Cottonwood Falls, Kansas
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Cottonwood Falls is the largest city and county seat of Chase County, Kansas, United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 851.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">Template:Cite web</ref> It is located south of Strong City along the south side of the Cottonwood River.
History
[edit]
Early history
[edit]Template:See also For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic 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.
19th century
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In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1859, Chase County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Cottonwood Falls.
The first settlement in the area of Cottonwood Falls was in 1854, when an Indian trader named Seth Hayes founded a cattle ranch on the Cottonwood River close to the mouth of Diamond Spring Creek. The area around the town was organized as Chase County in 1859, and Cottonwood Falls was designated the temporary county seat.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Other early settlers arrived in Cottonwood and surrounding lands in 1856 to 1858.<ref>William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/chase/chase-co-p1.html</ref>
The first post office in Cottonwood Falls was established in 1858.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1873 the city's French Renaissance style Chase County courthouse was built; at roughly the same time, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway reached Cottonwood Falls area. Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries the area around the city was mainly divided into farms and cattle ranches.
20th century
[edit]In 1931, a Transcontinental & Western Air flight crashed ten miles south of Cottonwood Falls near the community of Bazaar, killing all eight on board, including University of Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne. A monument to the crash is located on private property.
There have been numerous floods during the history of Cottonwood Falls. In June and July 1951, due to heavy rains, rivers and streams flooded numerous cities in Kansas, including Cottonwood Falls. Many reservoirs and levees were built in Kansas as part of a response to the Great Flood of 1951.
Geography
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Cottonwood Falls is located at Template:Coord (38.368159, -96.542918),<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> in the scenic Flint Hills of the Great Plains. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>
Climate
[edit]The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Cottonwood Falls has a humid continental climate (Dfa) using the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm, or a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) using the -3 °C (26.6 °F) isotherm. The hottest temperature recorded in Cottonwood Falls was Template:Convert on July 18, 1936, while the coldest temperature recorded was Template:Convert on February 13, 1905.<ref name = NOWData />
Area events
[edit]Area attractions
[edit]Cottonwood Falls has five listings on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
- Cartter Building<ref>National Register of Historic Places - Cartter Building</ref> (NRHP).
- Chase County Courthouse<ref>National Register of Historic Places - Chase County Courthouse</ref> (NRHP). It is the oldest courthouse in continual use in the state of Kansas and one of the oldest in continual use West of the Mississippi.
- Chase County National Bank<ref>National Register of Historic Places - Chase County National Bank</ref> (NRHP).
- Cottonwood River Bridge<ref>National Register of Historic Places - Cottonwood River Bridge</ref> (NRHP).<ref>Cottonwood Falls Dam & Bridge - Kansas Travel</ref>
- Samuel N Wood House<ref>National Register of Historic Places - Samuel N Wood House</ref> (NRHP).
- Kansas Historical Marker - A Landmark Of Distinction, located in courthouse square.<ref>Kansas Historical Marker - A Landmark Of Distinction</ref>
- Chase Lake Falls<ref>Chase Lake Falls - Kansas Travel</ref>
Demographics
[edit]Cottonwood Falls is part of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area.
2020 census
[edit]The 2020 United States census counted 851 people, 318 households, and 179 families in Cottonwood Falls.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 1,321.4 per square mile (510.2/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 395 housing units at an average density of 613.4 per square mile (236.8/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 77.32% (658) white or European American (75.56% non-Hispanic white), 1.88% (16) black or African-American, 0.24% (2) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.94% (8) Asian, 0.24% (2) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 14.92% (127) from other races, and 4.47% (38) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 17.74% (151) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Of the 318 households, 23.0% had children under the age of 18; 45.0% were married couples living together; 30.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 40.9% of households consisted of individuals and 22.6% 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 2.7.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 18.4% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
16.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.0 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 78.2 males.<ref name=:0 />
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $40,739 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,271) and the median family income was $56,667 (+/- $13,166).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $29,750 (+/- $5,519) versus $26,438 (+/- $4,200) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $28,000 (+/- $3,976).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 4.7% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under the age of 18 and 3.7% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010 census
[edit]As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 903 people, 342 households, and 205 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 414 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 93.9% White, 3.4% African American, 0.2% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.0% of the population.
