Cawker City, Kansas

Cawker City is a city in Mitchell County, Kansas, United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 457.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">Template:Cite web</ref> The city is located along the north shore of Waconda Lake and Glen Elder State Park. It is one of several places claiming to be home of the largest ball of twine in the world.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Cawker City wins the ball game with massive sphere of twine; The Wichita Eagle; September 28, 2014.</ref><ref>Twisted: The Battle to Be the World's Largest Ball of Twine; The Atlantic; September 9, 2014.</ref>

History

Cawker City was founded in 1870.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> According to tradition, Colonel E. H. Cawker won naming rights for the town with a winning hand at poker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cawker City was incorporated as a city in 1874.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The first post office in Cawker City was established in June 1870.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The city previously served many families living on small farms. A resident stated that Cawker City had three grocery stores in the 1960s. By 2017 the community had no grocery stores. Many young adults were leaving to find work elsewhere. In the area family sizes decreased and farm plot sizes increased. These factors caused the community's population to decline.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, all of it land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref> The city is located along the north shore of Waconda Lake.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 457 people, 215 households, and 110 families in Cawker City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 454.3 per square mile (175.4/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 292 housing units at an average density of 290.3 per square mile (112.1/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 96.28% (440) white or European American (96.28% non-Hispanic white), 0.22% (1) black or African-American, 0.0% (0) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.0% (0) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.0% (0) from other races, and 3.5% (16) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 0.66% (3) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 215 households, 20.0% had children under the age of 18; 40.0% were married couples living together; 26.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 46.5% of households consisted of individuals and 25.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 2.9.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 10.3% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

22.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 26.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 95.0 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $40,125 (with a margin of error of +/- $19,649) and the median family income was $45,250 (+/- $6,979).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $29,750 (+/- $10,771) versus $16,250 (+/- $7,840) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $25,000 (+/- $6,753).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 19.2% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.9% of those under the age of 18 and 14.4% 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 469 people, 244 households, and 132 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 315 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 244 households, of which 19.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.9% were non-families. 41.8% 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 1.92 and the average family size was 2.52.

The median age in the city was 50.1 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.9% were from 25 to 44; 32.4% were from 45 to 64; and 26.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.

2000 census

File:A292, Cawker City, Kansas, USA, green and yellow tractor, 2008.JPG

Colorful old tractor at a closed service station (2008)

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 521 people, 261 households, and 151 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 335 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 97.50% White, 0.19% African American, 1.73% Native American, 0.38% from other races, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 261 households, out of which 17.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.0% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 29.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,833, and the median income for a family was $30,769. Males had a median income of $25,893 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,693. About 12.3% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

File:TwineBallCawkerKs.jpg

Largest community rolled ball of twine (2013)

• Cawker City is one of several places claiming to be home of the largest ball of twine in the world. Each year a twine-a-thon is held in August to increase the size of the ball.
• Waconda Lake
• Eyegore's Curiosities and Monster Museum<ref>Eyegore's Odditorium and Monster Museum</ref>

Education

The community is served by Waconda USD 272 public school district. The district elementary school is Lakeside Elementary school in Cawker City. The district high school is Lakeside High School (Kansas)|Lakeside High School in Downs with the mascot Knights.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

School unification combined Cawker City High School with Glen Elder High School in 1971 forming Waconda East High School. The Waconda East High School mascot was Vikings. Waconda East High School was then unified with Downs High School in 2003 forming USD 272.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Prior to school unification, the Cawker City High School mascot was Cawker City Pirates.<ref>"Cawker City Returns Three", The Salina Journal, Cawker City Returns Three, p.11.Template:When</ref>

The elementary building was formerly known as Cawker City Elementary School.<ref>Home. Waconda USD 272. April 9, 2002. Retrieved on February 25, 2017.</ref> Its name changed to the current one in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

• Emma B. Alrich (1845-1925), teacher and superintendent in Cawker City
• Martia L. Davis Berry (1844-1894), social reformer
• Merwin Coad (b1924), Iowa politician
• Claire Windsor (1892–1972), silent film actress

External links

• City of Cawker City
• Cawker City - Directory of Public Officials
• Cawker City's Biggest Attraction: World's Largest Ball of TwineTemplate:Dead link
• Historic Images of Cawker City, Wichita State University Library
• Cawker city map, KDOT