Kansas

Shawnee

178,909
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Shawnee

Shawnee, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 3,513. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 178,909.

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

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Topeka KS Defense Scare (August 1863), and 109 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020178,909
2010177,934
2000169,871
1990160,976
1980154,916
1970155,322
1960141,286
1950105,418
194091,247
193085,200
192069,159
191061,874
190053,727
189049,172
188029,093
187013,121
18603,513
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Shawnee

Military engagements that took place in Shawnee, Kansas.

Topeka KS Defense Scare (August 1863)
1863

Historic places in Shawnee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Shawnee, Kansas.

Sargent, John, House
Topeka
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Topeka
Pottawatomie Baptist Mission Building and Site (Boundary Increase)
Topeka
Pottawatomie Baptist Mission Building
Topeka
Hughes Conoco Service Station
Topeka
Ward-Meade House
Topeka
Kansas State Capitol
Topeka
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Topeka
Woman's Club Building
Topeka
Memorial Building
Topeka
Topeka High School
Topeka
Union Pacific Railroad Passenger Depot
Topeka
Fire Station No. 2-Topeka
Topeka
Constitution Hall-Topeka
Topeka
Hopkins House
Tecumseh
St. John's Lutheran School
Topeka
Crawford, Nelson Antrim, House
Topeka
Potwin Place Historic District
Topeka
Topeka Council of Colored Women's Clubs Building
Topeka
Cedar Crest
Topeka
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 Shawnee County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Shawnee 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 Shawnee

When does Shawnee first appear in the US census?
Shawnee, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 3,513.
What is the population of Shawnee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Shawnee had a recorded population of 178,909.
Were any battles fought in Shawnee?
1 documented military engagement took place in Shawnee, including Topeka KS Defense Scare (August 1863).
How many historic places are in Shawnee?
109 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Shawnee, Kansas.
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