Linn County, Kansas

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

Explorers in the early 19th century came across abandoned mining sites along a creek south of the Marais des Cygnes river. The background of these early miners remains a mystery; but it inspired early residents of the region to name this waterway "Mine Creek."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 606 sqmi, of which 594 sqmi is land and 12 sqmi (2.0%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Miami County (north)
• Bates County, Missouri (east)
• Vernon County, Missouri (southeast)
• Bourbon County (south)
• Allen County (southwest)
• Anderson County (west)
• Franklin County (northwest)

National protected area

• Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

Linn County is included in the Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,591. The median age was 46.2 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.7 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.9% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.5% of the population.

There were 3,982 households in the county, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,065 housing units, of which 21.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.6% were owner-occupied and 20.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 9,570 people, 3,807 households, and 2,748 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 /mi2. There were 4,720 housing units at an average density of 8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.50% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 3,807 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,906, and the median income for a family was $42,571. Males had a median income of $31,720 versus $22,287 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,009. About 7.80% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2004, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.

Education

Unified school districts

• Pleasanton USD 344
• Jayhawk USD 346
• Prairie View USD 362

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Linn County.

Cities

• Blue Mound
• La Cygne
• Linn Valley
• Mound City (county seat)
• Parker
• Pleasanton
• Prescott

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

• Boicourt
• Cadmus
• Centerville†
• Critzer
• Farlinville
• Goodrich
• Mantey
• Trading Post

Ghost towns

• Hail Ridge
• Keokuk
• Linnville
• Moneka
• Paris

Townships

Linn County is divided into eleven 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.

References

References

1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
2. "QuickFacts; Linn County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau.
3. Blackmar, Frank Wilson. (1912). "Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2". Standard Publishing Company.
4. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". U.S. Government Printing Office.
5. "Extinct Towns in Linn County, Kansas - History and Information - Page 2".
6. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
17. (November 2006). "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue.
18. (June 2010). "General Highway Map of Linn County, Kansas". [[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT).