Editing Blue Rapids, Kansas

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

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = US77LeftKS9aheadSignsRoad-BlueRapids (28267189253).jpg
|image_caption            = (February 2014)
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

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

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|40|45|N|96|39|33|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Marshall County, Kansas|Marshall]]
|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        = March 20, 1872<ref name=Blackmar>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Blackmar|first=Frank W|title=Blue Rapids|encyclopedia=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History...|volume=1|pages=197–198|publisher=Standard Pub. Co|location=Chicago|year=1912|oclc=11274216|url=http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1912/b/blue_rapids.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010083009/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1912/b/blue_rapids.html|archivedate=2006-10-10}}</ref>
|named_for                =

<!-- 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         = 2.00
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.99
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
|area_total_km2           = 5.19
|area_land_km2            = 5.14
|area_water_km2           = 0.05
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1158

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 928
|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              = 66411
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 785|785]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|20|07650}} 
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 2394205<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|2394205}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.bluerapids.org/|bluerapids.org}}
}}

'''Blue Rapids''' is a city in [[Marshall County, Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 928.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Blue Rapids, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2007650 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528183739/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2007650 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:Blue Rapids looking south c1900.jpg|thumb|left|Looking south from the public square c. 1900. The Arlington House and Granger Store are in the foreground. Capital Bluff, the highest point in this part of the county, can be seen in the background.]]
The first endeavor to establish a town below the junction of the rivers, in 1857, failed due to misfortunes of two of the three participants. No further attempt to utilize the impressive water power was made until 1869–1870, when a colony of about 50 families from [[Genesee County, New York]] moved in, purchased land and water power rights, and began establishing a community. The Blue Rapids Town Company was formed, and by the end of 1870 the population was about 250. In 1872, Blue Rapids was incorporated as a city of third class under the statutes of Kansas.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/historyofmarshal00fost | title=History of Marshall County, Kansas: Its People, Industries, and Institutions | publisher=B.F. Bowen | author=Foster, Emma Elizabeth Calderhead | year=1917 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofmarshal00fost/page/146 146]}}</ref>

Among the first projects in 1870 were a stone [[dam]] and a wrought iron bridge built on the Big Blue River. A [[hydroelectric]] [[power plant]] was then added to provide power for manufacturing and for the town. The power plant was destroyed by a flood in 1903. In the late 19th century and early 20th century there were four gypsum mines in the area. The population peaked around 1910 at over 1,750. The [[public library]], built in 1875, is the oldest library west of the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] in continuous operation in the same building.<ref name=skyways>{{cite web | title=Blue Rapids home page | work=Blue Skyways | url=http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/BlueRapids/ | accessdate=2007-01-01 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231034913/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/BlueRapids/ | archivedate=2006-12-31 }}</ref>

Blue Rapids was the birthplace of the pancreatic cancer drug [[Streptozotocin]]. The [[bacterium]] from which the drug is derived was discovered in the late 1950s in a soil sample taken from "an uncultivated sandy soil in a grassland region" at Blue Rapids.

Blue Rapids claims to be the smallest town in the U.S. to have hosted a [[Major League Baseball|national league baseball]] game. On October 24, 1913, more than 3,000 fans watched the [[Chicago White Sox]] and [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] play a [[1913 in baseball|world tour]] exhibition game on the local ball field at Riverside Park that is still in use today. Blue Rapids was also home to [[minor league baseball]]. The 1910 [[Blue Rapids (baseball)|Blue Rapids team]] played as members of the [[Class D (baseball)|Class D]] level [[Eastern Kansas League]].<ref name=lasr>{{cite web | title=Blue Rapids | work=Leisure And Sport Review | url=http://www.lasr.net/pages/city.php?City_ID=KS0705009 | accessdate=2007-01-02 }}</ref>

In 2001, Blue Rapids became the site of a new [[NOAA Weather Radio]] transmitter, KZZ67, to provide weather and emergency information from the [[National Weather Service]] in [[Topeka, Kansas]] to residents of north-central and northeast Kansas.

