Hugoton, Kansas

Hugoton Template:IPAc-en is a city in and the county seat of Stevens County, Kansas, United States.<ref name=gnis/> As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 3,747.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

File:Hugoton, Kansas (1891).jpg

Hugoton, 1891

Settlers from McPherson established a settlement in what was then west-central Seward County in 1885.<ref name=Butler>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=StevensCo>Template:Citation</ref> They originally named this settlement Hugo in honor of French writer Victor Hugo, but then changed its name to Hugoton to distinguish it from Hugo, Colorado.<ref name=Hugo>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Hugoton's first church, Hugoton United Methodist, was also the first in Stevens County and was founded in 1886; it is still active as of 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first post office in Hugoton was established in April 1886.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1886, the Kansas Legislature reestablished the surrounding area as Stevens County, and Gov. John Martin designated Hugoton as the interim county seat. This set off a violent county seat war with nearby Woodsdale. Hugoton became the permanent county seat in 1887, but the conflict continued, culminating in the Hay Meadow Massacre of 1888.<ref name=StevensCo/> Woodsdale founder and attorney Samuel Newitt Wood, heavily invested in the conflict for the county seat, was assassinated by James Brennen, one of the men involved in the Hay Meadow Massacre, outside the Hugoton courthouse on June 23, 1891.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 1890s, economic decline drove many residents to leave for newly opened territories in the American Southwest, and the population declined significantly.<ref name=StevensCo/> The Santa Fe Railway reached Hugoton in 1913, which spurred growth.<ref name=Hugo/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Natural gas was discovered southwest of the city in 1927, leading to the development of the Hugoton Natural Gas Area and the transformation of Hugoton into a major center of natural gas extraction.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hugoton reportedly served as a temporary home for infamous criminals Bonnie and Clyde.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Failed verificationTemplate:Fcn</ref> They lived in the unincorporated areas near Hugoton, assuming the aliases of Jewell and Blackie Underwood. Jewell operated a cafe, Jewell's Cafe, and Blackie reportedly worked on area farms. Locals believed they ran a bootlegging operation out of the cafe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Clyde was officially in prison during the time they are claimed to be in the Hugoton area,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> but locals still insist Jewell and Blackie were Bonnie and Clyde. Receipts from Jewel's Cafe were found in the duo's vehicle after their deaths in a 1934 shoot-out.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the mid-1930s, Hugoton, along with much of Kansas and parts of other nearby states, suffered the effects of the Dust Bowl, which ravaged the Great Plains in waves between 1934 and 1940.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Southwest Kansas was hit particularly hard between 1932 and 1936.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The famous "Black Sunday" dust storm that marks the naming of the Dust Bowl as a geographic area encompassing most of the mid-United States and affecting the entire country, hit Hugoton and neighboring towns in multiple counties and in Oklahoma early on April 14, 1935.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

Located in southwestern Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 56, K-25, and K-51, Hugoton is approximately Template:Convert north of Amarillo, Template:Convert west-southwest of Wichita, and Template:Convert southeast of Denver.<ref name=KDOT/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

It lies in the High Plains region of the Great Plains, approximately Template:Convert southeast of the Cimarron River.<ref name=KDOT>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=CountyMap>Template:Cite web</ref> It also lies within, and is the namesake of, the Hugoton Natural Gas Area. The Hugoton natural gas field is the largest such field in North America and the second largest in the world.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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>

Climate

Hugoton has a semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) with hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters. The hottest temperature recorded in Hugoton was Template:Convert on June 25, 1911, which along with Clay Center on the same day, is the highest temperature recorded in Kansas in June. Hugoton also holds the state record high for March. The coldest temperature was Template:Convert on January 7, 1912.<ref name = NOWData/>

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 3,747 people, 1,355 households, and 976 families in Hugoton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:2020/> The population density was 1,800.6 per square mile (695.2/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 1,573 housing units at an average density of 755.9 per square mile (291.8/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:2020>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 61.84% (2,317) white or European American (51.45% non-Hispanic white), 0.48% (18) black or African-American, 1.44% (54) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.59% (22) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 23.81% (892) from other races, and 11.85% (444) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 44.62% (1,672) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 1,355 households, 38.1% had children under the age of 18; 56.1% were married couples living together; 22.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 24.2% of households consisted of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:2020/> The average household size was 3.1 and the average family size was 3.6.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 7.0% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

