Kiowa, Kansas

Kiowa is a city in Kiowa Township, Barber County, Kansas, United States.<ref name=gnis/> As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 902.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">Template:Cite web</ref> It is located one mile north of the Kansas / Oklahoma state border.

History

19th century

Kiowa was founded in 1872.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It was named for the Kiowa people.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

20th century

On June 7, 1900, anti-saloon advocate Carrie Nation vandalized her first saloon in Kiowa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1910, Kiowa became a sundown town, having a sign at each of four roads into the city that read, "Niggers Read and Run", and Black residents were given 24 hours to leave town.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1905, the Denver, Enid and Gulf Railroad was built from Enid, Oklahoma, to Kiowa. In 1907, it was sold to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1996, the line from Kiowa to Blanton, Oklahoma, was abandoned.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 902 people, 404 households, and 230 families in Kiowa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 814.1 per square mile (314.3/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 552 housing units at an average density of 498.2 per square mile (192.4/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 90.8% (819) white or European American (90.02% non-Hispanic white), 0.0% (0) black or African-American, 0.44% (4) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.44% (4) Asian, 0.44% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.88% (17) from other races, and 5.99% (54) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.33% (30) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 404 households, 23.3% had children under the age of 18; 43.1% were married couples living together; 27.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 37.6% of households consisted of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.5.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 16.7% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

22.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 103.2 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $51,667 (with a margin of error of +/- $11,439) and the median family income was $65,042 (+/- $7,840).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $30,938 (+/- $10,887) versus $14,441 (+/- $5,956) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $24,571 (+/- $1,954).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 6.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 census

As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 1,026 people, 466 households, and 273 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 578 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% White, 0.2% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.

There were 466 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.4% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 46.9 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 23.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 1,055 people, 467 households, and 292 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 569 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 95.83% White, 0.28% African American, 1.23% Native American, 1.71% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.27% of the population.

There were 467 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.0% 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 2.87.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,141, and the median income for a family was $41,806. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $21,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,670. About 9.7% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by South Barber USD 255 public school district.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Kiowa Chieftains won the Kansas State High School class B Track & Field championship in 1940.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

Kiowa is served by a weekly newspaper, The Kiowa News.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Infrastructure

K-2 and K-8 highways, and the Southern Transcon main line of BNSF Railway pass through Kiowa.

Notable people

• Marcellus Boss, the fifth Civilian Governor of Guam; former Kiowa city attorney.
• Charles E. Brown, Jr., Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Army.
• Bill Tidwell, four-time NAIA middle distance champion at Kansas State Teachers College (ESU), then coach and athletic director
• James Wilson, former Colorado State Representative

See also

• List of sundown towns in the United States
• RSI Corporation

External links

• City of Kiowa
• Kiowa - Directory of Public Officials
• USD 255, local school district
• Kiowa, Barber County, Kansas Barber County, Kansas: History and Genealogy
• Kiowa city map, KDOT