Shawnee County Demographics

A map of Shawnee County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	126,385	125,873	71.0%	70.4%
Hispanic	24,637	23,861	13.8%	13.3%
Black	11,731	13,531	6.6%	7.6%
Multiracial	11,142	10,830	6.3%	6.1%
Asian	2,355	2,480	1.3%	1.4%
Native American/Other	1,775	2,334	1.0%	1.3%

Shawnee County, Kansas has an estimated population of 178,025, a less than 1% change from the 178,909 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 71.0% White, 13.8% Hispanic, 6.6% Black, 6.3% Multiracial, 1.3% Asian, and 1.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Shawnee County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Shawnee has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is more diverse than Kansas overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Shawnee County, that probability was 47.8% in 2020 and 46.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Shawnee County is ranked the 3rd most populous county in Kansas, out of 105 counties. Shawnee County was ranked the 3rd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Shawnee County's White Population

126,385 residents of Shawnee County, or 71.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Shawnee County is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 72.7% of the population is White. Shawnee County ranks 91st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shawnee County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Shawnee County's population has increased from 70.4% to 71.0%.

Shawnee County is less White than neighboring Jackson County (81.6% White), Osage County (92.1% White), Jefferson County (91.1% White), Wabaunsee County (89.6% White), and Douglas County (76% White).

Shawnee County's Black Population

11,731 residents of Shawnee County, or 6.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Shawnee County is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Shawnee County ranks 5th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shawnee County's Black population has declined by an estimated 13.3%. Black residents' share of Shawnee County's population has decreased from 7.6% to 6.6%.

Shawnee County is more Black than neighboring Jackson County (0.7% Black), Osage County (0.3% Black), Jefferson County (0.4% Black), Wabaunsee County (0.2% Black), and Douglas County (4.2% Black).

Shawnee County's Asian Population

2,355 residents of Shawnee County, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Shawnee County is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 2.9% of the population is Asian. Shawnee County ranks 13th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shawnee County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 5.0%. Asian residents' share of Shawnee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

Shawnee County is more Asian than neighboring Jackson County (0.5% Asian), Osage County (0.1% Asian), Jefferson County (0.2% Asian), and Wabaunsee County (0.4% Asian). Shawnee County is less Asian than neighboring Douglas County (4.3% Asian).

Shawnee County's Hispanic Population

24,637 residents of Shawnee County, or 13.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Shawnee County is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 13.6% of the population is Hispanic. Shawnee County ranks 23rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shawnee County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 3.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Shawnee County's population has increased from 13.3% to 13.8%.

Shawnee County is more Hispanic than neighboring Jackson County (5.8% Hispanic), Osage County (3.4% Hispanic), Jefferson County (3.5% Hispanic), Wabaunsee County (4.8% Hispanic), and Douglas County (7.2% Hispanic).

Shawnee County's Native American/Other Population

1,775 residents of Shawnee County, or 1.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Shawnee County is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 0.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Shawnee County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shawnee County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 24.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Shawnee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.0%.

Shawnee County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Osage County (0.6% Native American/Other), Jefferson County (0.7% Native American/Other), and Wabaunsee County (0.5% Native American/Other). Shawnee County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Jackson County (5.5% Native American/Other), and Douglas County (1.5% Native American/Other).

Shawnee County's Multiracial Population

11,142 residents of Shawnee County, or 6.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Shawnee County is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 4.8% of the population is Multiracial. Shawnee County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shawnee County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 2.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Shawnee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.3%.

Shawnee County is more Multiracial than neighboring Jackson County (5.9% Multiracial), Osage County (3.5% Multiracial), Jefferson County (4% Multiracial), and Wabaunsee County (4.5% Multiracial). Shawnee County is less Multiracial than neighboring Douglas County (6.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.