Labette County (county code LB) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020, 20,184 people lived there.[1] Its county seat is Oswego.[2] Its biggest city is Parsons. The county was named after LaBette creek,[3][4] the second-biggest creek in the county. The creek was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette who had moved to the area.[4]
History
In the 1840s, most of the people living in Labette County were Osage people. There were also many Cherokee and Euro-Americans. Many of the Euro-Americans were merchants with Osage or Cherokee wives.[5]
Between 1871 and 1873, at least eleven people disappeared near an inn and general store run by the Bender family in Labette County. After the disappareance of the Benders in 1873, it was found that they had apparently murdered many travelers. Between eight and eleven bodies were found buried at the inn. Governor Thomas A. Osborn offered a reward of $2,000 for anyone who caught the Benders, but they were never found.[6][7]
Geography
The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 653 square miles (1,690 km2). Of that, 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 7.8 square miles (20 km2) (1.2%) is water.[8]
The 2020 Census says that Labette County had 20,184 people living there. The median age was 40. The race of the people were 79.7% non-Hispanic white, 4.2% African-American, 2.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% non-Hispanics of some other race, 8.7% non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 4.7% Hispanic or Latino.[13]
Government
Presidential elections
Labette County is mostly Republican. It has a slight Democratic lean to it like many counties in Southeast Kansas. Although Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton both won the county once each, it has become more Republican.
Cherokee USD 247 (Web site) is a school district of 300 square miles (780 km2) primarily covering portions of Crawford and Cherokee counties, but also includes small portions of Labette and Neosho counties.[15]
