Coffeyville, Kansas

City of Coffeyville
—  City  —
Sign at the entrance to the city, 2006
Location of Coffeyville in Kansas.
Coordinates: 37°2′16″N 95°37′35″W / 37.03778°N 95.62639°W / 37.03778; -95.62639Coordinates: 37°2′16″N 95°37′35″W / 37.03778°N 95.62639°W / 37.03778; -95.62639
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Montgomery
Founded	1869
Incorporated	March 1873[1]
Government
- Mayor	Richard Gonzales
Area
- Total	7.1 sq mi (18.3 km2)
- Land	7.1 sq mi (18.3 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	738 ft (225 m)
Population (2010)[2]
- Total	10,295
- Density	1,450/sq mi (559.8/km2)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	67337
Area code(s)	620
FIPS code	20-14600[3]
GNIS feature ID	0469230[4]
Website	www.Coffeyville.com

Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,295.^[2] It is the most populous city of Montgomery County and with its southeast Kansas location is located in the Tulsa, Oklahoma media market.

The city should not be confused with Coffey County.

History

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Locomotive 1079 on static display, 2002

Founded in 1869 as an Indian trading post by Col. James A. Coffey, serving the population across the Oklahoma border in what was then the Indian Territory, the town was confirmed and expanded by the arrival of the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad in 1871. With the arrival of the railroad, a young surveyor, Napoleon B. Blanton, was dispatched to lay out the town. The naming of the town was left to the toss of a coin between Col. Coffey and U.S. Army Captain Blanton. Blanton lost the toss and the town was officially named Coffeyville.^{[citation needed]}

Incorporated in 1872, the charter was voided, and the city was re-incorporated in March 1873.^{[citation needed]}

Coffeyville's most famous moment may have been the end of the Dalton Gang: on October 5, 1892, four of the gang were killed while Emmett Dalton survived with 23 gunshot wounds and was imprisoned for 14 years before being pardoned. They had been attempting to rob two banks, First National Bank and Condon Bank, at once when the citizens recognized them under the fake beards they were wearing and fought them after coming out of one of the banks. The two banks at the time of the attempted robbery were directly across the street from one another. Four citizens, including a U.S. marshal, Marshal Charles T. Connelly, died in defense of the town. The town holds an annual celebration each October in remembrance of the Dalton Raid and the lives its citizens lost.^{[citation needed]}

Coffeyville enjoyed rapid growth after the discovery of plentiful natural gas and abundant clay and was from the turn of the century to the 1930s one of the largest glass and brick manufacturing centers in the nation. During this same period the development of oil production in the area prompted the establishment of several oil field equipment manufacturers.^{[citation needed]}

Coffeyville industrialist Douglas Brown founded Coffeyville Multiscope which produced components of the famous Norden bombsight which played a determining role in the perfection of precision day light bombing during WWII as a result of the bombsight's advanced accuracy and drift correction capability.^{[citation needed]}

In 1930 Coffeyville had an organized LDS Sunday School, one of only 11 places in Kansas to have such at that point.^[5]

Only July 1, 2007, there was a major flood in Coffeyville which crested 10 feet above flood stage and flooded approximately a third of the city. The flood topped the local refinery, Coffeyville Resources LLC levees by 4 feet, which allowed oil to pollute the water. Approximately 71,000 gallons^[6] of crude oil mingled with the already contaminated flood waters. The EPA was reportedly on site trying to prevent the oil and flood water mix from continuing down river where it could damage the water in Oologah Lake near Oologah, Oklahoma. Many Oklahomans get their water from the Verdigris River or Oologah Lake. Last reports show a minimal amount of oil reached Oolagah Lake, but it did not pose a threat to the water supplies of other cities along the Verdigris River or from the lake. A number of animals have been found dead or injured in flood areas covered with oil. By July 2, 2007, areas east of Patterson Street in Coffeyville were off limits and a curfew was enacted in other areas of the city. July 3, 2007 the city lost its supply of potable water, but the water service had been restored and the order to boil water was rescinded on July 7. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Red Cross were on hand and the area was declared a federal disaster area. Most displaced residents took shelter with family and friends, but many were sheltered in two area churches and a senior citizens' apartment complex. Some pets were rescued to a temporary animal shelter built for them at LeClere Park. The flooded area on the city's east side was reopened on July 11, 2007 for residents and business owners to begin assessing damage and to retrieve salvageable items.^{[citation needed]}

