The Town Files

Bourbon County, Kansas

14,394 people. The median home is worth $113,800 (typical Kansas town: $128,200) and the median household earns $59,238.

Towns in Bourbon County

Towns in Bourbon County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Fort Scott7,552$100,500$52,15941.0

People and housing

Bourbon CountyTypical Kansas town
Median home value$113,800$128,200
Median rent$752$815
Median household income$59,238$63,857
Median age39.138.5
Bachelor's degree or higher23.9%24.0%
Below the poverty line13.6%10.6%

Jobs and pay

5,529 jobs in 2024, average pay $42,850 a year.

Largest industries in Bourbon CountyManufacturing1,099 jobs · $50,123Retail645 jobs · $30,659Finance & insurance288 jobs · $50,543Construction224 jobs · $61,146Wholesale trade183 jobs · $59,229Other services97 jobs · $32,660
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Bourbon County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 496 storm events in Bourbon County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Bourbon County by type since 1996Hail148Heat9Flood12Drought39Tornado7High Wind7Ice Storm9Heavy Rain9Flash Flood71Winter Storm18
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Bourbon County has been included in 18 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
July 22, 2025Severe StormDR-4883: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 15, 2024Severe StormDR-4800: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 29, 2020BiologicalDR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3481: Covid-19
June 20, 2019Severe StormDR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides
October 22, 2013Severe StormDR-4150: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).