Editing Whitewater, Kansas

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

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

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

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|57|49|N|97|08|46|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        = [[Butler County, Kansas|Butler]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1870s
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        = 1885
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1890
|named_for                =

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Brady Gragg <ref name="gov1"/><ref name="gov2"/>

<!-- 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         = 0.41
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.41
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 1.06
|area_land_km2            = 1.06
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1365

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 661
|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              = 67154
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 316|316]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 20-78050
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 2397303<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|2397303}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://whitewaterks.gov/|whitewaterks.gov}}
}}

'''Whitewater''' is a city in [[Butler County, Kansas|Butler County]], [[Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 661.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Whitewater, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2078050 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112194746/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2078050 |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==

===Early history===
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For many [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] was inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].  From the 16th century to 18th century, the [[Kingdom of France]] claimed ownership of large parts of [[North America]].  In 1762, after the [[French and Indian War]], France secretly ceded [[New France]] to [[Spain]], per the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]].

===19th century===
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France.  In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile [[Louisiana Purchase]] for 2.83 [[Penny (United States coin)|cents]] per [[acre]].

In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]].  In 1855, [[Butler County, Kansas|Butler County]] was established within the [[Kansas Territory]], which included the land for modern day Whitewater.

The city originally formed several miles to the east.  A post office was established as '''White Water''' (as two words) on August 7, 1871.  The post office was renamed to '''Ovo''' on July 7, 1882.

In 1887, the [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] built a branch line north–south from [[Herington, Kansas|Herington]] through Whitewater to [[Caldwell, Kansas|Caldwell]].<ref name="Rock Island Rail History">[http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm Rock Island Rail History]</ref>  It foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway]], which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as [[Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad]], merged in 1988 with [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]], merged in 1997 with [[Union Pacific Railroad]].  Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

Between 1885 and 1888, several buildings were moved to the present location on the Whitewater River after the [[Missouri Pacific]] railroad came through the area. The city was established where the [[Missouri Pacific]] and Rock Island railroads intersected.<ref>http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/butler/history/1916/11.html History of Butler County, pp. 175-176</ref>  The post office was renamed to '''White Water''' on May 15, 1888.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/page:2/county:BU |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2 (archived) |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |access-date=5 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009184935/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/page:2/county:BU |archive-date=October 9, 2013 }}</ref>

===20th century===
The historic [[Oak Lawn Farm Dairy Barn]] was built near Whitewater in 1926.

On November 1, 1950, the post office name was changed to '''Whitewater''' (one word).

In 1961, [[Frederic Remington High School]] was built immediately north of Brainerd.  Leading up to this new school, Whitewater, [[Potwin, Kansas|Potwin]], [[Brainerd, Kansas|Brainerd]], [[Elbing, Kansas|Elbing]], [[Furley, Kansas|Furley]], Countryside, and Golden Gate schools merged to form a joint rural high school. Heated opposition between Whitewater and Potwin occurred during the discussion for the location of the new high school.  Rural voters pushed for a centralized location in neither town.  A public vote was passed to build the new school near Brainerd.<ref>[http://www.usd206.org/?PN=AboutUs USD 206 History]</ref>

==Geography==
Whitewater is located along the West Branch of the [[Whitewater River (Kansas)|Whitewater River]]. 

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.40|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}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 184
|1900= 267
|1910= 518
|1920= 556
|1930= 556
|1940= 515
|1950= 453
|1960= 499
|1970= 520
|1980= 751
|1990= 683
|2000= 653
|2010= 718
|2020= 661
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

===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 718 people, 254 households, and 189 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1795.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 267 housing units at an average density of {{convert|667.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.8% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 254 households, of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.6% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 42.7 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 19.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% 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 653 people, 232 households, and 171 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,976.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 255 housing units at an average density of {{convert|771.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.78% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.15% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.60% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 232 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% 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 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,813, and the median income for a family was $43,984. Males had a median income of $33,958 versus $21,417 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,078. About 3.3% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
The Whitewater government consists of a mayor and five council members.  The council meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7PM.<ref name="gov1">[http://www.lkm.org/directory/cities.php?ID=324 Whitewater - Directory of Public Officials]</ref><ref name="gov2">[http://www.whitewaterks.com/government.html Whitewater - Government]</ref>
* City Hall, 201 S Elm St.
* US Post Office, 117 S Main St.

