The Town Files

Cherokee County, Kansas

19,151 people. The median home is worth $100,100 (typical Kansas town: $128,200) and the median household earns $57,668.

Towns in Cherokee County

Towns in Cherokee County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Baxter Springs3,888$92,900$51,40440.2
Columbus2,929$94,100$37,96138.5
Galena2,761$78,500$49,00646.6

People and housing

Cherokee CountyTypical Kansas town
Median home value$100,100$128,200
Median rent$799$815
Median household income$57,668$63,857
Median age42.238.5
Bachelor's degree or higher19.4%24.0%
Below the poverty line14.1%10.6%

Jobs and pay

5,829 jobs in 2024, average pay $56,667 a year.

Largest industries in Cherokee CountyManufacturing1,642 jobs · $59,327Health care & social assistan…576 jobs · $70,933Construction537 jobs · $86,191Retail406 jobs · $31,504Wholesale trade257 jobs · $72,094Administrative & support216 jobs · $58,109
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Cherokee County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 2.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 767 storm events in Cherokee County from 1996 to 2026, with 4 deaths.

Storm events in Cherokee County by type since 1996Hail219Heat8Flood29Drought39Tornado22Ice Storm10Heavy Rain13Flash Flood136Funnel Cloud8Winter Storm18
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Cherokee County has been included in 28 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 1, 2026Severe StormDR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
September 1, 2026Severe StormDR-4943: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
June 30, 2026Severe StormDR-4926: 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
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).