The Verdigris River at Coffeyville, 2006

In order to focus on the post-flood recovery and clean-up, the 2007 Inter-State Fair & Rodeo was canceled. The ongoing flood recovery included a wholesale environmental remediation of the flood effected eastern portion of the city ending in late 2008 to early 2009. Many of the flood damaged homes were purchased by Coffeyville Resources LLC as a part of their attempt to compensate the flood affected homeowners.^[7][8]

Geography

Coffeyville is located in the southeast corner of Kansas, about 75 miles north of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and 60 miles west of Joplin, Missouri. The city is situated about one-half mile north of the Oklahoma state line at 37°2′16″N 95°37′35″W / 37.03778°N 95.62639°W / 37.03778; -95.62639 (37.037708, -95.626438).^[9] The city is situated along the west bank of the Verdigris River. The city is the location of the lowest point in the state of Kansas at 679 feet above sea level. Coffeyville Municipal Airport is only a few miles northeast of the city along US-169. Though Coffeyville is the largest city in Montgomery County, the county seat is Independence, located 16 miles northwest of the city.

Coffeyville, specifically a spot just north of Coffeyville Country Club, is the default center starting point of Google Maps, being the accidental center point of the default starting map being displayed, which shows the 48 contiguous United States.^[10] Other locations that are considered to be the geographic center of the contiguous United States are also in Kansas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.1 square miles (18 km²), all of it land.^[3]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	753		—
1890	2,282		203.1%
1900	4,953		117.0%
1910	12,687		156.1%
1920	13,452		6.0%
1930	16,198		20.4%
1940	17,355		7.1%
1950	17,113		−1.4%
1960	17,382		1.6%
1970	15,116		−13.0%
1980	15,185		0.5%
1990	12,917		−14.9%
2000	11,021		−14.7%
2010	10,295		−6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

Coffeyville has experienced a slow and steady population decline since around 1960 when its population peaked. As of 2006 the population was estimated to be 10,387 in the year 2006, a decrease of 645, or -5.8%, over the previous six years.^[11]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,^[3] there were 11,021 people, 4,691 households, and 2,847 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,562.1 people per square mile (602.7/km²). There were 5,550 housing units at an average density of 786.6 per square mile (303.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.76% White, 12.12% Black or African American, 4.97% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 4.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.82% of the population.

There were 4,691 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,542, and the median income for a family was $33,180. Males had a median income of $29,199 versus $17,940 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,182. About 10.9% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Coffeyville has a long history as a center of industry and manufacturing. Unlike the common perception of small midwestern communities, Coffeyville's dominant economic sector has never been agriculture, though the sector is significant.^{[citation needed]}

Coffeyville is home to online retailer Amazon.com's largest distribution center, leased in 1999. It was opened in a facility previously operated by Golden Books. Coffeyville is also home to John Deere Corporation's Coffeyville Works which is a major manufacturer of off road equipment automatic transmissions for the construction, agriculture and mining industries.^{[citation needed]}

CVR Energy, operates a 100,000 barrels per day refinery and a large nitrogen fertilizer plant using a unique Texaco process of ammonia extraction from coke by products produced in the refinery. Sherwin Williams Chemical Co. has operated a chemical plant in the community since 1909.^{[citation needed]}

Southwire Corp. one of the largest makers of stranded and solid core wire acquired the Leviton Industries facility of American Insulated Wire in 2010. Other nearby in county employers include Cessna Aircraft Division of Textron and privately owned Spears Manufacturing, a large producer of extruded PVC pipe products.^{[citation needed]}

Education

Public education is provided by the Coffeyville school district (USD 445). The district educates almost 2,000 students in three facilities.^[12] The district has one, large consolidated elementary school with four pods, one middle school and one high school.

• Community Elementary School, grades PK–6.
• Roosevelt Middle School, grades 7–8.
• Field Kindley High School, grades 9–12, named after Field Kindley.
• Holy Name School, grades PK-6, parochial private school operated by the Roman Catholic Church.

