Kansas

Douglas

118,785
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Douglas

Douglas, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 8,637. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 118,785.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 19 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Wakarusa War 1855, Branson Rescue and Pro-slavery Confrontation 1855, Battle of Black Jack, and 117 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020118,785
2010110,826
200099,962
199081,798
198067,640
197057,932
196043,720
195034,086
194025,171
193025,143
192023,998
191024,724
190025,096
189023,961
188021,700
187020,592
18608,637
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Douglas

Military engagements that took place in Douglas, Kansas.

Wakarusa War 1855
1855
Branson Rescue and Pro-slavery Confrontation 1855
1855
Battle of Black Jack
1856
Battle of Franklin (Kansas) 1856
1856
Battle of the Spurs (Kansas) 1856
1856
Battle of Palmyra (Kansas) 1856
1856
Sack of Lawrence Kansas (1856)
1856
Sack of Lawrence (Bleeding Kansas)
1856
Quantrill Raid on Aubry
1862
Raid on Aubry (Second)
1863
Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence Kansas
1863
Lawrence Defense Preparations – 1863
1863
Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence
1863
Lawrence Massacre
1863
Lawrence Massacre – Hotel Murder and Town Burning
1863
Quantrill's Raid – Lawrence KS Massacre
1863
Lawrence Massacre – Eldridge Hotel Surrender
1863
Quantrill's Raid – Lawrence Massacre
1863
Lawrence Massacre – Massachusetts Street Killings
1863

Historic places in Douglas

National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas, Kansas.

Old Castle Hall, Baker University
Baldwin City
Eldridge House Hotel
Lawrence
Lane University
Lecompton
Santa Fe Depot
Lawrence
Vinland Presbyterian Church
Baldwin
English Lutheran Church
Lawrence
Spooner Hall, University of Kansas
Lawrence
Beni Israel Cemetery
Eudora
Bell, George and Annie, House
Lawrence
Plymouth Congregational Church
Lawrence
Santa Fe Depot
Baldwin City
Zimmerman, S. T., House
Lawrence
Constitution Hall
Lecompton
Douglas County Courthouse
Lawrence
Dyche Hall, University of Kansas
Lawrence
Strong Hall
Lawrence
Bailey Hall
Lawrence
Lawrence's Downtown Historic District
Lawrence
Chewning House
Lawrence
Haskell Institute
Lawrence
First Methodist Church of Eudora
Eudora
Old Lawrence City Hall
Lawrence
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 Douglas County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Douglas 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 Douglas

When does Douglas first appear in the US census?
Douglas, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 8,637.
What is the population of Douglas?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Douglas had a recorded population of 118,785.
Were any battles fought in Douglas?
19 documented military engagements took place in Douglas, including Wakarusa War 1855, Branson Rescue and Pro-slavery Confrontation 1855, Battle of Black Jack.
How many historic places are in Douglas?
117 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Douglas, Kansas.
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