Kansas

Bourbon

14,360
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Bourbon

Bourbon, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 6,101. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 14,360.

Its recorded population peaked at 28,575 in 1890, and has since declined by roughly 50 percent.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Dry Wood Creek (Missouri), Island Mound, Fort Scott Skirmish 1862, and 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202014,360
201015,173
200015,379
199014,966
198015,969
197015,215
196016,090
195019,153
194020,944
193022,386
192023,198
191024,007
190024,712
189028,575
188019,591
187015,076
18606,101
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bourbon

Military engagements that took place in Bourbon, Kansas.

Skirmish at Dry Wood Creek (Missouri)
1861
Island Mound
1862
Fort Scott Skirmish 1862
1862
Battle of Fort Blair (Fort Scott area) 1862–1864
1862
Skirmish at Fort Scott (1863)
1863
Fort Scott Skirmish 1863
1863
Trading Post Skirmish
1863
Battle of Marmiton River 1864
1864

Historic places in Bourbon

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bourbon, Kansas.

Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott
Fort Scott National Cemetery
Fort Scott
First Congregational Church
Fort Scott
Browse all Kansashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kansas

Explore census history and historic records for more Kansas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bourbon County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Bourbon County, Kansas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bourbon

When does Bourbon first appear in the US census?
Bourbon, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 6,101.
What is the population of Bourbon?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bourbon had a recorded population of 14,360.
When did Bourbon's population peak?
Bourbon's recorded population peaked at 28,575 in 1890.
Were any battles fought in Bourbon?
8 documented military engagements took place in Bourbon, including Skirmish at Dry Wood Creek (Missouri), Island Mound, Fort Scott Skirmish 1862.
How many historic places are in Bourbon?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bourbon, Kansas.
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