Editing Alexander, Kansas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Short description|City in Rush County, Kansas}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Alexander, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            =
|image_caption            =
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Rush_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Alexander_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within [[Rush County, Kansas|Rush County]] and [[Kansas]]
|image_map1               = Map of Rush Co, Ks, USA.png
|map_caption1             = [[Kansas Department of Transportation|KDOT]] map of [[Rush County, Kansas|Rush County]] ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|legend]])

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|28|10|N|99|33|11|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Rush County, Kansas|Rush]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1869
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1926
|named_for                = Alexander Harvey

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          = <!-- [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]] -->
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              =

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_20.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.26
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.26
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 0.67
|area_land_km2            = 0.67
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 2077

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 54
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|population_est           =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 67513
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 785|785]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 20-01050 
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 2393916<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|2393916}}</ref>
|website                  =
}}

'''Alexander''' is a city in [[Rush County, Kansas|Rush County]], [[Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 54.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Alexander, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2001050 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205104913/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2001050 |archive-date=December 5, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==

===19th century===
Alexander is the oldest city in Rush County, Kansas.  It was established in 1869 after becoming an important stopping point on the Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Trail (officially a part of the Santa Fe Trail).  The name of the town originated from Alexander Harvey a Scottish emigrant who operated a stockaded trading post on the trail crossing of the Wet Walnut Creek.  Harvey was a prominent and connected figure in western settlement.  He was a friend of renown trapper, trader, and Indian Agent [[William Bent]] who established Bent's Fort in Eastern Colorado.  Harvey's daughter Adaline at age 20 married the 60 year-old Bent.

In its early days, Alexander was a trading post for trappers, buffalo hunters, wild horse wranglers, and other early Westerners.  Buffalo Bill Cody, George Custer, and other prominent figures in American western settlement traveled through the community.  Alexander Harvey himself was a former member of the 6th Cavalry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rushcounty.org/history.html |title=History of Rush County |publisher=Rush County Economic Development |accessdate=22 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322024039/http://www.rushcounty.org/history.html |archivedate=March 22, 2012 }}</ref>

The first post office in Alexander was established in February 1874.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:RH |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |accessdate=22 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009133319/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county%3ARH |archivedate=October 9, 2013 }}</ref>

At its peak in the late 1800s, the community included a bank, hospital, newspaper, lumberyard, a Santa Fe Railroad Depot, hotel, multiple churches, multiple grocery and general stores.  At varying times, the community's commercial activity has included cream and egg buying stations, a railroad stockyard for shipping cattle and sheep to eastern markets, and multiple grain elevators.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}

===21st century===
Today, Alexander's abandoned three story brick school building is a landmark on K-96 highway. The former Alexander State Bank Building has been re-built and is now the operations and maintenance building for NJR Clean Energy.  The community still has the largest grain elevator in Rush County.  The elevator is a farmer's cooperative elevator owned by area farmers.  Grumbine's Metal Scrap Yard is the other commercial entity in the community.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}

In 2015, the "Alexander [[Wind farm|Wind Farm]]" was constructed south of Alexander.  It cost about $85 Million and generates 48 [[Megawatt]] of power.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.onlinetes.com/njr-clean-energy-kansas-wind-farm-102414.aspx |title=NJR Clean Energy acquires Kansas wind farm; October 24, 2014. |access-date=2015-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123180903/http://www.onlinetes.com/njr-clean-energy-kansas-wind-farm-102414.aspx |archive-date=2015-01-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Siemens-touts-order-for-21-wind-turbines-for-Kansas-project-289575681.html |title=Siemens touts order for 21 wind turbines for Kansas project; KAKE tv; January 23, 2015. |access-date=2015-01-23 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150124191626/http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Siemens-touts-order-for-21-wind-turbines-for-Kansas-project-289575681.html |archive-date=2015-01-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The Alexander Wind Farm became commercially operative on January 1, 2016.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.25|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all  land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2012-07-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Alexander has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=531041&cityname=Alexander%2C+Kansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Alexander, Kansas]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1930= 202
|1940= 171
|1950= 188
|1960= 153
|1970= 129
|1980= 116
|1990= 85
|2000= 75
|2010= 65
|2020= 54
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}
===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]] counted 54 people, 29 households, and 16 families in Alexander.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Alexander%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 208.5 per square mile (80.5/km{{sup|2}}). There were 32 housing units at an average density of 123.6 per square mile (47.7/km{{sup|2}}).<ref name=:0>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=Alexander%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=|first= |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/geo/gazetter-file.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=[[Census.gov]]}}</ref> The racial makeup was 90.74% (49) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (74.07% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 1.85% (1) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 0.0% (0) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]], 1.85% (1) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.0% (0) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]], 0.0% (0) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.56% (3) from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=Alexander%20city,%20Kansas%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 20.37% (11) of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=Alexander%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 29 households, 24.1% had children under the age of 18; 37.9% were married couples living together; 24.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 41.4% of households consisted of individuals and 27.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 1.4 and the average family size was 2.5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Alexander%20city,%20Kansas%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 5.6% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Alexander%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

18.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 16.7% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 33.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 76.0 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $20,313 (with a margin of error of +/- $14,782) and the median family income was $63,250 (+/- $40,020).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1903?q=Alexander%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 0.0% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 46.7% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=Alexander%20city,%20Kansas%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1702?q=Alexander%20city,%20Kansas%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-07-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 65 people, 31 households, and 20 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|260.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 42 housing units at an average density of {{convert|168.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]].

There were 31 households, of which 16.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.5% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.70.

The median age in the city was 53.3 years. 13.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 12.2% were from 25 to 44; 41.6% were from 45 to 64; and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 40.0% male and 60.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 75 people, 34 households, and 19 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|306.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 42 housing units at an average density of {{convert|171.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.33% of the population.

There were 34 households, out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $12,083, and the median income for a family was $28,125. Males had a median income of $18,542 versus $20,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $11,803. There were 30.8% of families and 31.9% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including 40.0% of under eighteens and 11.1% of those over 64.

==Education==
The community is served by [[La Crosse USD 395]] public school district.<ref>{{cite web | title = La Crosse Public Schools| publisher = USD 395| url = http://www.usd395.org/| accessdate = }}</ref>

Alexander High School was closed in 1966 through school unification. The Alexander High School mascot was Whippets.<ref>{{cite web | title = Kansas' abandoned schools| publisher = The Hutchinson News| url = http://www.hutchnews.com/news/local_state_news/kansas-abandoned-schools/article_ba92d60f-48f0-5693-bb68-4089539256a3.html| accessdate = 11 January 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Rush County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Rush County, Kansas}}

==External links==
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260514 Alexander - Directory of Public Officials]
* [http://www.rushcounty.org/history.html History of Cities in Rush County]
* [https://legendsofkansas.com/alexander/ Alexander Info], Legends of Kansas
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/alexander.PDF Alexander City Map], KDOT

{{Rush County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Rush County, Kansas]]