Editing Little River, Kansas

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

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

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

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|23|54|N|98|00|54|W|region:US-KS_type:city|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        = [[Rice County, Kansas|Rice]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Union Township, Rice County, Kansas|Union]]

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1880
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1886
|named_for                = [[Little Arkansas River]]

<!-- 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         = 0.39
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.39
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 1.01
|area_land_km2            = 1.01
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1618

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 472
|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              = 67457
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 620|620]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 20-41575
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 2395735<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|2395735}}</ref>
|website                  =
}}

'''Little River''' is a city in [[Rice County, Kansas|Rice County]], [[Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 472.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Little River, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2041575 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329110159/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2041575 |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Rice County.png|thumb|left|1915 Railroad Map of Rice County]]
For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. In 1803, most of [[History of Kansas|modern Kansas]] was secured by the United States as part of the [[Louisiana Purchase]]. In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]]. In 1867, [[Rice County, Kansas|Rice County]] was founded.

Little River was founded in 1880.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2 | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC/page/n167 177]}}</ref> The town was named from its situation upon the [[Little Arkansas River]].<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/n380 273]}}</ref>

In 1878, [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] and parties from [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion]] and [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson]] counties chartered the [[Marion and McPherson Railway Company]].<ref name="MarionCountyBook">''Marion County Kansas : Past and Present''; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; [[LCCN]] 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.</ref> In 1879, a branch line was built from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]] to [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson]]; in 1880 it was extended to [[Lyons, Kansas|Lyons]] and in 1881 it was extended to [[Ellinwood, Kansas|Ellinwood]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIwpAAAAYAAJ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.]</ref> The line was leased and operated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]]. The line from Florence to [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]], was abandoned in 1968.<ref name="Abandon Railway 1968">[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Marion_to_Florence Railway Abandonment 1968]</ref> In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to [[Central Kansas Railway]]. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, [[Canada, Kansas|Canada]], [[Hillsboro, Kansas|Hillsboro]], [[Lehigh, Kansas|Lehigh]], [[Canton, Kansas|Canton]], [[Galva, Kansas|Galva]], McPherson, [[Conway, Kansas|Conway]], [[Windom, Kansas|Windom]], Little River, [[Mitchell, Kansas|Mitchell]], Lyons, [[Chase, Kansas|Chase]] and Ellinwood.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.44|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/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 340
|1900= 457
|1910= 661
|1920= 749
|1930= 618
|1940= 603
|1950= 635
|1960= 552
|1970= 493
|1980= 529
|1990= 496
|2000= 536
|2010= 557
|2020= 472
|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 472 people, 187 households, and 115 families in Little River.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 1,210.3 per square mile (467.3/km{{sup|2}}). There were 221 housing units at an average density of 566.7 per square mile (218.8/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=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2024-01-03 |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 95.97% (453) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (94.7% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 0.0% (0) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 0.64% (3) [[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]], 0.64% (3) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.75% (13) 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=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 3.18% (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=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 187 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18; 47.6% were married couples living together; 26.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 33.7% of households consisted of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.9.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 16.9% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

22.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 19.3% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.7 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 115.3 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $46,786 (with a margin of error of +/- $12,262) and the median family income was $64,444 (+/- $17,737).<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=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Males had a median income of $39,861 (+/- $8,444) versus $23,333 (+/- $6,824) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $32,159 (+/- $8,999).<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=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 13.9% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.7% of those under the age of 18 and 17.9% 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=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |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=Little%20River%20city,%20Kansas%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |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 557 people, 207 households, and 136 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1265.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 246 housing units at an average density of {{convert|559.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 207 households, of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.3% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.20.

The median age in the city was 37.2 years. 28.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 19.5% were from 45 to 64; and 20.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% 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 536 people, 202 households, and 131 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,648.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 234 housing units at an average density of {{convert|719.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.39% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.37% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.24% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.31% of the population.

There were 202 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,066, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $26,000 versus $20,833 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,619. About 16.0% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The community is served by [[Little River–Windom USD 444]] public school district.

===Sports===
The Little River Redskins have won the following [[Kansas State High School Activities Association|Kansas State High School]] championships:
* 1970 Football - Class 1A <ref name="fball">{{cite web | title = Football | publisher = KSHSAA | url = http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Football/History.cfm | accessdate = 3 January 2017}}</ref>
* 1971 Football - Class 1A <ref name="fball" />
* 1974 Boys Basketball - Class 1A <ref name="bball">{{cite web | title = Basketball | publisher = KSHSAA | url = http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Basketball/History.cfm | accessdate = 3 January 2017}}</ref>
* 1976 Girls Track & Field - Class 1A <ref name="track">{{cite web | title = Track & Field | publisher = KSHSAA | url = http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Track/HistoryBoys.cfm | accessdate = 6 January 2017}}</ref>
* 1976 Girls Track & Field (Indoor) - Class 1A <ref name="track" />
* 1977 Girls Track & Field - Class 1A <ref name="track" />
* 1978 Girls Track & Field (Indoor) - Class 1A <ref name="track" />
* 1979 Girls Track & Field - Class 1A  <ref name="track" />
* 1981 Football - Class 1A <ref name="fball" />
* 1984 Girls Volleyball - Class 2A <ref name="Volleyball">{{cite web | title = Volleyball | publisher = KSHSAA | url = http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Volleyball/History.cfm | accessdate = 3 January 2017}}</ref>
* 1995 Girls Basketball - Class 1A <ref name="bball" />
* 1996 Football - Class 8-Man DI <ref name="fball" />
* 1996 Girls Basketball - Class 1A <ref name="bball" />
* 1997 Girls Basketball - Class 1A <ref name="bball" />
* 1998 Girls Basketball - Class 1A <ref name="bball" />
* 1999 Football - Class 8-Man DI <ref name="fball" />
* 2020 Football - Class 8-Man DI <ref name="fball" />
* 2022 Volleyball - Class 1A DI <ref name="Volleyball"/>
* 2023 Volleyball - Class 1A DI <ref name="Volleyball"/>
* 2024 Volleyball - Class 1A DI <ref name="Volleyball"/>

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rice County, Kansas]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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

==External links==
{{Commons category|Little River, Kansas}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260844 Little River - Directory of Public Officials]
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/littleriver.pdf Little River city map], KDOT

{{Rice County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

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