Pretty Prairie, Kansas

Pretty Prairie is a city in Reno County, Kansas, United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 660.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The first post office at Pretty Prairie was established in 1874.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Pretty Prairie was laid out in 1889. It was named from its scenic setting upon the prairie.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It was incorporated as a city in 1907.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The city's sole source of water is a single well, a 100-foot-deep borehole. Due to agricultural pollution from the region's groundwater, the well water has had nitrate levels in excess of the federal nitrate standard since the mid-1990s. For years, Pretty Prairie distributed bottled water to at-risk families. On January 3, 2017, the town council approved a settlement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the EPA. The town planned to invest in a water tower, an underground storage tank, and a reverse osmosis water treatment system.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

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

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

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 660 people, 246 households, and 163 families in Pretty Prairie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 1,145.8 per square mile (442.4/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 285 housing units at an average density of 494.8 per square mile (191.0/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 90.0% (594) white or European American (89.24% non-Hispanic white), 1.06% (7) black or African-American, 1.06% (7) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.15% (1) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.76% (5) from other races, and 6.97% (46) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.18% (21) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 246 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18; 47.2% were married couples living together; 28.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 30.9% of households consisted of individuals and 11.8% 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 3.1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 13.0% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

26.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.0 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 118.9 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $51,053 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,934) and the median family income was $50,375 (+/- $18,218).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $32,212 (+/- $4,070) versus $22,750 (+/- $13,091) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $31,458 (+/- $1,582).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 10.9% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under the age of 18 and 7.5% 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 680 people, 272 households, and 190 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 304 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 96.0% White, 0.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 272 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.1% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 42.4 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.1% were from 45 to 64; and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 615 people, 261 households, and 184 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 290 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 99.35% White, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% from other races, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.63% of the population.

There were 261 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,857, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $30,536 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,944. About 4.1% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by Pretty Prairie USD 311 public school district. It has three schools.

Notable people

• Brian Bergkamp, member of the Kansas House of Representatives
• Jon Gnagy, artist and television art instructor
• Walter Huxman, governor of Kansas and jurist; born in Pretty Prairie
• Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, actor; played Alfalfa on the Little Rascals/Our Gang series, lived in the town in 1954 while briefly married to Collingwood Grain heiress Dian Collingwood
• Jack Unruh, artist and illustrator

See also

• Cheney State Park and Cheney Reservoir

External links

• Pretty Prairie - Directory of Public Officials
• Pretty Prairie Rodeo, Kansas's largest night rodeo
• Template:YouTube, from Hatteberg's People on KAKE TV news
• Pretty Prairie city map, KDOT