Kansas

Pawnee

6,253
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Pawnee

Pawnee, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 179. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 6,253.

Its recorded population peaked at 11,041 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 43 percent.

On the ground today, 6 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Fort Larned Area Skirmishes 1864–1869, Skirmish at Walnut Creek KS (1864), Cheyenne-Arapaho Sand Creek Revenge Raids — Fort Larned Area 1865, and 9 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20206,253
20106,973
20007,233
19907,555
19808,065
19708,484
196010,254
195011,041
194010,300
193010,510
19209,323
19108,859
19005,084
18905,204
18805,396
1870179
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Pawnee

Military engagements that took place in Pawnee, Kansas.

Fort Larned Area Skirmishes 1864–1869
1864
Skirmish at Walnut Creek KS (1864)
1864
Cheyenne-Arapaho Sand Creek Revenge Raids — Fort Larned Area 1865
1865
Pawnee Fork — Hancock Burns Cheyenne-Sioux Village (April 1867)
1867
Battle of Pawnee Fork KS
1867
Fort Larned Raid 1867
1867

Historic places in Pawnee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Pawnee, Kansas.

Fort Larned National Historic Site
Larned
Patterson House
Larned
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 Pawnee County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Pawnee 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 Pawnee

When does Pawnee first appear in the US census?
Pawnee, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 179.
What is the population of Pawnee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Pawnee had a recorded population of 6,253.
When did Pawnee's population peak?
Pawnee's recorded population peaked at 11,041 in 1950.
Were any battles fought in Pawnee?
6 documented military engagements took place in Pawnee, including Fort Larned Area Skirmishes 1864–1869, Skirmish at Walnut Creek KS (1864), Cheyenne-Arapaho Sand Creek Revenge Raids — Fort Larned Area 1865.
How many historic places are in Pawnee?
9 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Pawnee, Kansas.
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