Elkhart, Kansas

Elkhart, Kansas
County seat

Morton County Court House (2009)

Location within Morton County and Kansas

KDOT map of Morton County (legend)
Coordinates: 37°0′11″N 101°53′53″W / 37.00306°N 101.89806°W / 37.00306; -101.89806Coordinates: 37°0′11″N 101°53′53″W / 37.00306°N 101.89806°W / 37.00306; -101.89806
Country United States
State Kansas
County Morton
Founded 1913
Area[1]
 • Total 2.11 sq mi (5.46 km2)
 • Land 2.11 sq mi (5.46 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 3,589 ft (1,094 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 2,205
 • Estimate (2015)[3] 2,042
 • Density 1,000/sq mi (400/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 67950
Area code(s) 620
FIPS code 20-20350 [4]
GNIS feature ID 0485090 [5]
Website City website

Elkhart is a city in and the county seat of Morton County, Kansas, United States.[6] The south edge of the city is the Kansas-Oklahoma state border. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,205.[7]

History

Early history

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

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. 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 1848, after the Mexican-American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1886, Morton County was established, which included the land for modern day Elkhart.

20th century

Elkhart was founded in 1913,[8] and was named after Elkhart, Indiana.[9]

In the 1930s, the prosperity of the area was severely affected by its location within the Dust Bowl. This catastrophe intensified the economic impact of the Great Depression in the region.

In 1961, the county seat was moved from Richfield to Elkhart.[10]

Geography

Elkhart is located at 37°0′11″N 101°53′53″W / 37.00306°N 101.89806°W / 37.00306; -101.89806 (37.003108, -101.898085).[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.11 square miles (5.46 km2), all of it land.[1]

Climate

Elkhart has a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) characterized by generally dry winters with extreme temperature variations, and hot summers with occasional heavy precipitation from thunder showers or storms.

During winter, because western Kansas lies both on the edge of the subtropical anticyclones and in the rain shadow of westerly winds crossing the Rocky Mountains, the region is generally dry: no measurable precipitation fell in Elkhart between 25 December 1903 and 2 April 1904, whilst monthly precipitation above 2 inches or 50.8 millimetres has never been recorded during January and is observed fewer than one year in ten during November, December or February. Temperatures can vary greatly during this season: strong chinook winds can drive temperatures above 80 °F or 26.7 °C even in the depth of winter, with 70 °F or 21.1 °C reached on average during six days between December and February, seven during November and eight during March. Nevertheless, cold outbreaks from Canada drive temperatures to or below 0 °F or −17.8 °C on an average of 3.6 nights per winter. The coldest temperature recorded in Elkhart has been −22 °F or −30 °C on January 19, 1984, whilst the hottest winter temperature has been 87 °F or 30.6 °C on February 1, 1963.

Snowfall is generally light due to dryness; however in the extremely wet and cold February 1903, 41.0 inches or 1.04 metres fell, being the major factor behind a record seasonal snowfall of 59.0 inches (1.50 m) between July 1902 and June 1903. In contrast, only a trace of snow was recorded between July 1949 and January 1950.

In the summer, the climate is generally very hot with relief from thunderstorms that provide most of the 18.9 inches or 480 millimetres of precipitation expected during one year. When an upper level anticyclone moves poleward, the atmosphere can become very stable and produce sustained extreme heat: in the hottest month of July 1980 the average maximum was 103.0 °F or 39.4 °C and all but seven days topped 100 °F or 37.8 °C. When the high retreats southward or a trough forms over the interior of the United States during the summer, however, precipitation can be heavy, with 10.91 inches or 277.1 millimetres falling in April 2016, 10.19 inches or 258.8 millimetres in June 2004 and 9.86 inches or 250.4 millimetres in July 1927. The wettest calendar year has been 1941 with 29.74 inches or 755.4 millimetres and the driest 1937 when only 9.03 inches or 229.4 millimetres fell.

Climate data for Elkhart, Kansas (1971-2000; extremes since 1900)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 83
(28)		 87
(31)		 91
(33)		 96
(36)		 104
(40)		 110
(43)		 110
(43)		 108
(42)		 105
(41)		 96
(36)		 91
(33)		 85
(29)		 110
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 45.1
(7.3)		 50.6
(10.3)		 58.6
(14.8)		 68.1
(20.1)		 77.8
(25.4)		 88.9
(31.6)		 93.4
(34.1)		 90.9
(32.7)		 82.3
(27.9)		 71.6
(22)		 56.3
(13.5)		 46.9
(8.3)		 69.2
(20.7)
Average low °F (°C) 18.3
(−7.6)		 22.2
(−5.4)		 29.9
(−1.2)		 38.9
(3.8)		 49.0
(9.4)		 58.9
(14.9)		 64.2
(17.9)		 62.7
(17.1)		 54.0
(12.2)		 41.1
(5.1)		 28.9
(−1.7)		 20.6
(−6.3)		 40.7
(4.8)
Record low °F (°C) −22
(−30)		 −18
(−28)		 −18
(−28)		 8
(−13)		 21
(−6)		 33
(1)		 45
(7)		 43
(6)		 25
(−4)		 6
(−14)		 −7
(−22)		 −18
(−28)		 −22
(−30)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.54
(13.7)		 0.44
(11.2)		 1.38
(35.1)		 1.67
(42.4)		 2.75
(69.9)		 2.50
(63.5)		 2.82
(71.6)		 2.74
(69.6)		 1.69
(42.9)		 1.11
(28.2)		 0.78
(19.8)		 0.48
(12.2)		 18.9
(480.1)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.5
(14)		 4.4
(11.2)		 4.9
(12.4)		 1.2
(3)		 0.2
(0.5)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.1
(0.3)		 1.0
(2.5)		 1.6
(4.1)		 3.4
(8.6)		 22.3
(56.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) 3.3 3.1 5.2 5.4 7.8 7.4 7.3 6.9 5.2 3.7 3.6 3.1 62
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch) 2.3 2.0 1.5 0.4 trace 0.0 0.0 0.0 trace 0.2 1.0 1.9 9.3
Source #1: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administriation[12]
Source #2: National Weather Service Dodge City[13]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19201,160—
19301,48528.0%
1940902−39.3%
19501,13225.5%
19601,78057.2%
19702,08917.4%
19802,2437.4%
19902,3183.3%
20002,233−3.7%
20102,205−1.3%
Est. 20152,042[3]−7.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,205 people, 856 households, and 571 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,045.0 inhabitants per square mile (403.5/km2). There were 999 housing units at an average density of 473.5 per square mile (182.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.7% White, 0.1% African American, 1.2% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 6.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.7% of the population.

There were 856 households of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age in the city was 38.4 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,233 people, 854 households, and 610 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,205.0 people per square mile (466.0/km²). There were 977 housing units at an average density of 527.2 per square mile (203.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.34% White, 0.09% African American, 1.16% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 6.63% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.39% of the population.

There were 854 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,333, and the median income for a family was $43,548. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,900. About 7.3% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Area attractions

Notable people

Elkhart is the birthplace of two Olympic athletes:

See also

References

Further reading

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