Editing Oberlin, Kansas

{{Short description|City in Decatur County, Kansas, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Oberlin, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]] and [[County seat]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Oberlin_skyline.JPG
|image_caption            = Downtown Oberlin (1999)
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

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

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|49|23|N|100|31|51|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        = [[Decatur County, Kansas|Decatur]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1872
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        = 1878
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1885 <ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120711181219/http://oberlinks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=41 Oberlin - History]}}</ref>
|named_for                = [[Oberlin, Ohio]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          = <!-- [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]] -->
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Ladd Wendelin
|leader_title1            = Administrator
|leader_name1             = Haley Roberson

<!-- 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|access-date=July 24, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.91
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.91
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 4.95
|area_land_km2            = 4.95
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 2569

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 1644
|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              = 67749
|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               = 20-52000
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 485632<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|485632}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.oberlin-kansas.com/|oberlin-kansas.com}}
}}

'''Oberlin''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Decatur County, Kansas|Decatur County]], [[Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 1,644.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Oberlin, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2052000 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315121023/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2052000 |archive-date=March 15, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Kansas - Oberlin through Republican River - NARA - 23940245 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|View of Oberlin, 1943]]
Oberlin was platted in 1878.<ref>''Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer'', 1952 Edition, p. 1361</ref> It was named after [[Oberlin, Ohio]].<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/n281 174]}}</ref>  Its first post office was established in April, 1878,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:DC |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived) |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |access-date=8 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009130114/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:DC |archive-date=October 9, 2013 }}</ref> and the city was incorporated in 1885.<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/n370 380]}}</ref>

On September 30, 1878, [[Northern Cheyenne]], fleeing from Indian Territory to their homes in the north during the [[Northern Cheyenne Exodus]], attacked homesteaders near Oberlin, then a tiny hamlet. The raid's victims are commemorated in the "Last Indian Raid in Kansas" room of the Decatur County Museum, and by a monument in the town cemetery.<ref>[http://www.gypsyjournal.net/last_indian_raid.htm "Last Indian Raid Museum"]</ref><ref>{{cite book |pages=177–191 |title=Holding Stone Hands: On the Trail of the Cheyenne Exodus |author=Alan Boye |publisher=Bison Books |date=September 1, 2001 |isbn=0-8032-6185-3}} {{ISBN|978-0803261853}}</ref>

==Geography==
Oberlin lies on the northwest side of [[Sappa Creek]], a tributary of the [[Republican River]], in the [[High Plains (United States)|High Plains]] region of the [[Great Plains]].<ref name=KDOT>{{cite web | title = 2003-2004 Official Transportation Map | publisher = [[Kansas Department of Transportation]] | year = 2003 | url = http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps/2003-04Mapside.pdf | access-date = 2011-05-24}}</ref> Located at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 36 in Kansas|U.S. routes 36]] and [[U.S. Route 83 in Kansas|83]] in northwestern Kansas, it is {{convert|228|mi|km}} northwest of [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]], {{convert|238|mi|km}} east of [[Denver]], and {{convert|320|mi|km}} west-northwest of [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]].<ref name=KDOT/><ref>{{cite web | title = City Distance Tool | publisher = [[Geobytes]] | url = http://www.geobytes.com/citydistancetool.htm | access-date = 2011-05-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101005175701/http://geobytes.com/CityDistanceTool.htm | archive-date = 2010-10-05 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of {{convert|1.91|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]] |access-date=2012-07-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

===Climate===
Oberlin has a [[humid continental climate|humid continental climate (Köppen ''Dfa'')]], with hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters. The hottest temperature recorded in Oberlin was {{convert|114|F|C|1}} on July 24, 1936, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-32|F|C|1}} on January 11, 1918.<ref name = NOWData />

