Place:Decatur, Kansas, United States

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NameDecatur
Alt namesDecatursource: Getty Vocabulary Program
TypeCounty
Coordinates39.8°N 100.467°W
Located inKansas, United States     (1873 - )


the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Decatur County (county code DC) is a county located in Northwest Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,764. Its county seat and most populous city is Oberlin. The county is named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.

Contents

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

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.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. Decatur County was established March 20, 1873 and organized on December 15, 1879. It is named for the Navy war hero Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr., who served during the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War and the War of 1812.

In 1878, the Sappa Creek valley in Decatur county was the scene of the last raid by Native Americans (Indians) in Kansas. In the Northern Cheyenne Exodus after the Battle of Punished Woman's Fork, a band of Cheyenne needing horses and provisions raged through the valley, killing more than 30 civilians and raping several woman. Several Cheyenne elderly, women, and children were also killed in the region by soldiers and civilians. In Oberlin, the Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum commemorates the Cheyenne raid.

Timeline

Date Event Source
1873 County formed Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1879 Land records recorded Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1880 Court records recorded Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1880 First census Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
1880 Marriage records recorded Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1880 No significant boundary changes after this year Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
1889 Birth records recorded Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1900 Probate records recorded Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources

Population History

source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
Census Year Population
1880 4,180
1890 8,414
1900 9,234
1910 8,976
1920 8,121
1930 8,866
1940 7,434
1950 6,185
1960 5,778
1970 4,988
1980 4,509
1990 4,021

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Decatur County, Kansas, United States

Research Tips

Resources

source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
source: Family History Library Catalog


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