In May 2012, ''"The Monument to the Ice Age"'' was dedicated in the town square.  It features descriptions of Ice Age times, continental glaciers, and Sioux Quartzite glacial erratics -the oldest rocks in Kansas.  The main reason for this Ice Age Monument is that Blue Rapids was founded in a place with abundant natural resources brought or created by the glaciers of the Ice Age over 10,000 years ago.  The namesake rapids on the Blue River that were harnessed to power early industries, the sand and gravel deposits used for construction and roads, and the rich soils for agriculture are all here because of the Ice Age glaciers.  The Monument honors this ancient geological heritage. [[Glacial erratic]] that was deposited in the [[Geology of Kansas#Glaciated Region|glaciated region of Kansas]] during the [[Pleistocene]] era.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cjonline.com/article/20120526/NEWS/305269862|title=Blue Rapids revives Ice Age Monument|first=Jan|last=Biles|website=The Topeka Capital-Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kansas.com/2012/05/19/2340672/ice-age-monument-to-be-dedicated.html |title=Ice age monument to be dedicated in Blue Rapids; The Wichita Eagle; May 19, 2012. |access-date=May 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521082518/http://www.kansas.com/2012/05/19/2340672/ice-age-monument-to-be-dedicated.html |archive-date=May 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/BlueRapids/brhissoc/MONUMENT.htm Ice Age Monument in Blue Rapids] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017111502/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/BlueRapids/brhissoc/MONUMENT.htm |date=October 17, 2012 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Blue Rapids is located in northeastern Kansas near the junction of the [[Little Blue River (Kansas/Nebraska)|Little Blue]] and [[Big Blue River (Kansas)|Big Blue]] rivers. Located on highway [[U.S. Route 77 (Kansas)|US-77]]/[[K-9 (Kansas highway)|K-9]], Blue Rapids is {{convert|5|mi}} east of its sister town [[Waterville, Kansas|Waterville]], {{convert|12|mi}} south of the county seat [[Marysville, Kansas|Marysville]], {{convert|13|mi}} west of [[Frankfort, Kansas|Frankfort]], and {{convert|46|mi}} north of the large university town of [[Manhattan, Kansas|Manhattan]].  According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.99|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<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>

[[Georgia-Pacific]] has a [[gypsum]] mine near Blue Rapids.<ref>{{cite book |title=EPA 600/2 |date=1972 |page=189 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OHtRAAAAMAAJ&q=georgia+pacific+gypsum+blue+rapids+ks&pg=RA2-PA189 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Properties |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/41077/000119312505039002/dex991.htm |website=www.sec.gov |accessdate=2 July 2020}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 250
|1880= 829
|1890= 936
|1900= 1100
|1910= 1756
|1920= 1534
|1930= 1465
|1940= 1433
|1950= 1430
|1960= 1426
|1970= 1148
|1980= 1280
|1990= 1131
|2000= 1088
|2010= 1019
|2020= 928
|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 928 people, 376 households, and 243 families in Blue Rapids.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 467.5 per square mile (180.5/km{{sup|2}}). There were 418 housing units at an average density of 210.6 per square mile (81.3/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=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2024-01-02 |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 95.37% (885) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (94.94% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 0.0% (0) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 0.22% (2) [[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]], 1.08% (10) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.34% (31) 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=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 1.62% (15) 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=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 376 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18; 54.3% were married couples living together; 23.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 31.6% of households consisted of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.4.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 6.9% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

23.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.2 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 107.3 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $45,278 (with a margin of error of +/- $12,893) and the median family income was $70,813 (+/- $7,268).<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=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Males had a median income of $37,868 (+/- $7,567) versus $16,625 (+/- $4,855) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $30,233 (+/- $7,561).<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=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 5.9% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.2% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% 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=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |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=Blue%20Rapids%20city,%20Kansas%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |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 1,019 people, 415 households, and 263 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|512.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 465 housing units at an average density of {{convert|233.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 415 households, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 43.2 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 22% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% 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 }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,088 people, 439 households, and 295 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|529|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 494 housing units at an average density of 240/sq&nbsp;mi (93/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 98.07% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.18% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.09% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.09% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.37% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.19% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.55% of the population.

There were 439 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,682, and the median income for a family was $37,273. Males had a median income of $30,066 versus $18,214 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,859. About 9.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The community is served by [[Valley Heights USD 498]] public school district. [[Valley Heights Jr/Sr High School]] is located halfway between the towns of Blue Rapids and [[Waterville, Kansas|Waterville]]. The Valley Heights mascot is Mustangs.<ref>{{cite web | title = Valley Heights USD 498 | publisher = USD 498 | url = http://www.valleyheights.org/ | accessdate = 5 January 2017}}</ref>

Blue Rapids High School was closed through school unification. The Blue Rapids Pirates<ref>"Blue Rapids Uses Errors For Triumph", The Manhattan Mercury, 6 October 1963, p.1.</ref> won the [[Kansas State High School Activities Association|Kansas State High School]] boys class B Track & Field championship in 1942.<ref>{{cite web | title = Track & Field | publisher = KSHSAA | url = http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Track/HistoryBoys.cfm | accessdate = 6 January 2017 | archive-date = November 13, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161113174817/http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Track/HistoryBoys.cfm | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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

==External links==
* [http://www.bluerapids.org/ City of Blue Rapids]
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260566 Blue Rapids – Directory of Public Officials]
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/bluerapids.pdf Blue Rapids city map], KDOT

{{Marshall County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Marshall County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1869]]