Lyons, Kansas

Lyons is a city in and the county seat of Rice County, Kansas, United States.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 3,611.[3]

Lyons, Kansas
City and County seat
Location within Rice County and Kansas
Location within Rice County and Kansas
KDOT map of Rice County (legend)
KDOT map of Rice County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°20′46″N 98°12′16″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyRice
TownshipAtlanta & Harrison
Founded1870
Incorporated1880
Named forFreeman Lyons
Area
[2]
 • Total2.58 sq mi (6.70 km2)
 • Land2.58 sq mi (6.70 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[1]
1,693 ft (516 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total3,611
 • Density1,400/sq mi (540/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67554
Area code620
FIPS code20-43525
GNIS ID485616[1]
Websitelyonsks.org

History
1915 Railroad Map of Rice County

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans.

Although Coronado's exact route across the plains is uncertain and has been widely disputed, his men and he are thought to have camped near the present location of Lyons on their quest for Quivira, a Native American place that Indians to the southwest had told them was fabulously wealthy in gold.

West of Lyons is a cross commemorating Juan de Padilla, a member of Coronado's expedition, who returned the following year as a missionary. He was killed in 1542 by Native Americans after establishing a church in the area, and is considered the first Christian martyr in North America.[4]

In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

Lyons Main Street (U.S. Highway 56) is based on the Santa Fe Trail.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, Rice County was founded.

Lyons was originally called Atlanta, and under the latter name was founded in 1870. It was renamed Lyons in 1876, in honor of Freeman J. Lyons.[5]

In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.[6] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880, it was extended to Lyons, and in 1881, it was extended to Ellinwood.[7] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[8] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, and Ellinwood.

Lyons was incorporated as a city in 1880, the same year the railroad was built through it.[9]

In 1890, the Western Salt Company put down its first shaft to mine salt in Lyons.[10]

Lyons was home to a minor league baseball. The Lyons Lions team played from 1909 to 1913. Lyons teams played as members of the Class D level Kansas State League from 1909 to 1911, the Central Kansas League in 1912 and Kansas State League in 1913. The Lyons franchise permanently folded after the 1913 season.[11][12]

In the 1970s, the federal government was interested in using a local site for the burial of high-level nuclear waste.[13]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.36 square miles (6.11 km2), all land.[14]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Lyons has a humid continental climate, Dfa on climate maps. [15]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880509—
18901,754244.6%
19001,736−1.0%
19102,07119.3%
19202,51621.5%
19302,93916.8%
19404,49753.0%
19504,5451.1%
19604,5921.0%
19704,355−5.2%
19804,134−5.1%
19903,688−10.8%
20003,7321.2%
20103,7390.2%
20203,611−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 3,739 people, 1,503 households, and 952 families living in the city. The population density was 1,584.3 inhabitants per square mile (611.7/km2). There were 1,716 housing units at an average density of 727.1 per square mile (280.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.7% White, 1.3% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 7.9% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.3% of the population.

There were 1,503 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 38.2 years. 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 3,732 people, 1,546 households, and 1,032 families living in the city. The population density was 1,732.5 inhabitants per square mile (668.9/km2). There were 1,738 housing units at an average density of 806.8 per square mile (311.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.16% White, 1.96% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 3.75% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.03% of the population.

There were 1,546 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,945, and the median income for a family was $39,639. Males had a median income of $30,765 versus $17,778 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,206. About 9.1% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economics

Lyons Salt Company and Compass Minerals is located on the southeast side of Lyons.

Education

The community is served by Lyons USD 405 public school district.

Notable people

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

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lyons, Kansas
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  3. "Profile of Lyons, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  4. Engelhardt, p. 14: "...[in] 1542, three Friars Minor were martyred in New Mexico as victims of their zeal for the Christian Faith. They were Fr. Juan de Padilla, Fr. Juan de la Cruz, and Brother Luis de Ubeda or Escalona.
  5. Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. pp. 272.
  6. Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
  7. Commissioners, Kansas Board of Railroad (May 23, 1886). "Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners, for the Year Ending ..." Kansas Publishing House, T.D. Thacher, state printer – via Google Books.
  8. "Lyons to Florence, KS - Abandoned Rails". www.abandonedrails.com.
  9. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 199.
  10. "One of World's Largest Salt Producting Centers on Frisco Lines at Lyons, Kansas; The Frisco Employes' Magazine; November 1926" (PDF).
  11. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  12. "Lyons, Kansas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. Brown, Taylor Kate. (March 6, 2014). "The radiation leak site that wants more nuclear waste". BBC website Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  14. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  15. Climate Summary for Lyons, Kansas
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. "Borah, William Edgar, (1865-1940)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. U.S. Congress. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  19. "Candidate profile: Rep. Marshall Christmann". McPherson Sentinel. July 23, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  20. "James Lee Fankhauser". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  21. Harrold, Michael C. (2009). "Orville Harrold - An American in New York Opera's Golden Era". MusicWeb. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  22. Nelson, Valerie J. (January 1, 2006). "James Pulliam, 80; Architect, Teacher Noted for Modernism". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  23. "Marcia Rodd". IMDb. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  24. "Jerry Cox Vasconcells". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  25. Clarkin, Mary (March 1, 2014). "Candidate Wolf drawing light financial backing from hometown Lyons". The Hutchinson News. Retrieved June 16, 2016.

Further reading
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
See also: List of books about Rice County, Kansas
See also: List of books about Santa Fe Trail
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lyons (Kansas).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lyons, Kansas.
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