28.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males.<ref name=:2020/> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 105.1 males.<ref name=:2020/>

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $56,786 (with a margin of error of +/- $12,361) and the median family income was $61,318 (+/- $8,164).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $35,417 (+/- $6,805) versus $17,364 (+/- $7,595) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,972 (+/- $4,981).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 12.7% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under the age of 18 and 16.1% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 3,904 people, 1,413 households, and 993 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,560 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 87.0% White, 0.8% American Indian, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Asian, 10.1% from some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 36.4% of the population.<ref name=Census2010>Template:Cite web</ref>

There were 1,413 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71, and the average family size was 3.32.<ref name=Census2010/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males age 18 and over.<ref name=Census2010/>

The median income for a household in the city was $52,161, and the median income for a family was $57,269. Males had a median income of $45,750 versus $33,188 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,851. About 11.6% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2010/>

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 3,708 people, 1,380 households, and 968 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,579 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 81.53% White, 1.08% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 14.51% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.92% of the population.<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref>

There were 1,380 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.25.<ref name="GR2" />

In the city the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.<ref name="GR2" />

The median income for a household in the city was $41,932, and the median income for a family was $50,225. Males had a median income of $37,930 versus $22,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,115. About 6.9% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2010/>

Economy

As of 2011, 67.5% of the population over the age of 16 was in the civilian labor force with 64.9% being employed and 2.6% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was: 27.2% in management, business, science, and arts; 25.2% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 25.0% in sales and office occupations; 14.3% in service occupations; 8.3% in production, transportation, and material moving. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (23.0%); educational services, health care, and social assistance (20.7%); and construction (8.3%).<ref name=Census2010/>

The cost of living in Hugoton is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the city is 80.5.<ref name=CityData>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2011, the median home value in the city was $79,300, the median selected monthly owner cost was $991 for housing units with a mortgage and $445 for those without, and the median gross rent was $628.<ref name=Census2010/>

Government

Hugoton is a city of the second class with a mayor-council form of government. The city council consists of five members and meets on the first Monday after the 4th day of each month.<ref name="gov1">Template:Cite web</ref> The mayor and the council members are elected for four-year terms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As the county seat, Hugoton is the administrative center of Stevens County. The county courthouse is located downtown, and all departments of the county government base their operations in the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hugoton lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District. For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature, the city is in the 39th district of the Kansas Senate and the 124th district of the Kansas House of Representatives.<ref name="gov1"/>

Education

Primary and secondary education

The community is served by Hugoton USD 210 public school district, which operates five schools in Hugoton:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Hugoton Primary School (Grades Pre-K-2)
• Hugoton Intermediate School (3-6)
• Hugoton Middle School (7-8)
• Hugoton High School (9-12)
• Hugoton Learning Academy (7-12), charter school

Heritage Christian Academy, a Christian school, offers preschool and classes for grades K-8.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

U.S. Route 56 and K-25 enter Hugoton concurrently from the north, intersecting K-51, which runs east-west, in the southern part of the city. Both U.S. 56 and K-25 then run concurrently with K-51 to the west.<ref name=KDOT/>

Hugoton Municipal Airport is located on the south side of U.S. 56 less than a mile west of the city.<ref name=CountyMap/> Publicly owned, it has two paved runways and is used for general aviation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A line of the Cimarron Valley Railroad passes through the northwestern corner of the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

The Hugoton Hermes is the city's sole newspaper, published weekly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Two radio stations are licensed to Hugoton: K222AK, a translator station of NPR affiliate High Plains Public Radio in Garden City, Kansas, broadcasts from Hugoton on 92.3 FM; KFXX-FM broadcasts from Garden City on 106.7 FM, playing a Classic Hits format.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hugoton is in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

• Billy Drago (1945–2019), actor<ref name="Roffman">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Steve Morris (1946- ), eight-year Kansas Senate president, 2005-2013<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidates for the 2012 Primary (official)," retrieved March 4, 2013.</ref><ref>Kansas Secretary of State, Official 2012 Primary Results</ref>

See also

• Hay Meadow Massacre

External links

• City of Hugoton
• Hugoton - Directory of Public Officials
• USD 210, local school district
• Dust Bowl photos of Hugoton
• Hugoton City Map, KDOT
• "Accused of double murder: The grandmother, her boyfriend, and the couple who hosted anti-government religious meetings - CNN - April 21, 2024