Cimarron, Kansas

Cimarron, Kansas
City and County seat
Historic 1886 Cimarron Hotel
Flag
Location within Gray County and Kansas
KDOT map of Gray County (legend)
Coordinates: 37°48′35″N100°20′43″W / 37.80972°N 100.34528°W / 37.80972; -100.34528 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Gray
Founded	1878
Incorporated	1885
Named for	Fork in Chisholm Trail towards Cimarron River
Area [2]
• Total	1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2)
• Land	1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	2,687 ft (819 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	1,981
• Density	1,700/sq mi (660/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	67835
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-13275
GNIS ID	2393524 [1]
Website	cimarronks.org

Cimarron is a city in and the county seat of Gray County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,981. ^[3] It is located along Highway 50.

History

Main Street (1914)

Cimarron was first settled in 1878. ^[4] It took its name from a fork in the Chisholm Trail which led travelers to the Cimarron River. ^[5]

Between 1887 and 1893, a county seat war took place in Gray County that involved several notable Old West figures, such as Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, and Ben Daniels. As a result of the dispute, Cimarron became the permanent county seat of Gray County. ^[6]

In the wee hours of June 10, 1893, Bill Doolin and four members of his gang robbed a train one-half mile east of Cimarron. ^[7]

In 2016 the Southwest Chief owned by Amtrak derailed, and Amtrak and BNSF filed a lawsuit against one of the companies in Cimarron for damaging the rails by a road vehicle.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.14 square miles (2.95 km²), all of it land. ^[8]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Cimarron has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. ^[9]

Climate data for Cimarron, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1911–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	80 (27)	89 (32)	95 (35)	99 (37)	106 (41)	110 (43)	111 (44)	111 (44)	115 (46)	100 (38)	92 (33)	86 (30)	115 (46)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	67.8 (19.9)	74.0 (23.3)	83.2 (28.4)	89.3 (31.8)	95.0 (35.0)	100.1 (37.8)	102.8 (39.3)	100.8 (38.2)	98.2 (36.8)	92.0 (33.3)	78.2 (25.7)	67.3 (19.6)	103.8 (39.9)
Average high °F (°C)	44.6 (7.0)	48.5 (9.2)	58.6 (14.8)	67.6 (19.8)	77.6 (25.3)	87.7 (30.9)	92.8 (33.8)	90.2 (32.3)	83.4 (28.6)	70.6 (21.4)	56.7 (13.7)	45.7 (7.6)	68.7 (20.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)	31.5 (−0.3)	34.8 (1.6)	44.4 (6.9)	53.5 (11.9)	64.2 (17.9)	74.7 (23.7)	79.8 (26.6)	77.4 (25.2)	69.6 (20.9)	56.2 (13.4)	43.0 (6.1)	32.8 (0.4)	55.2 (12.9)
Average low °F (°C)	18.3 (−7.6)	21.1 (−6.1)	30.2 (−1.0)	39.4 (4.1)	50.9 (10.5)	61.7 (16.5)	66.8 (19.3)	64.6 (18.1)	55.9 (13.3)	41.9 (5.5)	29.3 (−1.5)	20.0 (−6.7)	41.7 (5.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	1.2 (−17.1)	4.2 (−15.4)	11.7 (−11.3)	23.2 (−4.9)	35.5 (1.9)	48.7 (9.3)	56.1 (13.4)	54.6 (12.6)	40.0 (4.4)	24.0 (−4.4)	11.7 (−11.3)	2.6 (−16.3)	−4.2 (−20.1)
Record low °F (°C)	−20 (−29)	−19 (−28)	−19 (−28)	7 (−14)	26 (−3)	34 (1)	43 (6)	41 (5)	25 (−4)	8 (−13)	−7 (−22)	−21 (−29)	−21 (−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.56 (14)	0.60 (15)	1.43 (36)	1.82 (46)	2.75 (70)	3.49 (89)	3.23 (82)	2.96 (75)	1.33 (34)	1.87 (47)	0.67 (17)	0.90 (23)	21.61 (548)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	3.9 (9.9)	3.8 (9.7)	3.1 (7.9)	0.7 (1.8)	0.1 (0.25)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.5 (1.3)	1.4 (3.6)	3.8 (9.7)	17.3 (44.15)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	2.7	3.4	4.7	6.0	8.1	7.9	6.8	7.3	4.6	5.1	3.1	3.7	63.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	2.0	2.2	1.5	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.9	2.4	9.7
Source 1: NOAA [10]
Source 2: National Weather Service [11]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	237		—
1910	587		147.7%
1920	599		2.0%
1930	1,035		72.8%
1940	1,004		−3.0%
1950	1,189		18.4%
1960	1,115		−6.2%
1970	1,373		23.1%
1980	1,491		8.6%
1990	1,626		9.1%
2000	1,934		18.9%
2010	2,184		12.9%
2020	1,981		−9.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2010, there were 2,184 people, 789 households, and 569 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,915.8 inhabitants per square mile (739.7/km²). There were 842 housing units at an average density of 738.6 per square mile (285.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 5.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.1% of the population.

There were 789 households, of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.9% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.27.

The median age in the city was 33.6 years. 32.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64; and 11.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 1,934 people, 720 households, and 526 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,119.9 inhabitants per square mile (818.5/km²). There were 749 housing units at an average density of 821.0 per square mile (317.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.50% White, 0.41% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.86% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.82% of the population.

There were 720 households, out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,379, and the median income for a family was $48,636. Males had a median income of $31,402 versus $21,406 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,970. About 4.6% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by Cimarron–Ensign USD 102 public school district.

Transportation

• Cimarron Municipal Airport

Notable people

• Ian Campbell, former defensive end for Kansas State University
• Nicholas Klaine, journalist (editor of the Dodge City Times and New West Echo), built the Cimarron Hotel

See also

• Kansas portal

• Battle of Cimarron
• Cimarron Hotel
• Old Gray County Courthouse
• Santa Fe Trail

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cimarron, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of Cimarron, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
4. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  349.
5. "Profile for Cimarron, Kansas". ePodunk . Retrieved June 10, 2014.
6. "Feudin' and Fightin' Friday: County Seat Wars - Diggin' History". Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
7. Bailey C. Hanes, Bill Doolin: Outlaw O.T., Norman, 1968, pages 79-85
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
9. Climate Summary for Cimarron, Kansas
10. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Cimarron, KS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
11. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Dodge City". National Weather Service. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

See also: List of books about Gray County, Kansas

External links

• City of Cimarron
• Cimarron – Directory of Public Officials
• USD 102, local school district
• Cimarron City Map, KDOT