Land Stewardship Assistance for Douglas County
Foreword
Dear Douglas County Resident,
Douglas County, Kansas, is situated in an ecotone, a transition zone between the deciduous forests of the eastern half of the United States and the grasslands of the Great Plains. It is a landscape of reservoirs, rivers, wetlands, and streams; of prairies, pastures, ponds; of woodland and farmland.
Douglas County is also home to approximately 120,000 humans who live, work, and play in our rural landscape, in our cities, and all the spaces in between. Residents of Douglas County and those who wish to become residents value the rural and agricultural character of the county’s unincorporated areas and the natural resources that make this area a desirable place to live.
Building a home and living in a rural setting has unique advantages and challenges. Before you buy land or a country home, it is important to realize that living in the country is quite different from living in the city. You and your family will face many new responsibilities, chores, and, in some cases, extra expenses for living in the country. In addition, some services available in the city may not always be readily available in the country.
This document is a resource guide for those living or planning to live in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County. Topics range from animal control to pond management to zoning codes. All the agencies and organizations referenced in this document are committed to the health, safety, and welfare of Douglas County residents and the land they care for. It is designed to help prospective and current property owners find the information and resources to manage their land for health, safety, sustainability, and enjoyment.
Land Acknowledgment Statement
Douglas County honors and acknowledges the original stewards of the land that makes up the County, including the Kaw/Kansa, Wazhazhe (original tribal name, Ni-U-Ko’n-Ska)/Osage, and Shawano/Shawnee peoples.
Douglas County recognizes that the foundation of current land use and land access is inextricably tied to the forceful removal of Indigenous communities, cultures, and their lifeways from the land. The removal and relocation of Native American Tribes has resulted in fundamental ecological changes and systematic oppression that continues to impact Douglas County’s human and non-human community members.
This publication has been funded by a grant from the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council. However, the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council.
Photos courtesy of Douglas County, K-State Research and Extension, and K-State Research and Extension – Douglas County