Editing Alton, Kansas

{{Short description|City in Osborne County, Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Alton, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]

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

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

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|28|04|N|98|56|55|W|region:US-KS_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Osborne County, Kansas|Osborne]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1870 (Bull City)
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1885
|named_for                = [[Alton, Illinois]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          =
|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         = 0.31
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.31
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 0.80
|area_land_km2            = 0.80
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1647

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 100
|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              = 67623
|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               = 20-01600 
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 2393938<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|2393938}}</ref>
|website                  =
}}

'''Alton''' is a city in [[Osborne County, Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 100.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Alton, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2001600 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323011123/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2001600 |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
Alton was founded in 1870 as '''Bull City''', and was named in honor of [[Hiram C. Bull]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ | title=Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society | publisher=Kansas State Printing Plant | author=Kansas State Historical Society | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ/page/n364 257]}}</ref> It was renamed '''Alton''' in 1885, after the city of [[Alton, Illinois]] because female residents didn't like the former name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:OB |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |accessdate=21 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009132855/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county%3AOB |archivedate=October 9, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=4423 | title=Profile for Alton, Kansas | publisher=[[ePodunk]] | accessdate=21 June 2014}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.31|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/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=January 12, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref>

===Climate===
Alton has a [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] (''Dfa'') climate typical for the central Great Plains. Summers are hot and often very humid, with heavy rain from thunderstorms not uncommon, whilst [[tornado]]es are a frequent hazard and are often followed by heavy rainfall. Winter weather varies greatly from warm or even hot weather due to [[chinook wind]]s to extreme cold when a [[North American High]] with very cold air moves southwards from Canada. The coldest temperature recorded in Alton has been {{convert|&minus;31|F|C|disp=or}} on December 23, 1989.

One of the highest recorded temperatures in American history (and the highest in [[U.S. state temperature extremes|Kansas' recorded history]]) was recorded near Alton on July 24, 1936. On that day, the temperature maxed out at {{convert|121|°F|°C|1|disp=or}}. Only four states — California, [[Arizona]], [[New Mexico]] and [[Nevada]] — have seen higher record temperatures.<ref>{{cite web|title=Record Highest Temperatures by State (through 2003)|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/pub/data/special/maxtemps.pdf|work=NOAA.gov|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=January 31, 2012}}</ref> Alton's record April temperature of {{convert|106|F|C|1|disp=or}} on April 23 of 1989 has been exceeded only by California, Arizona and [[Texas]].<ref>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; [ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/special/location.pdf ‘Monthly State Maximum/Minimum Extremes’]</ref> Temperatures over {{convert|100|F|C|1|disp=or}} are expected on 15.9 each year and {{convert|90|F|C|1|disp=or}} on an average of 64.5 days per year.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Kansas was measured in [[Lebanon, Kansas|Lebanon]], which sits in the adjacent [[Smith County, Kansas|Smith County]], only about 35 miles away.<ref>{{cite web|title=Records for the State of Kansas|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ict/?n=ksrecords|work=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office – Wichita, KS|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=January 31, 2012}}</ref> 

{{Weather box
|location = Alton, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1902–2018
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 80
|Feb record high F = 87
|Mar record high F = 99
|Apr record high F = 106
|May record high F = 105
|Jun record high F = 115
|Jul record high F = 121
|Aug record high F = 116
|Sep record high F = 112
|Oct record high F = 103
|Nov record high F = 88
|Dec record high F = 82

|Jan avg record high F = 66.0
|Feb avg record high F = 72.3
|Mar avg record high F = 81.0
|Apr avg record high F = 87.9
|May avg record high F = 93.1
|Jun avg record high F = 101.0
|Jul avg record high F = 105.3
|Aug avg record high F = 103.2
|Sep avg record high F = 99.2
|Oct avg record high F = 90.8
|Nov avg record high F = 76.8
|Dec avg record high F = 66.3
|year avg record high F = 106.7

|Jan high F = 41.6
|Feb high F = 46.0
|Mar high F = 56.7
|Apr high F = 66.5
|May high F = 76.3
|Jun high F = 87.6
|Jul high F = 92.6
|Aug high F = 90.6
|Sep high F = 82.9
|Oct high F = 70.0
|Nov high F = 55.8
|Dec high F = 44.0
|year high F = 

|Jan mean F = 28.0
|Feb mean F = 31.9
|Mar mean F = 41.9
|Apr mean F = 51.4
|May mean F = 62.3
|Jun mean F = 73.5
|Jul mean F = 78.9
|Aug mean F = 76.6
|Sep mean F = 67.9
|Oct mean F = 54.6
|Nov mean F = 40.9
|Dec mean F = 30.7
|year mean F = 

|Jan low F = 14.4
|Feb low F = 17.9
|Mar low F = 27.1
|Apr low F = 36.4
|May low F = 48.3
|Jun low F = 59.5
|Jul low F = 65.3
|Aug low F = 62.6
|Sep low F = 52.9
|Oct low F = 39.3
|Nov low F = 25.9
|Dec low F = 17.5
|year low F = 