{{Weather box
|location = Oberlin, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1913–2021
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes

|Jan record high F = 78
|Feb record high F = 85
|Mar record high F = 93
|Apr record high F = 97
|May record high F = 103
|Jun record high F = 111
|Jul record high F = 114
|Aug record high F = 110
|Sep record high F = 107
|Oct record high F = 99
|Nov record high F = 88
|Dec record high F = 83

|Jan avg record high F = 65.3
|Feb avg record high F = 70.7
|Mar avg record high F = 81.4
|Apr avg record high F = 87.9
|May avg record high F = 94.4
|Jun avg record high F = 100.0
|Jul avg record high F = 103.3
|Aug avg record high F = 100.9
|Sep avg record high F = 97.1
|Oct avg record high F = 89.6
|Nov avg record high F = 77.9
|Dec avg record high F = 65.9
|year avg record high F = 104.4

|Jan high F = 41.7
|Feb high F = 44.9
|Mar high F = 56.1
|Apr high F = 64.6
|May high F = 74.1
|Jun high F = 85.9
|Jul high F = 90.9
|Aug high F = 88.7
|Sep high F = 80.9
|Oct high F = 67.6
|Nov high F = 53.9
|Dec high F = 42.6
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 28.8
|Feb mean F = 31.6
|Mar mean F = 41.3
|Apr mean F = 50.3
|May mean F = 60.4
|Jun mean F = 72.1
|Jul mean F = 77.4
|Aug mean F = 75.1
|Sep mean F = 66.2
|Oct mean F = 52.6
|Nov mean F = 39.6
|Dec mean F = 29.8
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 15.8
|Feb low F = 18.4
|Mar low F = 26.4
|Apr low F = 36.0
|May low F = 46.8
|Jun low F = 58.3
|Jul low F = 63.8
|Aug low F = 61.5
|Sep low F = 51.4
|Oct low F = 37.5
|Nov low F = 25.4
|Dec low F = 17.0
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -3.8
|Feb avg record low F = -0.2
|Mar avg record low F = 7.9
|Apr avg record low F = 20.3
|May avg record low F = 30.9
|Jun avg record low F = 44.8
|Jul avg record low F = 52.5
|Aug avg record low F = 50.2
|Sep avg record low F = 35.3
|Oct avg record low F = 20.2
|Nov avg record low F = 8.4
|Dec avg record low F = -1.9
|year avg record low F = -9.9

|Jan record low F = -32
|Feb record low F = -28
|Mar record low F = -25
|Apr record low F = 0
|May record low F = 22
|Jun record low F = 34
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 35
|Sep record low F = 19
|Oct record low F = 2
|Nov record low F = -19
|Dec record low F = -31

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.42
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.68
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.03
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.13
|May precipitation inch = 3.30
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.01
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.27
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.07
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.72
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.69
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.80
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.67
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.0
|Feb precipitation days = 3.7
|Mar precipitation days = 5.1
|Apr precipitation days = 6.7
|May precipitation days = 9.6
|Jun precipitation days = 9.0
|Jul precipitation days = 8.7
|Aug precipitation days = 8.8
|Sep precipitation days = 6.1
|Oct precipitation days = 5.6
|Nov precipitation days = 3.6
|Dec precipitation days = 3.1
|year precipitation days = 73.0

|Jan snow inch = 5.7
|Feb snow inch = 6.2
|Mar snow inch = 3.4
|Apr snow inch = 1.9
|May snow inch = 0.2
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 1.3
|Nov snow inch = 2.3
|Dec snow inch = 4.2
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 1.9
|Feb snow days = 2.8
|Mar snow days = 1.7
|Apr snow days = 0.8
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.3
|Nov snow days = 1.1
|Dec snow days = 2.2

|Jan snow depth inch = 
|Feb snow depth inch = 
|Mar snow depth inch = 
|Apr snow depth inch = 
|May snow depth inch = 
|Jun snow depth inch = 
|Jul snow depth inch = 
|Aug snow depth inch = 
|Sep snow depth inch = 
|Oct snow depth inch = 
|Nov snow depth inch = 
|Dec snow depth inch = 
|year snow depth inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00145906&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: Oberlin, KS
|access-date = November 21, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gld
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Goodland
|access-date = November 21, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=right
|1890= 976
|1900= 937
|1910= 1157
|1920= 1247
|1930= 1629
|1940= 1878
|1950= 2019
|1960= 2337
|1970= 2291
|1980= 2387
|1990= 2197
|2000= 1994
|2010= 1788
|2020= 1644
|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 1,644 people, 771 households, and 428 families in Oberlin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Oberlin%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 860.7 per square mile (332.3/km{{sup|2}}). There were 970 housing units at an average density of 507.9 per square mile (196.1/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=Oberlin%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 93.31% (1,534) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (91.67% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 0.43% (7) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 0.24% (4) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]], 0.36% (6) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.0% (0) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]], 0.36% (6) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.29% (87) 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=Oberlin%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 3.16% (52) 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=Oberlin%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 771 households, 21.8% had children under the age of 18; 43.5% were married couples living together; 29.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 41.8% of households consisted of individuals and 21.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 1.9 and the average family size was 2.7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Oberlin%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 11.6% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Oberlin%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

