Newton, Kansas

1915 Railroad Map of Harvey County

1905 Warkentin Mill

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1872, Harvey County was founded.

In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a main line from Emporia westward to Newton by July 1871.[5] The town soon became an important railroad shipping point of Texas cattle.[6]

The city was founded in 1871 and named after Newton, Massachusetts, home of some of the Santa Fe stockholders.[7]

In August 1871, there was a Gunfight at Hide Park, in which a total of eight men were killed. The incident began with an argument between two local lawmen, Billy Bailey and Mike McCluskie. Because of this incident, Newton became known as "bloody and lawless—the wickedest city in the west.".[8]

In 1872, the western terminal for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and the railhead for the Chisholm Trail were established here. Shortly after incorporation of the city in 1872, the Newton city council passed an ordinance prohibiting the running at large of buffalo and other wild animals.[9]

During World War II, the Newton airport was taken over by the US Navy as a secondary Naval Air Station, and the main runway was extended to over 7,000 feet (2,100 m).

Newton served as the Middle Division dispatching headquarters for the "Santa Fe" until the mid-1980s, when all dispatching for the Chicago to Los Angeles system was centralized in the Chicago area. In 1995, the Santa Fe merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad, and is now known as the BNSF Railway. The BNSF continues to be a large industrial taxpayer although its impact as an employer has decreased in the past decade.

On February 25, 2016, Newton was the site of the first of several related shooting incidents, which culminated in a mass shooting at an Excel Industries building in nearby Hesston that left three people dead and twelve others injured.[10][11] The shooter, identified as Excel employee Cedric Larry Ford, was then killed by a responding police officer.[12][13]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Newton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[15]

As of the census[17] of 2010, there were 19,132 people, 7,584 households, and 5,045 families living in the city.[18] The population density was 1,518.4 inhabitants per square mile (586.3/km²). There were 8,237 housing units at an average density of 653.7 per square mile (252.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.4% White, 2.2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 4.7% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.3% of the population.

There were 7,584 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.5% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 36.8 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 17,190 people, 6,851 households, and 4,610 families living in the city. The population density was 1,794.0 inhabitants per square mile (692.7/km²). There were 7,277 housing units at an average density of 759.5 per square mile (293.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.73% White, 2.30% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.84% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.73% of the population.

There were 6,851 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population had 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,236, and the median income for a family was $45,703. Males had a median income of $32,308 versus $21,906 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,529. About 5.1% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

The community is served by Newton USD 373 public school district. Newton public schools consist of:

High school

• Newton High School.

Intermediate schools

• Santa Fe 5/6 Center.
• Chisholm Middle School.

Elementary

• Northridge Elementary.
• Slate Creek Elementary.
• South Breeze Elementary.
• Sunset Elementary.

Early education

• Cooper Early Education

Private

Newton has two K-8 private schools:

• St. Mary's Catholic School.[25]
• Newton Bible Christian School.[26]

• Bethel College is located nearby in the city of North Newton.
• Hutchinson Community College has a satellite campus at the Axtell Education Center, close to downtown.

The Newton Kansan (GateHouse Media) serves Newton and the surrounding area as the daily local newspaper. It is not published on Sundays or Mondays. The Wichita Eagle is the major newspaper for the region. Harvey County Now newspaper is also based in Newton and covers Harvey County.

• AM
  • KJRG-AM 950 kHz, Christian talk
• FM
  • KKGQ-FM 92.3 MHz, ESPN Wichita 92.3, sports programming
  • KBCU-FM 88.1 MHz - Bethel College (Kansas) - College events and Jazz music

Newton is served by over-the-air ATSC digital TV of the Wichita-Hutchinson viewing market area,[27] cable TV by Cox Communications, and satellite TV. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Newton Amtrak Depot at 414 N. Main St. (2006)

Downtown Newton (looking north). Depot on right. (2006)

An Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map from 1891 issue of Grain Dealers and Shippers Gazetteer.

BNSF Railway passes through Newton for transportation and shipping. Amtrak's Southwest Chief stops in Newton twice each day and provides passenger rail service towards Los Angeles and Chicago.[28] The Amtrak station is located at 414 N Main St.[29]

Bus service is provided daily towards Wichita and Salina by BeeLine Express (subcontractor of Greyhound Lines).[30][31] While there is no local fixed-route transit service, Harvey Interurban provides dial-a-ride transit service to the community.[32]

Major roads that pass through Newton are I-135, US-50, US-81, K-15.

Newton City/County Airport, FAA:EWK,[33] is located 2 miles east of Newton. Its 7,002-foot (2,134 m) runway is one of only 11 runways in Kansas 7,000-foot (2,100 m) or longer. It has ILS and GPS approach.[34][35]

• Internet
  • Cable is provided by Cox Communications.
  • DSL is provided by AT&T.
  • Wireless is provided by Pixius Communications.
  • Satellite is provided by HughesNet, StarBand, WildBlue.
• TV
  • Cable is provided by Cox Communications.
  • Satellite is provided by DirecTV, Dish Network.
  • Terrestrial is provided by regional digital TV stations.
• Telephone
  • Landline is provided by AT&T.
  • Cellular is provided by Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and AT&T Mobility.
• Electricity is provided by Westar Energy.
• Gas is provided by Kansas Gas Service.
• Water
  • City is provided by City of Newton.
  • Rural is provided by Harvey County RWD #1.
• Sewer is billed by City of Newton.
• Trash is billed by City of Newton.