Atchison, Kansas

Atchison, Kansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Atchison
settlement_type = City


imagesize =
image_caption =


imagesize =
image_caption =


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


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Kansas
subdivision_name2 = Atchison
government_type = Council-Manager
leader_title = City manager
leader_name = Kelly DeMeritt
government_type =
leader_title = mayor
leader_name = Marianne Estes
established_title = Founded
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date = 1854
established_date2 = August 30, 1855
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 18.7
area_total_sq_mi = 7.2
area_land_km2 = 17.7
area_land_sq_mi = 6.8
area_water_km2 = 1.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.4
area_water_percent = 5.27
population_as_of = LookupUSEstPop|2002900|EYR
population_note =
population_total = LookupUSEstPop|2002900|EST
population_density_km2 = 574.5
population_density_sq_mi = 1495.4
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_m = 248
elevation_ft = 814
latd = 39 |latm = 33 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
longd = 95 |longm = 7 |longs = 42 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 66002
area_code = 913
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 20-02900GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0473516GR|3
footnotes =
website = [http://www.cityofatchison.com/ www.cityofatchison.com]
Two views of a pedestrian mall on Commercial Street in downtown Atchison

Atchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was 10,232 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2002900|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|2002900|EYR. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County. The city is named in honor of David Rice Atchison, United States senator from Missouri, and was the original eastern terminus of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad.

Atchison was the birthplace of aviatrix Amelia Earhart: the Amelia Earhart Festival held each July annually attracts an estimated 30,000–50,000 people. Atchison is also the home of Benedictine College, a small Catholic liberal-arts college. It is often called one of the most haunted places in America, due to the city's ghost-story heritage, featured in the 1997 book, "Haunted Kansas," written by Lisa Hefner Heitz, and published by University Press of Kansas.

History

Atchison was founded in 1854 and named in honor of Senator David Rice Atchison, who, when Kansas was opened for settlement, interested some of his friends in the scheme of forming a city in the new territory. [Cite encyclopedia| editor=Frank W. Blackmar| title=Atchison| url=http://www.skyways.org/genweb/archives/1912/a/atchison.html| encyclopedia=Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc ...| volume=I| publisher=Standard Pub Co| location=Chicago| year=1912| pages=108–111 The primary source for this history.] Senator Atchison was interested in ensuring that the population of the new Kansas Territory would be majority pro-slavery, as he had been a prominent promoter of both slavery and the idea of popular sovereignty over the issue in the new lands. However, it seems that all were not agreed upon the location he had selected, and on July 20, 1854, Dr. John H. Stringfellow, Ira Norris, Leonidas Oldham, James B. Martin and Neal Owens left Platte City, Missouri, to decide definitely upon a site. They crossed the Missouri River near Fort Leavenworth and continued to travel up stream along the western bank until they reached the place where Atchison now stands, where they found a site that was the natural outlet of a remarkably rich agricultural region just open to settlement. They also found that two men named George M. Million and Samuel Dickson had staked claims near the river. Million's claim lay south of what is now known as Atchison Street and consisted of a quarter section. Dickson had built a small cabin on his claim, and this cabin was the first structure erected on the site of the present city. Million had a ferry, on which he crossed to the Missouri side of the river to his home, but on the day the prospectors arrived he was on the Kansas side. From a map in his possession, the prospectors found that they were at the location decided upon before leaving Missouri.

As all the men in the party, except Dr. Stringfellow, had already taken claims in the valley of Walnut Creek, he was the only member of the party who could select a claim. He therefore took a tract north of Million's. The proposition of forming a town company for the future city was laid before the first settlers. Dickson was willing, but Million did not care to cut up his claim. He offered to sell his claim for $1,000—an exorbitant price for the land—but the men from Platte City had determined to found a city on that particular spot, and the purchase was made. A town company was formed and a week later a meeting was held under a tree on the bank of the river, about a half block south of where Atchison Street now runs. There were eighteen persons present when the town company was formally organized by electing Peter T. Abell, president; James Burns, treasurer; and Dr. Stringfellow, secretary.

