Ellinwood, Kansas

Ellinwood is a city in the southeastern corner of Barton County, Kansas, United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,011.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

19th century

File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Barton County.png

1915 Railroad Map of Barton County

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of 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, Barton County was founded.

The first claim at Ellinwood was staked in 1871<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> when it was certain the Santa Fe railroad would be completed nearby. The railroad was finished in 1872 and the city was named after Colonel John R. Ellinwood, a civil engineer working for the Santa Fe railroad.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although neither the founder nor the original settlers were German, many of the main streets were given German names, in order to appeal to German immigrant buyers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

File:Ellinwood KS - 1917.jpg

Ellinwood - 1917

In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion and 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 to McPherson; in 1880 it was extended to Lyons and in 1881 was extended to Ellinwood.<ref>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 was abandoned in 1968.<ref name="Abandon Railway 1968">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, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase and Ellinwood.

20th century

In 1973, the rock band Kansas rented the Ellinwood Opera House as a 'tryout show' for New York record executive Wally Gold, using free beer as a marketing tool, and charged a USD $0.25 entry fee to help cover some of their expenses. The story is told in the 2015 documentary Miracles Out of Nowhere.<ref>Kansas more than 'Dust in the Wind'; The Topeka Capital-Journal; June 17, 2013.</ref>

21st century

In 2018, the annual After Harvest Festival held during the third weekend in July, instituted a ban on coolers at the dance that takes place on the third and final night of the festival.

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> The city is situated along the path of the historic Santa Fe Trail. Ellinwood is also located just north of the Arkansas River, roughly in the area where it makes its "great bend" to the southeast en route to its final destination, the Mississippi River.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ellinwood has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>Climate Summary for Ellinwood, Kansas</ref>

Area attractions

• Downtown Tunnels<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

File:Ellinwood Santa Fe Trail Marker (DAR) P5310459.JPG

Santa Fe Trail DAR marker in Ellinwood

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 2,011 people, 862 households, and 548 families in Ellinwood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 1,522.3 per square mile (587.8/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 986 housing units at an average density of 746.4 per square mile (288.2/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 93.24% (1,875) white or European American (90.45% non-Hispanic white), 0.3% (6) black or African-American, 0.45% (9) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.25% (5) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.24% (25) from other races, and 4.53% (91) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 4.48% (90) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 862 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18; 47.6% were married couples living together; 28.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 33.1% of households consisted of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 16.3% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

24.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 106.9 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $48,322 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,214) and the median family income was $68,822 (+/- $2,351).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $34,776 (+/- $4,847) versus $19,279 (+/- $4,892) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $27,422 (+/- $6,776).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 5.5% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under the age of 18 and 11.9% 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 2,131 people, 910 households, and 601 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,042 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 0.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 910 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 43.7 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 21.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 2,164 people, 906 households, and 594 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,034 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 96.90% White, 0.23% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.85% of the population.

There were 906 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,596, and the median income for a family was $42,292. Males had a median income of $29,792 versus $19,194 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,811. About 7.3% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by Ellinwood USD 355 public school district.

Transportation

U.S. Route 56 runs through the city.

Notable person

• Wally Hickel (1919–2010), Governor of Alaska and Secretary of the Interior

See also

• Santa Fe Trail

External links

• City of Ellinwood
• Ellinwood - Directory of Public Officials
• USD 355, local school district
• Ellinwood Kansas Historical Society
• Template:YouTube, from Hatteberg's People on KAKE TV news
• Template:YouTube, from Hatteberg's People on KAKE TV news
• Ellinwood city map, KDOT