Kansas

Cherokee

19,362
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Cherokee

Cherokee, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 1,501. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 19,362.

Its recorded population peaked at 42,694 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 55 percent.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Southeast Kansas Border Skirmish, Quantrill at Baxter Springs Kansas, Battle of Baxter Springs – Fort Blair Assault, and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202019,362
201021,603
200022,605
199021,374
198022,304
197021,549
196022,279
195025,144
194029,817
193031,457
192033,609
191038,162
190042,694
189027,770
188021,905
187011,038
18601,501
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Cherokee

Military engagements that took place in Cherokee, Kansas.

Southeast Kansas Border Skirmish
1862
Quantrill at Baxter Springs Kansas
1863
Battle of Baxter Springs – Fort Blair Assault
1863
Baxter Springs Massacre – Ambush of Blunt's Escort
1863
Baxter Springs Massacre
1863
Battle of Baxter Springs (Quantrill)
1863
Battle of Fort Blair, Baxter Springs
1863
Cherokee County KS Raids (1864)
1864

Historic places in Cherokee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee, Kansas.

Columbus Public Carnegie Library
Columbus
Johnston Library
Baxter Springs
Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station
Baxter Springs
Williams' Store
Riverton
Niles, Rial A., House
Baxter Springs
Brush Creek Bridge
Baxter Springs
Schermerhorn, Edgar Backus, House
Galena
Big Brutus
West Mineral
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Other counties in Kansas

Explore census history and historic records for more Kansas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Cherokee County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Cherokee 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 Cherokee

When does Cherokee first appear in the US census?
Cherokee, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 1,501.
What is the population of Cherokee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Cherokee had a recorded population of 19,362.
When did Cherokee's population peak?
Cherokee's recorded population peaked at 42,694 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Cherokee?
8 documented military engagements took place in Cherokee, including Southeast Kansas Border Skirmish, Quantrill at Baxter Springs Kansas, Battle of Baxter Springs – Fort Blair Assault.
How many historic places are in Cherokee?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Cherokee, Kansas.
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