Kansas

Decatur

2,764
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Decatur

Decatur, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 4,180. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 2,764.

Its recorded population peaked at 9,234 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 70 percent.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Beaver Creek, Skirmish at Prairie Dog Creek KS, Battle of Beaver Creek (1868), and 2 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20202,764
20102,961
20003,472
19904,021
19804,509
19704,988
19605,778
19506,185
19407,434
19308,866
19208,121
19108,976
19009,234
18908,414
18804,180
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Decatur

Military engagements that took place in Decatur, Kansas.

Battle of Beaver Creek
1867
Skirmish at Prairie Dog Creek KS
1867
Battle of Beaver Creek (1868)
1868
Beaver Creek Fight 1868
1868
Republican River Expedition — Prairie Dog Creek Fight (June 1869)
1869
Prairie Dog Creek Fight 1869
1869
Sappa Creek Fight 1875
1875
Sappa Creek — 6th Cavalry Fight (April 23, 1875)
1875
Dull Knife Raid — Sappa Creek Massacre (September 1878)
1878

Historic places in Decatur

National Register of Historic Places listings in Decatur, Kansas.

Bank of Oberlin
Oberlin
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 Decatur County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Decatur 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 Decatur

When does Decatur first appear in the US census?
Decatur, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 4,180.
What is the population of Decatur?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Decatur had a recorded population of 2,764.
When did Decatur's population peak?
Decatur's recorded population peaked at 9,234 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Decatur?
9 documented military engagements took place in Decatur, including Battle of Beaver Creek, Skirmish at Prairie Dog Creek KS, Battle of Beaver Creek (1868).
How many historic places are in Decatur?
2 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Decatur, Kansas.
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