Map of Douglas County, Kansas

Douglas County (county code DG) is located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 118,785, making it the fifth-most populous county in Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Lawrence.

Douglas County overview:
Name:Douglas County
FIPS code:20-045
State:Kansas
Founded:August 25, 1855
Named for:Stephen Douglas
Seat:Lawrence
Largest city:Lawrence
Total Area:475 sq mi (1,230 km²)
Land Area:456 sq mi (1,180 km²)
Total Population:118,785
Population Density:260.5/sq mi (100.6/km²)
Time zone:UTC−6 (Central)
Summer Time Zone (DST):UTC−5 (CDT)
Website:douglascountyks.org

Douglas County location map. Where is Douglas County?

Douglas County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Douglas County.
Location of Douglas County in the the United States.
Douglas County location on the Kansas map. Where is Douglas County.
Location of Douglas County in Kansas.

History

Early history

For 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. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France via the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso, although the former country kept 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.

19th century

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Douglas County was established. Douglas County was opened for settlement on May 15, 1854, and was named for Stephen A. Douglas, a senator from Illinois. The county was practically at the center of the Bleeding Kansas years as leaders in Lecompton (the territorial capital) wanted Kansas to be a slave state, whereas leaders in Lawrence wanted Kansas to be a free state. The pro- and anti-slavery settlers held great animosity towards one another, leading to many events, such as the drafting of the Lecompton Constitution (which would have admitted Kansas into the Union as a slave state), the Wakarusa War (1855), the Sack of Lawrence (1856), Battle of Black Jack (1856), and the Lawrence Massacre (1863).

The first railroad in Douglas County, the Kansas Pacific, was built through that territory in 1864.

Douglas County Road Map

Douglas CountyStreet Map.
Street map of Douglas County, Kansas. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)
Douglas CountyMap
Douglas Countypolitical map.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 475 square miles (1,230 km), of which 456 square miles (1,180 km) is land and 19 square miles (49 km) (4.0%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in Kansas by land area. Much of its northern boundary is defined by the Kansas River, which flows through Lawrence and provides hydropower at the Bowersock Dam.

Lakes

  • Clinton Lake
  • Lone Star Lake

Adjacent counties

Douglas County Topographic Map

Topographic Map of Douglas County, Kansas
Douglas County Topo map.

Douglas County Satellite Map

Satellite Map of Douglas County, Kansas
Douglas County satellite map.

Douglas County Outline Map

Outline Map of Douglas County, Kansas
Douglas County outline map.

See also

Map of Kansas State and its subdivision: Map of other states:
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