Decatur County, KS

History

Organized in 1879. County Seat, Oberlin. Named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur, a distinguished American naval officer. He fell in a duel with Commodore Barron, United States Navy, in 1808.

Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

Oberlin was the site of the last Indian raid in Kansas on September 29, 1878 when it was attacked by Cheyennes under the leadership of Dull Knife.

William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Decatur County.

There is a section on Decatur County in the book Kansas: a Cyclopedia Of State History by Frank Blackmar (1912).

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Cedar Bluffs, Decatur, Dresden, Lyle, Norcatur, and Oberlin.

The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Decatur County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Decatur County

    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
    Allison                                             2494
    Cedar Bluffs                                        2549
    Dresden                     51  67635       1888    2729
    Jennings                   169  67643       1888    2500
    Kanona                                      1885    2730
    Leoville                                            2752
    Lyle                                                2407
    Norcatur                   169  67653               2700
    Oberlin                  1,994  67749       1878    2562
    Traer                                               2599

Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Events in Decatur County

Each October, Oberlin celebrates its "Mini-Sappa" Festival.

Libraries

Jennings City Library (785) 678-2666
133 S. Kansas `/ Jennings, KS 67643
Norcatur Free Public Library (785) 693-4225
301 E. Ossipee / P. O. Box 213 / Norcatur, KS 67653
Oberlin City Library (785) 475-2412
104 E. Oak / Oberlin, KS 67749

Museums

Last Indian Raid Museum 785-475-2712
258 S. Penn, Oberlin, KS 67749

Decatur County School Systems

USD 294 Oberlin (785) 475-3805 Oberlin
USD 295 Prairie Heights (785) 678-2414 Jennings

Hospitals

Decatur County Hospital (785) 475-2208
810 W. Columbia / Oberlin, KS 67749

Newspapers

Oberlin Herald (785) 475-2206
170 S. Penn Ave., Oberlin, KS 67749

More Data About Decatur County

Economic Data

Kansas County Profile Reports
Statistical data from The Institute for Policy and Social Research, the University of Kansas

Health Data

KDHE's Decatur County Health Profile

Genealogy

Decatur County KSGenWeb

Decatur County Offices

County Appraiser (785) 475-8109
120 E. Hall, Oberlin, KS 67749
County Attorney (785) 475-8104
124 S. Penn, Oberlin, KS 67749
County Clerk (785) 475-8102
120 E. Hall, Oberlin, KS 67749
County Sheriff (785) 475-8100
120 E. Hall, Oberlin, KS 67749
County Treasurer (785) 475-8103
120 E. Hall, Oberlin, KS 67749
Extension Service (785) 475-8121
120 E. Hall, Oberlin, KS 67749
Magistrate Judge (785) 475-8108
120 E. Hall, Oberlin, KS 67749

Decatur County