Gorham, Kansas

Gorham is a city in Russell County, Kansas, United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 376.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Beaten to the settlement of Wilson, Kansas by Bohemian colonists, Pennsylvania Dutch settlers from Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania established a community on the Kansas Pacific Railway at the future site of Gorham in April 1872.<ref name=Rose>Template:Cite web</ref> Elijah Dodge Gorham, a settler from Illinois, gave the town its name when he platted it in 1879. Seeking to create a local trading center, he formally established the town in July 1886, gave land for a Catholic Church and cemetery, and started several businesses including a general store, grain elevator, post office, lumberyard, and a coal yard. Additional grain elevators and a stockyard subsequently opened, establishing Gorham as a farming community.<ref name=History>Template:Cite web</ref>

The discovery of oil deposits in Russell County transformed the local economy in the 1920s. Companies including Texaco, Stanolind, and Sohio started operations in the area, stimulating Gorham's growth. A brick school building was built in 1922 followed by a second building in 1930 and another in 1949.<ref name=History/> Gorham incorporated as a city in 1941.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By 1944, it had a diverse business community, two oil field production companies, and public schools. From the 1950s to the early 1980s, the city expanded further through the development of residential additions.<ref name=History/>

Geography

Gorham is located in west-central Kansas, approximately Template:Convert northwest of Wichita and Template:Convert west of Kansas City, and Template:Convert east of Denver.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Located Template:Convert north of Interstate 70, it is roughly Template:Convert west of Russell, the county seat.<ref name=CountyMap/>

Gorham lies in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains, approximately Template:Convert north of the Smoky Hill River and Template:Convert south of the Saline River.<ref name=CountyMap>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 376 people, 147 households, and 96 families in Gorham.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 1,573.2 per square mile (607.4/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 169 housing units at an average density of 707.1 per square mile (273.0/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 93.09% (350) white or European American (91.49% non-Hispanic white), 1.33% (5) black or African-American, 0.0% (0) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.53% (2) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.0% (0) from other races, and 5.05% (19) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 2.93% (11) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 147 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18; 50.3% were married couples living together; 17.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 28.6% of households consisted of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 8.2% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

29.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 94.9 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $55,921 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,578) and the median family income was $57,171 (+/- $9,125).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $36,528 (+/- $10,542) versus $27,621 (+/- $2,676) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $28,871 (+/- $3,147).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 3.1% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 334 people, 150 households, and 98 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 171 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 98.8% White, 0.3% American Indian, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 0.3% of the population.<ref name=Census>Template:Cite web</ref>

There were 150 households, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 2.0% had a male householder with no wife present, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23, and the average family size was 2.76.<ref name=Census/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males age 18 and over.<ref name=Census/>

The median income for a household in the city was $52,885, and the median income for a family was $62,833. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $23,194 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,926. About 4.1% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census/>

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 360 people, 149 households, and 91 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 176 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 97.78% White, 0.83% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.83% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 149 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

Economy

As of 2012, 82.3% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.0% was in the armed forces, and 82.3% was in the civilian labor force with 77.1% being employed and 5.2% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was: 23.4% in management, business, science, and arts; 23.4% in sales and office occupations; 19.6% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 19.6% in service occupations; and 13.9% in production, transportation, and material moving. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: construction (21.1%); educational services, and health care and social assistance (18.7%); and arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (11.5%).<ref name=Census/>

The cost of living in Gorham is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the community is 80.7.<ref name=CityData>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2012, the median home value in the city was $59,700, the median selected monthly owner cost was $800 for housing units with a mortgage and $314 for those without, and the median gross rent was $621.<ref name=Census/>

Government

Gorham is a city of the third class with a mayor-council form of government. The city council consists of five members, and it meets on the second Monday of each month.<ref name="gov1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Gorham lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District, represented by Tracey Mann (R-Salina). For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature, the city is located in the 36th district of the Kansas Senate and the 109th district of the Kansas House of Representatives.<ref name="gov1"/>

Education

The community is served by Russell County USD 407 public school district. The district high school is Russell High School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mandated by state law, Gorham's public schools joined Russell County Schools (USD 407) in 1967. Subsequent consolidation led to the closure of Gorham High School in 1984 and Gorham Elementary School in 1997.<ref name=History/> The Gorham High School mascot was Gorham Oilers.<ref>”Gorham Oilers”, The Hays Daily News, 11 September 1975, p.17.</ref>

Infrastructure

Transportation

Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 run concurrently east–west, just over one mile south of the city. The old alignment of U.S. 40 runs east–west through the city, intersecting 176th Street, a paved county road formerly designated K-257, which runs north–south.<ref name=CountyMap/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Union Pacific Railroad operates one freight rail line, its Kansas Pacific (KP) line, through Gorham. The line runs northeast–southwest through the community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Utilities

Midwest Energy, Inc. provides electricity to local residents. Gorham Telephone provides landline telephone service and offers cable television and internet access.<ref name=Utilities>Template:Cite web</ref> Most residents use natural gas for heating fuel; service is provided by Kansas Gas Service.<ref name=CityData/><ref name=Utilities/> The city government is responsible for water distribution, sewer maintenance, and trash disposal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

Gorham is in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Culture

In popular culture and the arts

Gorham was both a setting and filming location of the 1973 film Paper Moon.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• Walker Army Airfield, an abandoned World War II airfield.

External links

• Gorham - Directory of Public Officials
• Gorham city map, KDOT