Kansas

Russell

6,691
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Russell

Russell, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 156. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 6,691.

Its recorded population peaked at 13,464 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 50 percent.

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Morton Massacre — Kansas (June 1864), Buffalo Station Attack, Pawnee Killer Raids — Kansas Frontier (June 1867), and 24 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20206,691
20106,970
20007,370
19907,835
19808,868
19709,428
196011,348
195013,406
194013,464
193011,045
192010,748
191010,800
19008,489
18907,333
18807,351
1870156
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Russell

Military engagements that took place in Russell, Kansas.

Morton Massacre — Kansas (June 1864)
1864
Buffalo Station Attack
1867
Pawnee Killer Raids — Kansas Frontier (June 1867)
1867
Saline and Solomon River Raids 1868
1868
Saline River Raids
1868
Raid on Spillman Creek KS
1868
Saline River Valley Raids 1868
1868

Historic places in Russell

National Register of Historic Places listings in Russell, Kansas.

Dream Theater
Russell
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 Russell County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Russell 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 Russell

When does Russell first appear in the US census?
Russell, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 156.
What is the population of Russell?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Russell had a recorded population of 6,691.
When did Russell's population peak?
Russell's recorded population peaked at 13,464 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Russell?
7 documented military engagements took place in Russell, including Morton Massacre — Kansas (June 1864), Buffalo Station Attack, Pawnee Killer Raids — Kansas Frontier (June 1867).
How many historic places are in Russell?
24 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Russell, Kansas.
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