20.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 28.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.7 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 108.3 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $35,771 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,433) and the median family income was $52,150 (+/- $13,156).<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=Oberlin%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Males had a median income of $38,068 (+/- $5,006) versus $21,307 (+/- $7,424) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $32,617 (+/- $4,329).<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=Oberlin%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 19.5% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.1% of those under the age of 18 and 4.5% 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=Oberlin%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=Oberlin%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]]|access-date=2012-07-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,788 people, 824 households, and 477 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|936.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,046 housing units at an average density of {{convert|547.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 824 households, of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.1% were non-families. 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.73.

The median age in the city was 52 years. 20% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.4% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64; and 29.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,994 people, 879 households, and 550 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,039.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,048 housing units at an average density of {{convert|546.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.79% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.25% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.20% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.30% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.15% of the population.

There were 879 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 29.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,816, and the median income for a family was $34,583. Males had a median income of $27,177 versus $16,488 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,271. About 5.0% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
Oberlin is home to the Last Indian Raid Museum, which contains multiple late 19th and early 20th century buildings filled with artifacts chronicling the history of the area and early Plains settlers. Examples include a 1930s grocery store and a one-room schoolhouse built in 1922.<ref>{{cite web | title = Virtual Tour | work = Last Indian Raid Museum | publisher = Last Indian Raid Museum | url = http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ksdclirm/museum_tour.htm | access-date = 2011-07-29}}</ref>

Its a recreation center, completed in 2010, includes a 3D-capable movie theater and a bowling alley.<ref>{{cite web | title = Recreational Activities | work = Oberlin, Kansas Official Web Site | publisher = Oberlin-Decatur Economic Development Board | url = http://oberlinks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69&Itemid=59 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120717013208/http://oberlinks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69&Itemid=59 | url-status = usurped | archive-date = July 17, 2012 | access-date = 2011-07-29}}</ref>

The Oberlin Area Band is an intergenerational band that rehearses weekly and performs quarterly.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

==Parks and recreation==
The Oberlin City Park, near Decatur Community High School, and has a playground, picnic shelter, band shell, and full basketball court, and is home to the Oberlin swimming pool.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

===Sappa Park===
The City of Oberlin is the owner of the Sappa Park two miles east of town. Formerly a state park, it has wetlands, bike and hiking paths, a nine-hole disc golf course, and a shelter house built by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. It is currently undergoing a multi-year improvement project. A nine-hole golf course is adjacent to it.<ref>{{cite web | title = Sappa Park | work = Oberlin Explorations | publisher = The Kansas Sampler Foundation | url = http://www.getruralkansas.org/Oberlin/116Explore/767.shtml | access-date = 2011-07-29}}</ref>

The park, originally by a lake, was developed in 1935 by the National Park Service. The [[Works Progress Administration]] (WPA) hired unemployed young men to build its dam and shelter house. It was dedicated in 1939, but over the years silt filled the lake and it was drained. Part of the lake has recently been restored as a wetlands.<ref>{{cite news | last = Davis | first = Kimberley | title = National agency developed park east of Oberlin | newspaper = The Oberlin Herald | location = Oberlin, Kansas | date = 27 July 2011}}</ref>

==Government==
Oberlin is a [[Kansas#Important cities and towns|city of the third class]], according to state statute, with a [[mayor-council government|mayor-council]] form of government.<ref name="gov1">{{cite web | title = Oberlin | work = Directory of Kansas Public Officials | publisher = The League of Kansas Municipalities | url = http://www.lkm.org/directory/cities.php?ID=213 | access-date = 2011-05-27}}</ref> The [[city council]] consists of five members and meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7PM.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120718223353/http://oberlinks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46&Itemid=27 Oberlin - Government]}}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110507145941/http://oberlinks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=53 Oberlin - City Council Agenda]}}</ref>

