As the state's largest county, locals are proud to call Butler "The Golden Land
of Opportunity" for its solid economic base, six industrial business parks and
plentiful water supplies. Petroleum production and refining are the top
contributors to the region's economy, along with several manufacturing plants.
| Butler County | Wichita MSA |
| Population, July 2004 | 61,828 | 584,671 |
| Population growth, 1990-2000 | 17.6% | 12.7% |
| Land area (sq. mi.), 2000 | 1,428 | 4,145 |
| Households, 2000 | 21,527 | 220,440 |
| Homeownership rate, 2000 | 77.7% | |
| Median age, 2000 | 35.9 | 34.1 |
| High school grads, 2000 | 87.3% | 85.3% |
| College grads, 2000 | 20.4% | 24.7% |
| Labor force, 2004 | 31,329 | 304,798 |
| Unemployment rate, 2004 | 6.1% | 5.9% |
| Public school enrollment, 2004-05 | 14,097 | 103,298 |
| High school graduates, 2004 | 854 | 5,726 |
| Median household income, 1999 | $45,474 | $42,651 |
| Percapita income, 1999 | $20,150 | $20,692 |
| Retail sales (thousands), 1997 | 350,287 | 4,870,965 |
| Business 2003 |
Firms |
1,287 |
14,252 |
| Employment |
16,537 |
274,608 |
| Avg. weekly wage |
$470 |
$522 |
| |
|
|
|
| Mfg. business 2003 |
Firms |
53 |
767 |
| Employment |
1,777 |
58,420 |
| Avg. weekly wage |
$751 |
$767 |
| Major employers |
Butler County Community College
Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital
Sherwin-Williams
Pioneer Balloon
Frontier Oil
Butler County Government
Banks Construction
El Dorado Correctional Facility
D.J. Engineering
|
| Largest school districts |
Andover
El Dorado
Augusta
Rose Hill
Circle
|
Wichita
Derby
Maize
Haysville
Goddard
|
Sources: Kansas
State Department of Education for public school enrollment
and graduates; Kansas
Department of Labor for labor force, unemployment,
businesses, employees and wages; Journal
Communications for major employers; and U.S.
Census Bureau for all other data. |