==Education==

===Public===
The community is served by [[Remington USD 206]] public school district.  The Remington High School mascot is a Bronco.
* [[Frederic Remington High School]] north of [[Brainerd, Kansas|Brainerd]].
* Remington Middle School in Whitewater.
* Remington Elementary School in [[Potwin, Kansas|Potwin]].

===Library===
* Whitewater Memorial Library<ref>[http://whitewaterlib.info/ Whitewater Memorial Library]</ref>

==Media==
{{See also|List of newspapers in Kansas|List of radio stations in Kansas|List of television stations in Kansas}}

===Print===
* ''[[Newton Kansan|The Newton Kansan]]'', regional newspaper from [[Newton, Kansas|Newton]].
* ''[[Butler County Times-Gazette]]'', regional newspaper from [[El Dorado, Kansas|El Dorado]].
* ''[[The Wichita Eagle]]'', major regional newspaper from [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]].

===Radio===
Whitewater is served by numerous [[Radio broadcasting|radio stations]] of the [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]]-[[Hutchinson, Kansas|Hutchinson]] listening market area,<ref>[http://www.ontheradio.net/metro/wichita_ks.aspx Wichita-Hutchinson Radio market.]</ref> and [[satellite radio]].  See ''[[Media in Wichita, Kansas]]''.

===Television===
Whitewater is served by over-the-air [[ATSC]] [[digital television|digital TV]] of the [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]]-[[Hutchinson, Kansas|Hutchinson]] viewing market area,<ref>[http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Wichita-Hutchinson Wichita-Hutchinson TV market.]</ref> [[cable TV]], and [[Satellite television|satellite TV]].  See ''[[Media in Wichita, Kansas]]''.

==Infrastructure==
[[File:Kansas Map 1914 Chase Dickinson Marion Morris.jpg|thumb|right|250px|1914 railroad map]]

===Transportation===
[[K-196 (Kansas highway)|K-196]] highway runs along the southern side of the city.  The Oklahoma Kansas Texas (OKT)<ref>{{cite web | title = UP Railroad Common Line Names | publisher = [[Union Pacific Railroad]] | url = http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/maps/attachments/upcomnam.pdf | access-date = 2010-08-02}}</ref> line of the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] runs through the northwestern side of the city.

==Notable person==
* [[Hattie Horner Louthan|Hattie Louthan]] (1865–1950), writer, author of five books and contributed to newspapers and magazines.

==See also==
* [[Milton Township, Butler County, Kansas]]
* [[Frederic Remington High School]]
* [[Berean Academy (Kansas)|Berean Academy]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Butler County, Kansas]]
** [[Oak Lawn Farm Dairy Barn]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Butler County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Butler County, Kansas}}
* ''Whitewater, Kansas, 1890-1990''; Marge Wohlgemuth; Kes-Print; 192 pages; 1990.  
* [https://esirc.emporia.edu/bitstream/handle/123456789/2755/Ensz%201970.pdf ''Plum Grove, Brainerd, Whitewater, and Potwin from 1870 to 1900'']; Roland H. Ensz; Emporia State University; 134 pages; 1970.
* ''A Picture Of A Small Town''; Darryl Claassen & Kim Fields; 145 pages; 2015; A pictorial history of Whitewater.
* ''A Picture Of A Volunteer Fire Department''; Darryl Claassen; 119 pages; 2015; A pictorial history of the Whitewater Fire Department from 1890–2015.
* ''A Picture Of A Rural School''; Darryl Claassen & Kim Fields; 307 pages; 2019; A history with photos of the 44 schools from 1868 to date which existed within the current Remington USD 206.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Whitewater, Kansas}}
* [https://whitewaterks.gov/ City of Whitewater]
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41261113 Whitewater - Directory of Public Officials]
* [http://remingtonhistoricalsocietyks.org/1a-the-history-of-whitewater The history of Whitewater], Frederic Remington Area Historical Society
* [https://archive.org/download/usgs_drg_ks_37097_h2/o37097h2.tif Topo Map of Whitewater / Furley area], USGS
* [https://archive.org/download/usgs_drg_ks_37097_h1/o37097h1.tif Topo Map of Whitewater / Potwin / Brainerd area], USGS

{{Butler County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Butler County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area]]