WaKeeney, Kansas

WaKeeney is a city in and the county seat of Trego County, Kansas, United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,799.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

James Keeney, a land speculator in Chicago, purchased land at the site of modern-day WaKeeney from the Kansas Pacific Railway in 1877. He and business partner Albert Warren formed Warren, Keeney, & Co., surveyed and plotted the site in 1878, and established a colony there in 1879.<ref name=FHSU>Template:Cite web</ref> They named the colony WaKeeney, a portmanteau of their surnames, and billed it as "The Queen City of the High Plains", advertising and holding celebrations to attract settlers.<ref name=City1>Template:Cite web</ref> The colony grew rapidly, but crop failures drove settlers to leave in 1880 as quickly as they had come. By 1882, all that was left were "five poorly patronized retail stores".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Years later, Volga Germans began settling the area.<ref name=FHSU/>

WaKeeney became the county seat in June 1879 and was incorporated as a city in 1880.<ref name=FHSU/><ref name=City1/>

Geography

WaKeeney is located at Template:Coord (39.024467, -99.881972)<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> at an elevation of 2,447 feet (746 m).<ref name="GR3">Template:Cite web</ref> Located in northwestern Kansas at the intersection of Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 283, it is Template:Convert northwest of Wichita, Template:Convert east-southeast of Denver, and Template:Convert west of Kansas City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

WaKeeney lies in the High Plains region of the Great Plains approximately Template:Convert north of Big Creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill River.<ref name=KDOT>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=CountyMap2013>Template:Cite web</ref> A small tributary of Big Creek flows south from near the center of the city.<ref name=CountyMap2013/>

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

WaKeeney has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), experiencing hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. On average, January is the coolest month, and July is both the warmest month and the wettest month.<ref name = NOAA/> The hottest temperature recorded in was Template:Convert on July 24, 1936, while the coldest temperature recorded was Template:Convert on January 12, 1912 and December 22, 1989.<ref name = NOWData/>

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 1,799 people, 837 households, and 482 families in WaKeeney.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 1,009.0 per square mile (389.6/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 1,004 housing units at an average density of 563.1 per square mile (217.4/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 93.55% (1,683) white or European American (93.05% non-Hispanic white), 0.17% (3) black or African-American, 0.11% (2) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.56% (10) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.39% (7) from other races, and 5.23% (94) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 2.5% (45) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 837 households, 22.2% had children under the age of 18; 44.8% were married couples living together; 29.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 38.2% of households consisted of individuals and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 2.4.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 15.9% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

21.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.1 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 112.3 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $54,805 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,551) and the median family income was $78,125 (+/- $17,778).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $44,231 (+/- $9,782) versus $27,482 (+/- $4,438) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $32,172 (+/- $5,427).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 7.5% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under the age of 18 and 0.5% 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 1,862 people, 864 households, and 500 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 988 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 864 households, of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.1% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.73.

The median age in the city was 48.8 years. 20% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.9% were from 25 to 44; 30.3% were from 45 to 64; and 25.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 1,924 people, 882 households, and 539 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,023 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 97.14% White, 0.05% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.

There were 882 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 26.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,945, and the median income for a family was $40,547. Males had a median income of $26,292 versus $16,435 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,596. About 6.3% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by WaKeeney USD 208 public school district, which primary and secondary education with two schools in WaKeeney: Trego Grade School (Grades Pre-K-8) and Trego Community High School (9-12).<ref name=CityData>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Trego Golden Eagles won the Kansas State High School boys class 2A Track & Field championship in 1977 and the boys class 3A Track & Field championship in 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Infrastructure

Transportation

Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 run concurrently southeast-northwest immediately south of WaKeeney, intersecting U.S. Route 283 which runs north–south through the city. U.S. 283 runs east–west for one mile in downtown WaKeeney, concurrent with U.S. Route 40 Business and the old alignment of U.S. 40.<ref name=CityMap>Template:Cite web</ref>

Trego WaKeeney Airport is located on the west side of U.S. 283, immediately south of I-70.<ref name=GoogleMaps>Template:Cite web</ref> Publicly owned, it has one concrete runway and is used for general aviation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Union Pacific Railroad operates one freight rail line, the Kansas Pacific (KP) line, through WaKeeney. It runs east–west through the city.<ref name=CityMap/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

The local newspaper published in WaKeeney is the weekly Western Kansas World.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

K231BG, a translator of radio station KJIL in Copeland, Kansas, broadcasts from WaKeeney on 94.1 FM playing a Contemporary Christian format.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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

Culture

File:Trego County Courthouse - west face 20171012 142952.jpg

West side of Trego County Courthouse (2017)

Events

Since 1950, WaKeeney has hosted an ornate civic Christmas lighting display, which now includes over 6,000 lights and a 35-foot man-made Christmas tree in the center of town. The tree is ceremonially lit the Saturday night after Thanksgiving through New Years Day.<ref name=City1/>

Points of interest

The train depot, built in 1879 with Saline River and Big Creek limestone, was the first major building in the town. It was inaugurated on July 4 of that year, with officials from Warren, Keeney and the Kansas governor in attendance. Union Pacific later acquired the depot and used it until the 1930s.Template:Citation needed The Opera House was the next major building, completed in 1884 with ceiling murals, a Rochester electric brass chandelier, and seating for 400. It was destroyed by fire the following year.Template:Citation needed

The Trego County Courthouse, constructed of Trego County hard stone and Manhattan stone, was designed by Topeka architect George R. Ropes in the Queen Anne style, with a 100-ft cupola and European tin roof which lasted until 1952. The courthouse is still in use, although the basement jail, with unusual flat bars, was closed in 1976. The building appeared in several scenes in the 1974 film Paper Moon.<ref name=City1/>

Notable people

File:Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at WaKeeney 20171012.jpg

Kansas Veterans' Cemetery (2017)

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in WaKeeney include:

• Charles Harris Garrigues (1903-1974), journalist<ref name=ulwaf>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Steve Gotsche (1961- ), PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour golfer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Andrew J. Harlan (1815-1907), U.S. Representative from Indiana<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Frank Mechau (1904-1946), painter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Mike Schreiner (1969- ), Leader of Ontario Green Party;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly
• Orrin Upshaw (1874-1937), U.S. Olympic tug of war athleteTemplate:Citation needed

External links

• City of WaKeeney
• WaKeeney - Directory of Public Officials
• USD 208, local school district
• History of WaKeeney
• WaKeeney city map, KDOT