Centralia, Kansas

Centralia, Kansas
City
Location within Nemaha County and Kansas
KDOT map of Nemaha County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°43′28″N96°07′48″W / 39.72444°N 96.13000°W / 39.72444; -96.13000 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Nemaha
Founded	1859
Incorporated	1882
Area [2]
• Total	0.45 sq mi (1.17 km2)
• Land	0.45 sq mi (1.17 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	1,296 ft (395 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	485
• Density	1,100/sq mi (410/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66415
Area code	785
FIPS code	20-12425
GNIS ID	2393790 [1]
Website	cityofcentraliaks.org

Centralia is a city in Nemaha County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 485. ^[3]

History

Centralia was founded in 1859, one mile north of the present town. When a railroad was built through the territory in 1867, Centralia was moved to the site. ^[4] Centralia was incorporated in 1882. ^[5] One of the early residents of Centralia was Floyd Perry Baker, a Kansas politician and newspaper editor, who moved there with his family from Andrew County, Missouri around 1860.

In 1901, Centralia was the scene of violent conflicts between whites and African Americans. By this time, Centralia had a sundown town policy forbidding blacks from living in the area. ^[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.47 square miles (1.22 km²), all land. ^[7]

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Centralia has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps. ^[8]

Climate data for Centralia, Kansas
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	3 (37)	6 (43)	12 (54)	19 (66)	24 (75)	29 (85)	32 (90)	32 (89)	27 (81)	21 (69)	12 (53)	4 (40)	18 (65)
Average low °C (°F)	−9 (16)	−7 (20)	−1 (30)	5 (41)	11 (51)	16 (61)	19 (66)	18 (64)	13 (56)	7 (44)	−1 (31)	−7 (20)	6 (42)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	23 (0.9)	28 (1.1)	51 (2)	74 (2.9)	110 (4.4)	130 (5.1)	100 (4)	100 (4)	99 (3.9)	64 (2.5)	43 (1.7)	25 (1)	850 (33.5)
Source: Weatherbase [9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	289		—
1890	534		84.8%
1900	655		22.7%
1910	665		1.5%
1920	619		−6.9%
1930	682		10.2%
1940	607		−11.0%
1950	574		−5.4%
1960	527		−8.2%
1970	511		−3.0%
1980	486		−4.9%
1990	452		−7.0%
2000	534		18.1%
2010	512		−4.1%
2020	485		−5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census ^[10] of 2010, there were 512 people, 201 households, and 123 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,089.4 inhabitants per square mile (420.6/km²). There were 238 housing units at an average density of 506.4 per square mile (195.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.5% White, 1.2% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 201 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.8% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age in the city was 40.1 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[11] of 2000, there were 534 people, 216 households, and 127 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,186.0 inhabitants per square mile (457.9/km²). There were 235 housing units at an average density of 521.9 per square mile (201.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.82% White, 0.19% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.81% of the population.

There were 216 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 28.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 30.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,240, and the median income for a family was $32,625. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $16,591 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,813. About 8.0% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Floyd Baker, Kansas politician, lawyer, newspaper editor
• John Riggins, NFL running back

See also

• Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Centralia, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of Centralia, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
4. Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. pp.  249.
5. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  307.
6. "Negroes Hold a Town". Ottawa County Index. Minneapolis, Kansas. October 3, 1901. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com. The little town of Centralia, Kan., is in the hands of a mob of negroes. The cause of the trouble grew out of the action of a number of citizens of Centralia, making an attack on the home of a negro by the name of Whitmire and firing several shots through the roof of his house and finally destroying his home and compelling the negroes to flee in the night for safety. No negroes are allowed to live in the vicinity of Centralia. The negroes returned in large numbers and rode up and down the streets firing their guns at random, driving all the whites indoors.
7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
8. Climate Summary for Centralia, Kansas
9. "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2013. Retrieved on October 4, 2013.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

External links

• Official website
• Centralia - Directory of Public Officials
• USD 380, local school district
• Centralia city map, KDOT