|Jan avg record low F = -4.4
|Feb avg record low F = -3.3
|Mar avg record low F = 8.5
|Apr avg record low F = 20.8
|May avg record low F = 32.9
|Jun avg record low F = 44.5
|Jul avg record low F = 52.9
|Aug avg record low F = 50.4
|Sep avg record low F = 34.2
|Oct avg record low F = 21.6
|Nov avg record low F = 8.6
|Dec avg record low F = 0.1
|year avg record low F = -10.7

|Jan record low F = -25
|Feb record low F = -29
|Mar record low F = -17
|Apr record low F = 4
|May record low F = 19
|Jun record low F = 33
|Jul record low F = 41
|Aug record low F = 33
|Sep record low F = 18
|Oct record low F = 6
|Nov record low F = -12
|Dec record low F = -31

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.67
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.69
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.55
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.30
|May precipitation inch = 4.23
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.51
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.92
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.85
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.64
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.11
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.19
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.93
|year precipitation inch = 

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 4.3
|Feb precipitation days = 4.5
|Mar precipitation days = 5.9
|Apr precipitation days = 8.3
|May precipitation days = 10.7
|Jun precipitation days = 9.5
|Jul precipitation days = 9.5
|Aug precipitation days = 8.6
|Sep precipitation days = 5.5
|Oct precipitation days = 6.2
|Nov precipitation days = 4.7
|Dec precipitation days = 3.3
|year precipitation days = 81.0

|Jan snow inch = 3.8
|Feb snow inch = 4.8
|Mar snow inch = 2.0
|Apr snow inch = 1.2
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.4
|Nov snow inch = 2.1
|Dec snow inch = 3.3
|year snow inch = 

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.4
|Feb snow days = 2.3
|Mar snow days = 1.3
|Apr snow days = 0.6
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 0.9
|Dec snow days = 1.7

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00140201&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Alton 1 W, KS
|access-date = March 12, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 1981&ndash;2010)<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gid
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Hastings
|access-date = March 12, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 338
|1900= 287
|1910= 414
|1920= 423
|1930= 383
|1940= 435
|1950= 317
|1960= 299
|1970= 214
|1980= 135
|1990= 115
|2000= 117
|2010= 103
|2020= 100
|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 100 people, 35 households, and 21 families in Alton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Alton%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 323.6 per square mile (125.0/km{{sup|2}}). There were 63 housing units at an average density of 203.9 per square mile (78.7/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=Alton%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |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 97.0% (97) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (96.0% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 0.0% (0) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 0.0% (0) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]], 0.0% (0) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.0% (0) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]], 1.0% (1) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.0% (2) 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=Alton%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 1.0% (1) 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=Alton%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 35 households, 17.1% had children under the age of 18; 42.9% were married couples living together; 20.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 37.1% of households consisted of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 3.0.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Alton%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 7.0% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Alton%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

28.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 89.5 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $47,969 (with a margin of error of +/- $13,979) and the median family income was $48,594 (+/- $8,951).<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=Alton%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The median income for those above 16 years old was $36,875 (+/- $26,308).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S2001?q=Alton%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 17.4% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.0% of those under the age of 18 and 11.8% 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=Alton%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=Alton%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 103 people, 47 households, and 22 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|332.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 68 housing units at an average density of {{convert|219.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] and 2.9% from two or more races.

There were 47 households, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.2% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the city was 48.3 years. 18.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 28.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.4% male and 47.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website |df=mdy }}</ref> of 2000, there were 117 people, 58 households, and 33 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|373.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 79 housing units at an average density of {{convert|252.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.29% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], and 1.71% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.71% of the population.

There were 58 households, out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,584. There were 7.4% of families and 17.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including 9.1% of under eighteens and 8.0% of those over 64.

==Education==
Alton is served by [[Unified School District|USD]] 392 Osborne County Schools.<ref>{{cite web | title = Osborne County Schools | publisher = USD 392 | url = http://www.usd392.com/ | accessdate = 4 January 2017}}</ref>

Alton High School was closed through school unification in 1970. The Alton High School mascot was Wildcats.<ref>"Reliving The Glory Years", The Salina Journal, 21 August 1998, p.19.</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Hiram C. Bull]]{{Snd}} politician and businessman
* [[Len Dugan]]{{Snd}} American football player
* [[Bruce Goff]]{{Snd}} architect and a designer of the [[Boston Avenue Methodist Church]]
* [[Russell Stover]]{{Snd}} confectioner and first mass-producer of the [[Eskimo Pie]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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

==External links==
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260520 Alton - Directory of Public Officials]
* [http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/kw/towns.asp?town=Alton&county=Osborne Historic Images of Alton] – Wichita State University Libraries
* [https://www.usd392.com/ USD 392], local school district
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/alton.pdf Alton city map], KDOT

{{Osborne County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

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