Demographics

2011 Population Estimates

Based upon 2011 census population estimates, Butler County is the eighth largest county in the State of Kansas in population. Population growth in Butler County has been increasing in the past five decades. The average growth of this period has been 13.61%, compared to the State of Kansas, which grew 7.02%.

Population growth primarily has occurred on the western edges of the county due to its proximity to the City of Wichita. Butler County is a relatively young community, with 87.4% of its population under the age of 65. Given current trends it is expected that the percent of population over 65 will increase as population ages.

2010 Census Data

As of the U.S. Census in 2010, there were 23,992 households, and 17,546 families residing in the county. There were 26,058 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% White, 1.7% Black, 1% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 2.2% of two or more races.

There were 23,992 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were nonfamily households. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.11.

The county population was spread out with 30.12% under the age of 19, 23.32% ages 20 to 39, 33.92% ages 40 to 64, and 12.64% ages 65 or older. The median age was 38.6 years.

Historical Census Populations

Census Year	Population	Percent Change
1860	437
1870	3,035	594.5%
1880	18,586	512.4%
1890	24,055	29.4%
1900	23,363	-2.9%
1910	23,059	-1.3%
1920	43,842	90.1%
1930	35,904	18.1%
1940	32,013	-10.8%
1950	31,001	-3.2%
1960	38,395	23.9%
1970	38,658	0.7%
1980	44,785	15.8%
1990	50,850	12.9%
2000	59,482	17.6%
2010	65,880	10.8%