Humboldt, Kansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Humboldt
settlement_type = City


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image_caption =


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Humboldt in Kansas.


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Kansas
subdivision_name2 = Allen
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Bob Sharp
established_title = Founded
established_date = 1857
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 3.7
area_total_sq_mi = 1.4
area_land_km2 = 3.7
area_land_sq_mi = 1.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
area_water_percent = 0.70
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of = LookupUSEstPop|2033450|EYR
population_total = LookupUSEstPop|2033450|EST
population_note =
population_density_km2 = Decimals|#expr:LookupUSEstPop|2033450|EST/3.689334|1
population_density_sq_mi = Decimals|#expr:LookupUSEstPop|2033450|EST/1.424460|1
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_m = 299
elevation_ft = 981
latd = 37 |latm = 48 |lats = 39 |latNS = N
longd = 95 |longm = 26 |longs = 15 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 66748
area_code = 620
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 20-33450GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0474721GR|3
footnotes =
website =

Humboldt is a city situated along the Neosho River in the southwest part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was 1,999 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2033450|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|2033450|EYR.

History

Humboldt, named after Baron von Humboldt, was founded in 1857. Germans migrating from Hartford, Connecticut, began organizing a colony during the winter of 1856–57. They arrived in Lawrence, Kansas, in March 1857, and at the townsite on May 10, 1857. Orlin Thurston, a young attorney, moved to Humboldt during the summer of 1857 and put up a steam sawmill; he began sawing wood and building houses on the prairie side of town. The first frame building was erected by J.A. Coffey; and in May 1858, W.C. O'Brien opened the first gristmill in the county. The United Brethren Denomination erected the first church in 1859. [ [http://www.humboldtks.com/chamber/history.htm "History of Humboldt, Kansas"] , HumboldtKS.com]

The city was organized as a village in 1866 and incorporated as a city of the second class by the act of February 28, 1870. In October 1870 the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston railway was run through Humboldt; [Blackmar, Frank W., ed. [http://www.skyways.org/genweb/archives/1912/h/humboldt.html "Humboldt"] . "Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ..." Vol. I. Standard Pub. Co. (Chicago: 1912) pp. 879–880.] the railway is currently a short line owned by BNSF Railway.

Humboldt was the Allen county seat for seven years, from 1858 until 1865, when Iola became the seat. Humboldt won two contentious legislative elections to become the seat in 1858 and 1860, but another election in 1865 in the midst of the American Civil War resulted in the re-location of the county seat to Iola. The legitimacy of this election was questioned by Humboldt residents due to low turnout arising from soldiers fighting the War. Some residents claim that the county seat was "stolen". Iola effectively secured the seat by donating 100 lots to the county to aid in the construction of public buildings and subsequently raising funds to build a courthouse. County seat wars of this sort were common in Kansas and the American West.

Geography

Humboldt is located at coor dms|37|48|39|N|95|26|15|W|city (37.810738, -95.437418).GR|1 The city is situated along the east bank of the Neosho River, midway between Iola (to the north) and Chanute (to the south, in Neosho County) along Old 169 Highway. The old highway passes through the center of town, while the current U.S. Route 169 passes by at about a mile to the east. A short line for BNSF Railway passes along the eastern side of town and terminates in Iola. Allen County Airport is located only a few miles to the northeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²), of which 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²) is land, and 0.70% is water.GR|2

Demographics

Humboldt's population was estimated to be formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2033450|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|2033450|EYR, LookupUSEstPop|2033450|TXT.Cite web| url=http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php| title=Population Estimates| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division| Annual estimates of the population to 2033450|EDT. Released 2033450|RDT. Population change is from 2033450|IDT to 2033450|EDT.]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,GR|2 there were 1,999 people, 825 households, and 554 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,403.3 people per square mile (543.5/km²). There were 925 housing units at an average density of 649.4/sq mi (251.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.00% White, 1.75% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 2.65% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.15% of the population.

There were 825 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,408, and the median income for a family was $39,750. Males had a median income of $28,512 versus $18,712 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,651. About 9.8% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Humboldt school district (USD 258), with three schools, serves 498 students. [ [http://www.usd258.net/aboutus/aboutus.html Welcome to USD 258 Public Schools Website ] ]

*Humboldt Elementary School, grades K–5
*Humboldt Middle School, grades 6–8
*Humboldt High School, grades 9–12

Trivia

Humboldt is the site of Biblesta, a parade through the center of town. Local churches, businesses, and organizations create floats for the parade based on Bible stories. Other festivities during Biblesta generally include a Christian-music concert and bean-feed.

Humboldt only has one traffic light.

Humboldt has three water towers.

Walter Johnson, who won 416 games for the Washington Senators, second all-time behind Cy Young, was born in Humboldt 1887.

ee also

References

External links

;Official sites
* [http://www.usd258.net/ USD 258]

;Additional information
* [http://www.humboldtks.com/ HumboldtKS.com] —provides additional community information