# Neosho County, Kansas

Neosho County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Erie. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 15,904. The county was named for the Neosho River, which passes through the county.

## History
### Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

### 19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1861, Neosho County was established.
The first railroad was built through Neosho County in 1870.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 578 square miles (1,500 km$^2$), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km$^2$) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km$^2$) (1.1%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Allen County (north)
* Bourbon County (northeast)
* Crawford County (east)
* Labette County (south)
* Montgomery County (southwest)
* Wilson County (west)
* Woodson County (northwest)

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,997 people, 6,739 households, and 4,683 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km$^2$). There were 7,461 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5.0/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 94.90% White, 0.87% Black or African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 2.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,739 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,167, and the median income for a family was $38,532. Males had a median income of $26,906 versus $19,387 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,539. About 10.00% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

## Government
### Presidential elections

Neosho County is a mostly Republican county. Only six presidential elections from 1888 to the present have resulted in Republicans failing to win the county, with the last of these being in 1964. However, like the rest of the four most southeasterly Kansas counties, Democrats have maintained a sizable presence, but not enough to win the county.
United States presidential election results for Neosho County, Kansas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 4,961 | 72.86% | 1,696 | 24.91% | 152 | 2.23% |
| 2020 | 4,970 | 72.27% | 1,796 | 26.12% | 111 | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 4,431 | 70.18% | 1,501 | 23.77% | 382 | 6.05% |
| 2012 | 4,272 | 65.93% | 2,050 | 31.64% | 158 | 2.44% |
| 2008 | 4,473 | 62.19% | 2,563 | 35.64% | 156 | 2.17% |
| 2004 | 4,705 | 65.07% | 2,424 | 33.52% | 102 | 1.41% |
| 2000 | 4,014 | 58.29% | 2,588 | 37.58% | 284 | 4.12% |
| 1996 | 3,409 | 49.43% | 2,527 | 36.64% | 961 | 13.93% |
| 1992 | 2,926 | 37.07% | 2,799 | 35.46% | 2,168 | 27.47% |
| 1988 | 3,739 | 51.77% | 3,402 | 47.11% | 81 | 1.12% |
| 1984 | 4,968 | 64.11% | 2,679 | 34.57% | 102 | 1.32% |
| 1980 | 4,613 | 57.11% | 2,923 | 36.19% | 541 | 6.70% |
| 1976 | 4,038 | 50.32% | 3,842 | 47.88% | 144 | 1.79% |
| 1972 | 5,034 | 65.06% | 2,559 | 33.07% | 145 | 1.87% |
| 1968 | 3,950 | 52.92% | 2,725 | 36.51% | 789 | 10.57% |
| 1964 | 3,458 | 41.68% | 4,795 | 57.80% | 43 | 0.52% |
| 1960 | 5,877 | 62.71% | 3,451 | 36.83% | 43 | 0.46% |
| 1956 | 5,886 | 65.99% | 3,005 | 33.69% | 29 | 0.33% |
| 1952 | 6,595 | 68.60% | 2,987 | 31.07% | 32 | 0.33% |
| 1948 | 5,072 | 56.69% | 3,770 | 42.14% | 105 | 1.17% |
| 1944 | 5,420 | 62.45% | 3,233 | 37.25% | 26 | 0.30% |
| 1940 | 6,556 | 59.43% | 4,419 | 40.06% | 56 | 0.51% |
| 1936 | 5,777 | 50.55% | 5,611 | 49.09% | 41 | 0.36% |
| 1932 | 4,212 | 42.27% | 5,616 | 56.36% | 137 | 1.37% |
| 1928 | 6,603 | 72.27% | 2,459 | 26.92% | 74 | 0.81% |
| 1924 | 5,106 | 58.70% | 2,274 | 26.14% | 1,319 | 15.16% |
| 1920 | 5,150 | 60.82% | 3,195 | 37.73% | 122 | 1.44% |
| 1916 | 4,053 | 43.87% | 4,891 | 52.94% | 295 | 3.19% |
| 1912 | 1,580 | 30.18% | 1,993 | 38.07% | 1,662 | 31.75% |
| 1908 | 2,929 | 53.15% | 2,386 | 43.30% | 196 | 3.56% |
| 1904 | 3,134 | 62.11% | 1,530 | 30.32% | 382 | 7.57% |
| 1900 | 2,424 | 50.94% | 2,279 | 47.89% | 56 | 1.18% |
| 1896 | 2,177 | 45.20% | 2,601 | 54.01% | 38 | 0.79% |
| 1892 | 2,000 | 47.81% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,183 | 52.19% |
| 1888 | 2,134 | 49.66% | 1,144 | 26.62% | 1,019 | 23.71% |

### Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1998, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.

### Local Government

Former Neosho County Attorney Linus Thuston, who was jailed for misdemeanor convictions early in 2024, in December 2024 faced six felony charges of perjury and witness intimidation. The complaint accused Thurston of lying during testimony in an arrangement that involved a female (one of more than 50) who were coerced to send Thurston nude photos.Sheriff’s officers filed reports that accused Thuston of using confidential information for personal gain, intimidating a witness or victim, disseminating a criminal history record, theft by deception, preventing reporting of victimization, and other felonies. Those crimes were reported between 2018 and 2023.

## Education
### Unified school districts

* Erie-Galesburg USD 101, serves the communities of Erie, Galesburg, Stark.
* Southeast USD 247, serves primarily portions of Crawford and Cherokee counties, but also includes small portions of Labette and Neosho counties.
* Chanute USD 413
* Chetopa–St. Paul USD 505
* Cherryvale-Thayer USD 447

## Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Neosho County.

### Cities

* Chanute
* Earlton
* Erie (county seat)
* Galesburg
* St. Paul
* Stark
* Thayer

### Unincorporated communities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
* Kimball
* Leanna‡
* Morehead
* Odense
* Shaw
* South Mound†
* Urbana†

### Ghost towns

* Ladore

### Townships

Neosho County is divided into twelve townships. The city of Chanute is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.