Columbus, Kansas
Columbus is the second biggest city Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. It is about 15 miles south-southwest of Pittsburg. It is also the county seat of Cherokee County. In 2020, 2,929 people lived there.[4]
City and County seat | |
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 Location within Cherokee County and Kansas | |
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| Coordinates: 37°10′18″N 94°50′39″W / 37.17167°N 94.84417°WCoordinates: 37°10′18″N 94°50′39″W / 37.17167°N 94.84417°W[2] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Cherokee |
| Founded | 1868 |
| Incorporated | 1871 |
| Named for | Columbus, Ohio |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.43 sq mi (6.30 km2) |
| • Land | 2.43 sq mi (6.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 912 ft (278 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 2,929 |
| • Density | 1,205.3/sq mi (464.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 66725 |
| FIPS code | 20-15075 |
| GNIS ID | 485558[2] |
| Website | columbusks.gov |
History
The first settlement at Columbus was created in 1868.[5] The first post office in Columbus was created in 1869.[6]
Columbus was a railroad junction for the Saint Louis and San Francisco, and the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas railroads. It was named Columbus by A.L. Peters, one of the European-American creators of the city. It was named after his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; the name is indirectly named after Christopher Columbus, the explorer.[7][8] Coal, lead and zinc were found in the area. Columbus had a big trade in agricultural products. Its businesses had machine shops, grain elevators, flour mills, a cigar factory, bottle works (soft drinks), a canning factory, and a big brick-making factory.[9]
In 1875, Robert A. Long and Victor Bell created the Long-Bell Lumber Company in Columbus. From one lumberyard, Long-Bell grew their businesses and holdings to become one of the biggest vertically integrated lumber companies in the United States. In 1956, it was bought by International Paper.[10]
Geography
Columbus is at 37°10′18″N 94°50′39″W / 37.17167°N 94.84417°W (37.171614, -94.844076). The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 2.43 square miles (6.29 km2). All of it is land.[3]
Weather
Columbus has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. The Köppen Climate Classification system says that Columbus has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]
People
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 402 | ||
| 1880 | 1,164 | 189.6% | |
| 1890 | 2,160 | 85.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,310 | 6.9% | |
| 1910 | 3,064 | 32.6% | |
| 1920 | 3,155 | 3.0% | |
| 1930 | 3,235 | 2.5% | |
| 1940 | 3,402 | 5.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,490 | 2.6% | |
| 1960 | 3,395 | −2.7% | |
| 1970 | 3,356 | −1.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,426 | 2.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,268 | −4.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,396 | 3.9% | |
| 2010 | 3,312 | −2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
The 2020 census says that there were 2,929 people, 1,251 households, and 746 families living in Columbus. Of the households, 63.5% owned their home and 36.5% rented their home.
The median age was 39.8 years. Of the people, 86.8% were White, 3.1% were Native American, 0.5% were Black, 0.2% were Asian, 0.8% were from some other race, and 8.7% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the people.[4][12]
2010 census
The 2010 census says that there were 3,312 people, 1,424 households, and 850 families living in Columbus.[13]
Famous people
- Marcellus Boss, 5th Civilian Governor of Guam
- Elizabeth W. Crandall, educator
- James Reed Hallowell, politician
- Robert A. Long, lumber baron, developer, investor, newspaper owner, and philanthropist
- Doro Merande, film, stage and television actress
- Merle Evans, bandleader for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
- Norma Terris, singer and actress
- Leland Justin Webb, 1st Mayor of Columbus, lawyer, served in American Civil War and 19th Kansas Cavalry Regiment
- Thomas Daniel Winter, US Representative from Kansas, 1939-1947.
References
- ↑ "Columbus Chamber of Commerce". Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Columbus, Kansas
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ↑ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 391. ISBN 9780722249055.
- ↑ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ↑ Rydjord, John (1972). Kansas Place-names. ISBN 978-0-8061-0994-7.
- ↑ The Modern Light, Columbus, August 16, 1951
- ↑ "1904 History of Cherokee County Kansas, Chapter 12". Archived from the original on 2009-07-02. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ↑ William E. Connelley, A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans,, Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1918
- ↑ Climate Summary for Columbus, Kansas
- ↑ "P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
Other websites
 |
Wikisource has the text of a 1905 New International Encyclopedia article about Columbus, Kansas. |
- City
- City of Columbus
- "Columbus - Directory of Public Officials". Archived from the original on 2011-08-23.
- "Columbus Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on 2012-07-22.
- Schools
- USD 493, local school district
- Historical
- "Historic Images of Columbus". Archived from the original on May 23, 2011., Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library
- Maps
- Columbus City Map, KDOT