The site was divided into 100 shares by the company, of which each member retained five shares, the remainder being reserved for common benefit of all. By September 20, 1854, Henry Kuhn had surveyed the 480 acres (1.9 km²) and made a plat, and the next day was fixed for the sale of lots, an event of great importance as it had become understood that Senator Atchison would make a speech upon the political question of the day, hence the sale would be of political as well as business significance. At his meeting on the 21st, two public institutions of vital interest to a new community were planned for—a hotel and a newspaper. Each share of stock in the town company was assessed $25, the proceeds to be used to build the National Hotel, which was completed in the spring of 1855 on the corner of Second and Atchison streets, and $400 was donated to Dr. Stringfellow and Robert S. Kelley to erect a printing office. The "Squatter Sovereign", a paper with strong pro-slavery sentiments, was first issued on February 3, 1855. It had formerly been published at Liberty, Missouri, under the name of the "Democratic Platform". In the spring of 1857 it was purchased by Samuel C. Pomeroy, Robert McBratney and F.G. Adams, who changed its policy and published it as a free-state paper until the fall of the same year, when Pomeroy became the sole owner. [Cite encyclopedia| editor=Frank W. Blackmar| title=Newspapers| url=http://www.skyways.org/genweb/archives/1912/n/newspapers.html| encyclopedia=Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc ...| volume=II| publisher=Standard Pub Co| location=Chicago| year=1912| pages=358–367]

The first post office in Atchison was established April 10, 1855, with Kelley as postmaster. It was opened in a small building in the block later occupied by the Otis house. In July 1883, the free-delivery system was inaugurated.

For years there had been considerable trade up and down the Missouri River, which had naturally centered at Leavenworth, but in June 1855, several overland freighters were induced to select Atchison as their outfitting point. The most important firms were Livingston, Kinkead & Co. and Hooper & Williams. The outfitting business done in Atchison was one of the greatest factors in establishing her commercial career. Some of the first merchants to open stores in the new town were George Challis, Burns Bros., Stephen Johnston and Samuel Dickson.

On August 30, 1855, Atchison was incorporated. The corporation was granted the privilege of holding land “not to exceed 640 acres (2.6 km²)” and the stock of the company was to be regarded as personal property. The town company had required every settler to build a house at least convert|6|ft|m square upon his lot, but when the survey was made it was discovered that some of these buildings were upon school lands. The title to the school lands remained in question for some time, but in 1857 all lands embraced within the corporate limits of the town were acquired by the town company from the general government, and in turn conveyed the lots to the individual purchasers, the titles being finally confirmed by the court.

Dr. Stringfellow had North Atchison surveyed and platted in the fall of 1857. This started a fever of additions. In February 1858, West Atchison was laid out by John Roberts, and in May Samuel Dickson had his property surveyed as South Atchison. Still another addition was made by John Challis.

On February 12, 1858, the legislature issued a charter to the city of Atchison, which was approved by the people on March 2 at a special election. The first city officers were elected at a second special election on March 13, 1858, and Samuel C. Pomeroy was elected mayor.

The first schools in the town were private. One of the first was opened in 1857 by Lizzie Bay. The first school district was established in October 1858, and a month later the Atchison free high school was opened at the corner of Atchison and Commercial streets.

At the outbreak of the American Civil War there were three militia companies organized in Atchison, whose members enlisted in the Kansas regiments. They were known as Companies A, C and “At All Hazards”. Early in September 1861, a home guard was organized in the town to protect it in case of invasion from Missouri, and on the 15th of the month another company was raised, which was subsequently mustered into a state regiment. In 1863 the city of Atchison raised $4,000 to assist the soldiers from the county and after the Lawrence Massacre a like sum was subscribed to assist the stricken people of that city. Citizens of the town also joined the vigilance committees that so materially aided the civil authorities in suppressing raiding and the lawless bands of thieves that infested the border counties.

Soon after the war, when industrial life became normal, manufactories began to spring up in Atchison. Elevators and mills were erected in the late 1860s and early 1870s; a flax mill was built; the Atchison Foundry and Machine Works, one of the most important commercial enterprises, was started; also many wood working factories, and carriage and wagon works. The city gained a reputation for its fine flour mills, car-repair shops, foundries, wooden ware, and furniture factories.

Atchison was one of the first cities in Kansas to be connected by telegraph with the east. In 1859 the St. Louis & Missouri Valley Telegraph company extended its line from Leavenworth to Atchison. In 1911, the following railroads all ran into the city: Burlington & Missouri River; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Hannibal & St. Joseph; Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs; and the Missouri Pacific.