There were 342 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.92.
The median age in the city was 43.3 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.1% were from 45 to 64; and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.
2000 census
[edit]As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 966 people, 375 households, and 227 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 427 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 94.93% White, 2.38% African American, 1.14% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.83% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.38% of the population.
There were 375 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $28,947, and the median income for a family was $37,986. Males had a median income of $27,639 versus $19,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,166. About 8.8% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government
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City
[edit]The Cottonwood Falls government consists of a mayor and five council members; the council meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. City Council Members are elected in odd-numbered years and serve four-year terms.<ref name="gov1"/><ref>Cottonwood Falls - Government Template:Webarchive</ref>
- City Hall, 220 Broadway St.
County
[edit]- Chase County Courthouse, Broadway St.
- Chase County Sheriff Department, 201 Walnut St.
- Chase County Fire Department, 201 Walnut.
U.S.
[edit]- U.S. Post Office, 206 Broadway St.
- U.S. Consolidated Farm Service Agency, 219 Broadway St.
- National Park Service (U.S. Dept of Interior), 226 Broadway St.
Education
[edit]Primary and secondary education
[edit]The community is served by Chase County USD 284 public school district. It has two schools.
- Chase County Junior/Senior High School, 600 Main St.
- Chase County Elementary School, 410 Palmer St., Strong City, Kansas. The former elementary school building in Cottonwood Falls closed in 2018 and is now located in neighboring Strong City.
The Chase County High School mascot is Chase County Bulldogs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The former Cottonwood Falls High School mascot was Cottonwood Falls Wildcats.<ref>"Cottonwood Falls Wins District at Florence", The Emporia Gazette, 3 March 1958, p.5.</ref>
Library
[edit]- Burnley Memorial Library, 401 Oak St.
Infrastructure
[edit]Transportation
[edit]K-177 highway passes north–south through the city. Chase County Airport, FAA:9K0,<ref>Chase County Airport map</ref> located south-east of 8th St and Airport Rd.<ref>Chase County Airport information Template:Webarchive</ref>
Utilities
[edit]- Internet<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- TV
- Satellite TV is provided by DirecTV, Dish Network.
- Free over-the-air ATSC digital TV.
Gallery
[edit]- Historic Images of Cottonwood Falls, Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library.
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Burnley Memorial Library, 2006
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Courthouse Clock Tower, 2009
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People congregate in the town square during a parade in June 1974
Notable people
[edit]- Dudley Doolittle (1881-1957), U.S. Representative from Kansas, lawyer, banker.
- Harley Martin (1880-1951), Wisconsin state legislator and farmer<ref>'Wisconsin Blue Book 1933,' Biographical Sketch of Harley A. Martin, pg. 253</ref>
- William Morgan (1866-1932), newspaper publisher and editor, author, lieutenant governor of Kansas 1915–19
- Samuel Wood (December 30, 1825 – June 23, 1891), was an American attorney and Kansas politician.
Fiction
[edit]In Disney's 1985 film Return to Oz, Doctor J.B. Worley's clinic is set in Chase County near Cottonwood Falls.Template:Citation needed
In the 2005 film Jarhead, PFC Fergus O'Donnell is from Cottonwood.
The NBC crime drama The Blacklist season 8, episode 13 "Anne" is set and was partially filmed in Cottonwood Falls.
In the Great Railway Adventures book, The Mighty Mogul, Cottonwood Falls serves as a stop for the titular train during its journey to find supplies to build a new schoolhouse.
See also
[edit]- Strong City, Kansas, approximately 0.5 mile north of Cottonwood Falls
- Chase County Junior/Senior High School
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Chase County, Kansas
- Cottonwood River and Great Flood of 1951
References
[edit]Further reading
[edit]Template:Kansas books Template:See also
External links
[edit]- City of Cottonwood Falls
- Cottonwood Falls - Directory of Public Officials
- Chase County Chamber of Commerce
- Rockne Memorial, Knute Rockne crash site.
- Poster from Chase County Agricultural Fair from October 7-9, 1891
- Grand Central Hotel
- Topo Map of Cottonwood Falls / Bazaar area, USGS
Template:Chase County, Kansas Template:Kansas Template:Authority control