Advanced education is provided by Coffeyville Community College at three campuses. The main campus and technical trades campus are each located in Coffeyville, while a third campus is located in Columbus, Kansas. Four-year college degrees are offered by Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Friends University and Sterling College at the main Coffeyville Community College campus.^[13] Coffeyville Community College has a long history of academic and athletic success.^{[citation needed]}

Transportation

The Greyhound Lines has a bus stop in Coffeyville.^[14]

Notable people

• Phil Ehart, drummer of the rock band "Kansas"
• Ron Kenoly, popular worship leader
• Rudy May, former Major League pitcher
• William Mueller, professional wrestler known under the names, "Trevor Murdoch" and "Jethro Holiday"
• Gary S. Paxton, American record producer of 1962 novelty song "Monster Mash"
• Johnny Rutherford, automobile racer
• Cynthia Sikes, actress
• James Chapman Playwright, Producer, Director
• Mildred "Micky" Axton. aviator and educator
• Denver David Hargis, Kansas politician
• Walter Johnson, Hall of Fame baseball player
• Field Eugene Kindley, aviator
• Omar Knedlik, inventor of the ICEE frozen drink
• Lafayette "Reb" Russell, football player and western movie actor
• Johnny Rutherford, race car driver
• Wendell Wilkie, 1940 Republican presidential candidate

Popular culture

Coffeyville is a featured location in the 2009 video game Call of Juarez : Bound in Blood.

In the 2002 movie, "Reign of Fire" character Denton Van Zan (Matthew McConaughey) realizes when and how to kill the dragons in the movie. "It was in a wheat field just south of Coffeyville, Kansas. It was late November. It's a month of mist. And we were caught in the open. The sun was setting behind us. There was nowhere to run. Twice it came in on us, and twice it missed the heart of us. And that's when I had an epiphany. You see, they have great vision...in the day. And they have even better vision at night. But in the failing light, they can't focus. Magic hour."^{[citation needed]}

Coffeyville is mentioned in the song Doolin–Dalton by The Eagles from their 1973 album, Desperado.

References

1. ^ "[Coffeyville] was incorporated in March, 1872, but the corporation was found to be illegal and it was again incorporated in March, 1873." —"Coffeyville History". City of Coffeyville. http://www.coffeyville.com/History.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-16. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table. Retrieved March 6, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
5. ^ Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City:Deseret Book, 1941) p. 391-392
6. ^ "Brownback, Roberts view flooded areas in Kansas". KansasCity.Com. http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/179324.html. Retrieved 2007-07-06. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "Fair Association Press Release". CoffeyvilleFlood.Com. http://www.coffeyvilleflood.com/?p=45. Retrieved 2007-07-07. 
8. ^ Coffeyville resilient after refinery flood; The Wichita Eagle; September 25, 2011.
9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
10. ^ Cadenhead, Rogers (2006-02-22). "All Google's Roads Lead to Kansas". Wired. http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/news/2006/02/70227. Retrieved 2009-09-03. 
11. ^ "Population Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php.  Annual estimates of the population to 2006-07-01. Released 2007-06-28. Population change is from 2000-07-01 to 2006-07-01.
12. ^ "Coffeyville schools". GreatSchools.net. http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/ks/district_profile/70/. Retrieved 2006-07-16. 
13. ^ http://www.ccc.cc.ks.us/academics/university_outreach.htm
14. ^ Greyhound Lines - Bus stops in Kansas

Further reading

• Cadenhead, Rogers (2006-02-22). "All Google's Roads Lead to Kansas". Wired News. http://www.wired.com/news/technology/internet/0,70227-0.html. Retrieved 2006-07-16.  Kristine Crispel's horse farm outside Coffeyville has the distinction of being the center of the world—according to Google.
• History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
• Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)

External links

Kansas portal

City

• City of Coffeyville
• Coffeyville - Directory of Public Officials

Schools

• USD 445, local school district

Historical

• Coffeyville, Kansas: The Town That Stopped the Dalton Gang, a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan

Maps

• Coffeyville City Map, KDOT
• Montgomery County Map, KDOT