Geography

Atchison is located at coor dms|39|33|45|N|95|7|42|W|city (39.562499, -95.128257).GR|1 The city is situated along the western bank of the Missouri River which also marks the Kansas-Missouri state line. Located at the junction of U.S. Route 59 and U.S. Route 73, it is 21 miles (34 km) southwest of St. Joseph, Missouri along US-59 and 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Leavenworth, Kansas along US-73. The section of US-73 between Atchison and Leavenworth is part of the Glacial Hills Scenic Byway which follows K-7 northward from Atchison. [Cite web| url=http://ksbyways.org/glacial/index.html| title=Glacial Hills Scenic Byway| accessdate=2006-07-15| publisher=Kansas Scenic Byways]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.7 km²), of which 6.8 square miles (17.7 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²), or 5.27%, is water.GR|2

Climate

Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of nearly convert|15|°F|°C|abbr=on in January to an average high of nearly convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on in July. The maximum temperature reaches convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on an average of 38 days per year and reaches convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on an average of 3 days per year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point (32 °F) an average of 106 days per year. Typically the first fall freeze occurs between the second week of October and the first week of November, and the last spring freeze occurs between the end of March and the third week of April.

The area receives nearly convert|38|in|mm of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received in May, June, and July—with a combined 29 days of measurable precipitation. During a typical year the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 25 to convert|52|in|mm. There are on average 96 days of measurable precipitation per year. Winter snowfall averages almost 23 inches, but the median is less than convert|16|in|mm. Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 13 days per year with at least an inch of snow being received on eight of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 27 days per year.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1860= 2616
1870= 7054
1880= 15105
1890= 13963
1900= 15722
1910= 16429
1920= 12630
1930= 13024
1940= 12648
1950= 12792
1960= 12529
1970= 12565
1980= 11407
1990= 10656
2000= 10232
2001= 10326
2002= 20062Atchison's population was estimated to be formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2002900|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|2002900|EYR, LookupUSEstPop|2002900|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 2002900|EDT. Released 2002900|RDT. Population change is from 2002900|IDT to 2002900|EDT.]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,GR|2 there were 10,232 people, 3,863 households, and 2,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,498.2 people per square mile (578.4/km²). There were 4,220 housing units at an average density of 617.9/sq mi (238.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.56% White, 7.80% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.58% of the population.

There were 3,863 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.0% 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 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,109, and the median income for a family was $37,100. Males had a median income of $31,027 versus $20,262 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,441. About 9.5% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Atchison Public Schools school district (USD 409), with three schools, serves more than 1,600 students. [Cite web| url=http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/ks/district_profile/26/| title=Atchison Public Schools schools| accessdate=2006-07-15| publisher=GreatSchools.net]

*Atchison Elementary School, grades K–5
*Atchison Middle School, grades 6–8
*Atchison High School, grades 9–12 [http://usd409.net/vnews/display.v/SEC/AHS]

The Bert Nash Intermediate School is a public school separate from the district which serves less than 100 students in grades 7–12. [Cite web| url=http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/ks/district_profile/307/| title=Bert Nash Intermediate schools| accessdate=2006-07-15| publisher=GreatSchools.net] Other private schools in the city include:*
*Trinity Lutheran School
*Atchison Catholic Elementary School (ACES)
*Maur Hill Mount Academy

Colleges and universities

*Benedictine College
*Northeast Kansas Technical College

Residents of note

* Amelia Earhart
* Sheffield Ingalls, former Lieutenant governor of Kansas
* Governor John Alexander Martin
* Wil Martin - EARSHOT vocalist

Points of interest

* Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum [http://www.ameliaearhartmuseum.org/]
* [http://www.atchisonkansas.net/v_haunted.htm Haunted Atchison Tours] Atchison is known as the most haunted town in Kansas [Cite web| url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/OZ-HauntedAtchison.html| title=KANSAS LEGENDS Haunted Atchison Most Ghostly Town in Kansas| accessdate=2007-11-25| publisher=legendsofamerica.com]
* [http://www.kansastravel.org/atchisontrolleytour.htm Guide to the Haunted houses of Atchison]
* International Forest of Friendship
* Lewis and Clark Trail
* Santa-Fe Depot Rail Museum [http://www.freewebs.com/nekr/museum.htm]

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofatchison.com/ City of Atchison]
* [http://www.atchisonkansas.net/ Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.usd409.net/ Atchison Public Schools USD 409]
* [http://ksbyways.org/Pages/Glacial/glacial1.html Glacial Hills Scenic Byway]
* [http://www.kansasphototour.com/forest.htm International Forest of Friendship]

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