Council Grove, Kansas

Council Grove is a city and county seat in Morris County, Kansas, United States.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,140.[4] It was named after an agreement between American settlers and the Osage Nation allowing settlers' wagon trains to pass westward through the area on the Santa Fe Trail. Pioneers gathered at a grove of trees so that wagons could band together for their trip west.

Council Grove, Kansas
City and County seat
Downtown Council Grove (2012)
Downtown Council Grove (2012)
Location within Morris County and Kansas
Location within Morris County and Kansas
KDOT map of Morris County (legend)
KDOT map of Morris County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°39′38″N 96°29′23″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyMorris
Incorporated1887[2]
Government
[2]
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • MayorDebi Schwerdtfeger
Area
[3]
 • Total2.06 sq mi (5.32 km2)
 • Land2.04 sq mi (5.29 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
[1]
1,234 ft (376 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total2,140
 • Density1,000/sq mi (400/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
66846, 66873
Area code620
FIPS code20-15925 [1]
GNIS ID477021 [1]
Websitecityofcouncilgrove.com

History
1915-1918 Railroad Map of Morris County.
This is the oldest stone home on the Santa Fe Trail and houses the Trail Days Cafe & Museum.
Historic Rawlinson-Terwilliger Stone Home, 803 West Main Street (2021)
See also: History of Kansas

Council Grove was a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The first European-American settler was Seth M. Hays, who came to the area in 1847 to trade with the Kaw tribe, which had a reservation established in the area in 1846. Hays was a great grandson of Daniel Boone.

The Main street in Council Grove is the old Santa Fe Trail. The Rawlinson-Terwilliger Home, 803 West Main Street, is the oldest stone home on the Santa Fe Trail and houses the Trail Days Cafe & Museum.

A post office was established in Council Grove on February 26, 1855.[5]

In 1858, the town was officially incorporated by the legislature.[6] Hays also opened a restaurant in 1857, the Hays House, which is said to be the oldest continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississippi River.

The town has 15 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One is the Post Office Oak. Travelers left their mail in this designated tree to be picked up by others going in the right direction. General Custer of the United States Army slept here with his troops during the American Civil War, under a large tree known now as the Custer Elm.

The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Herington, Delavan, Council Grove.

In 1943, German and Italian prisoners of World War II were brought to Kansas and other Midwest states as a means of solving the labor shortage caused by American men serving in the war effort. Large internment camps were established in Kansas: Camp Concordia, Camp Funston (at Fort Riley), Camp Phillips (at Salina under Fort Riley). Fort Riley established 12 smaller branch camps, including Council Grove.[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.01 square miles (5.21 km2), of which, 1.99 square miles (5.15 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[8] The city is fifty-five miles southwest of Topeka.

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, Council Grove has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[9]

Area events
  • Heritage Rendezvous
  • Washunga Days

Area attractions
  • Allegawaho Heritage Memorial Park
  • Kaw Mission State Historic Site
  • 1857 Hays House
  • Madonna of the Trail monument
  • Trail Days Historic Site

Presently, both the Council Grove Reservoir and the City Lake are popular for recreational activities. While both lakes are open to the public and motorized boats, most of the land around the City Lake is leased to the owners of over three hundred lake houses. Building is restricted on the larger Council Grove Reservoir but there are many well-positioned camp sites. Excellent fishing is found on these lakes as well. Walleye, crappie, white bass, and many more fish are in both the Council Grove Reservoir and the City Lake.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870712—
18801,04246.3%
18902,211112.2%
19002,2652.4%
19102,54512.4%
19202,85712.3%
19302,8981.4%
19402,875−0.8%
19502,722−5.3%
19602,664−2.1%
19702,403−9.8%
19802,381−0.9%
19902,228−6.4%
20002,3214.2%
20102,182−6.0%
20202,140−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 2,182 people, 991 households, and 565 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,096.5 inhabitants per square mile (423.4/km2). There were 1,107 housing units at an average density of 556.3 per square mile (214.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.8% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American,[11] 0.2% Asian, 1.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.0% of the population.

There were 991 households, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.0% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20% 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 2.85.

The median age in the city was 45.9 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 24.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 2,321 people, 1,002 households, and 634 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,293.2 inhabitants per square mile (499.3/km2). There were 1,099 housing units at an average density of 612.3 per square mile (236.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.23% White, 0.26% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.

There were 1,002 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,949, and the median income for a family was $37,061. Males had a median income of $29,500 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,189. About 7.4% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Aerial photo of Council Grove (2013)

The community is served by Morris County USD 417 public school district.[13] Council Grove High School is a high school located at 129 Hockaday St., Council Grove. Students from the surrounding areas travel to Council Grove to attend high school.[14] Council Grove Middle School includes grades 6 through 8 and is located at 706 E Main St. Council Grove Elementary School includes kindergarten through the 5th grade and is attached to the middle school. The athletic teams are known as the Braves.

Transportation

Council Grove was located on the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, that was established in 1912.

Notable people
  • Historic Farmers and Drovers Bank building (2012)
    Historic Farmers and Drovers Bank building (2012)
  • 1894 Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Depot (2015)
    1894 Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Depot (2015)
  • Morris County Historical Society, previously was a Carnegie Library (2015)
    Morris County Historical Society, previously was a Carnegie Library (2015)
  • Madonna of the Trail monument in Council Grove (2005)
    Madonna of the Trail monument in Council Grove (2005)
  • Council Oak at Council Grove (1912)
    Council Oak at Council Grove (1912)
  • 1857 Historic Last Chance Store (1958)
    1857 Historic Last Chance Store (1958)

See also

References
  1. "Council Grove, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
  2. "City of Council Grove". The League of Kansas Municipalities. May 27, 2019.
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  4. "Profile of Council Grove, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  5. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  6. History of the State of Kansas: Containing a Full Account of Its Growth from an Uninhabited Territory to a Wealthy and Important State. A. T. Andreas. 1883. p. 803.
  7. List of Prisoner Of War (POW) Camps in Kansas
  8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  9. Climate Summary for Council Grove, Kansas
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  11. "The Santa Fe Trail", Disaster At The Colorado, Utah State University Press, pp. 13–22, doi:10.2307/j.ctt46nx9w.5, ISBN 978-0-87421-461-1, retrieved April 18, 2021
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. USD 417 website.
  14. "Council Grove High School", Great Schools

Further reading
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
See also: List of books about Morris County, Kansas
See also: List of books about Santa Fe Trail
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