Kansas

Riley

71,959
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Riley

Riley, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 1,224. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 71,959.

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

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Manhattan KS Defense Preparations (1863), Camp Funston (Fort Riley) — WWI Training Camp and 1918 Influenza Origin, Camp Funston Influenza Outbreak 1918, and 43 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202071,959
201071,115
200062,843
199067,139
198063,505
197056,788
196041,914
195033,405
194020,617
193019,882
192020,650
191015,783
190013,828
189013,183
188010,430
18705,105
18601,224
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Riley

Military engagements that took place in Riley, Kansas.

Manhattan KS Defense Preparations (1863)
1863
Camp Funston (Fort Riley) — WWI Training Camp and 1918 Influenza Origin
1917
Camp Funston Influenza Outbreak 1918
1918

Historic places in Riley

National Register of Historic Places listings in Riley, Kansas.

Platt, Jeremiah, House
Manhattan
First Congregational Church
Manhattan
Anderson Hall
Manhattan
Wharton, E. A. and Ura, House
Manhattan
Yuma Street Historic District
Manhattan
Downtown Manhattan Historic District
Manhattan
Goodnow House
Manhattan
Browse all Kansashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kansas

Explore census history and historic records for more Kansas counties.

BarberBartonBourbonBreckinridgeBrownBuffaloButlerChaseChautauquaCherokeeCheyenneClarkClayCloudCoffeyComancheCowleyCrawfordDecaturDickinson
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Everything a full report reveals about Riley County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Riley 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 Riley

When does Riley first appear in the US census?
Riley, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 1,224.
What is the population of Riley?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Riley had a recorded population of 71,959.
Were any battles fought in Riley?
3 documented military engagements took place in Riley, including Manhattan KS Defense Preparations (1863), Camp Funston (Fort Riley) — WWI Training Camp and 1918 Influenza Origin, Camp Funston Influenza Outbreak 1918.
How many historic places are in Riley?
43 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Riley, Kansas.
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