2020, 2,764 people lived there.[1] Its county seat is Oberlin. Oberlin is also the biggest city in Decatur County.[2] The county is named after Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.

History

Decatur County was created on March 20, 1873 and organized on December 15, 1879. It is named after the Navy war hero Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr..[3] He served during the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War and the War of 1812.

Oberlin was where the last Native American (specifically the Northern Cheyenne) Raid in Kansas happened.[4]

Geography

The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 894 square miles (2,320 km2). Of that, 894 square miles (2,320 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.07%) is water.[5]

People

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18804,180—
18908,414101.3%
19009,2349.7%
19108,976−2.8%
19208,121−9.5%
19308,8669.2%
19407,434−16.2%
19506,185−16.8%
19605,778−6.6%
19704,988−13.7%
19804,509−9.6%
19904,021−10.8%
20003,472−13.7%
20102,961−14.7%
20202,764−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]
Population pyramid

Government

Decatur county is very Republican. The last time a democratic candidate won the county was in 1936 by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Presidential elections