==Education==
The community is served by [[Oberlin USD 294]] public school district, which operates two schools in the city:  Oberlin Elementary School ([[Education in the United States#School grades|Grades]] Pre-K-6) and Decatur Community Junior/Senior High School (7–12).<ref>{{cite web | title = USD 294 | publisher = Oberlin USD 294 | url = http://www.usd294.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/USD%20294 | access-date = 2011-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Oberlin, Kansas | publisher = [[City-Data]] | url = http://www.city-data.com/city/Oberlin-Kansas.html | access-date = 2011-05-27}}</ref>

==Media==
''The Oberlin Herald'' is the city's sole newspaper, published weekly.<ref>{{cite web | title = Oberlin Herald | publisher = Mondo Times | url = http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/16/934/2409 | access-date = 2011-05-27}}</ref>

Two FM radio stations are [[City of license|licensed]] to and broadcast from Oberlin:<ref>Frequency and callsign information from {{cite web |title=FMQ FM Radio Database Query |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] |url=http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html |access-date=2009-09-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825071957/http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html |archive-date=August 25, 2009 }}</ref>

* [[K-LOVE]] (translator station K217CY), at 91.3 FM, playing a [[Christian CHR|Christian Contemporary]] format

Oberlin is in the [[Media in Wichita, Kansas#Television|Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market]].<ref>{{cite web | title = TV Market Maps | publisher = EchoStar Knowledge Base | url = http://dishuser.org/TVMarkets/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080820131351/http://www.dishuser.org/TVMarkets/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2008-08-20 | access-date = 2011-05-27 }}</ref> [[NBC]] affiliate [[KSNK]], licensed to [[McCook, Nebraska]], broadcasts on channel 8 from studios west of Oberlin.<ref>{{cite web | title = Station Search | publisher = BIA Kelsey | url = http://www.bia.com/Research-and-Forecasts/Broadcast-Media-Resources/Station-Search/resources_search_result.asp?calls=KSNK&media=TV | access-date = 2011-05-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120828144724/http://www.bia.com/Research-and-Forecasts/Broadcast-Media-Resources/Station-Search/resources_search_result.asp?calls=KSNK&media=TV | archive-date = 2012-08-28 | url-status = dead }}</ref> It is a satellite station of [[KSNW]] in [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Stations for Goodland, Kansas | publisher = RabbitEars.Info | url = http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_market&mktid=87 | access-date = 2011-05-27}}</ref>

==Notable people==
Notable people who were born in and/or have lived in Oberlin include:
*[[Brun Campbell]] – [[ragtime]] composer, pianist<ref>{{cite web | title = Brun Campbell | website = AllMusic | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brun-campbell-p25464 | access-date = 2011-05-27}}</ref>
*[[Sam Francis (American football)|Sam Francis]] – #1 pick in [[1937 NFL draft]], football coach at [[Kansas State University]] standout fullback for [[Nebraska Cornhuskers]]
*[[Elmer Hackney]] – [[National Football League|NFL]] running back<ref>{{cite web | title = Elmer Hackney | publisher = [[National Football League]] | url = http://www.nfl.com/players/elmerhackney/profile?id=HAC711924 | access-date = 2011-05-27}}</ref>
*[[Richard Dean Rogers|Richard Rogers]] – U.S. federal judge<ref>{{cite web | title = Rogers, Richard Dean | work = Biographical Directory of Federal Judges | publisher = [[Federal Judicial Center]] | url = http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/nGetInfo?jid=2042&cid=999&ctype=na&instate=na | access-date = 2011-05-27}}</ref>
*[[Cora E. Simpson|Cora Simpson]] – nurse and nurse educator, founder of nursing school in Fuzhou, China
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==References==
{{Reflist}}

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

==External links==
{{Commons category|Oberlin, Kansas}}
* [https://www.oberlin-kansas.com/ City of Oberlin, and Decatur County website]
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260932 Oberlin - Directory of Public Officials]
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/oberlin.PDF Oberlin city map], KDOT

{{Decatur County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:County seats in Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Decatur County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1878]]
[[Category:1878 establishments in Kansas]]