Elgin, Kansas

Elgin, Kansas
City
Location within Chautauqua County and Kansas
KDOT map of Chautauqua County (legend)
Coordinates: 37°00′06″N96°16′50″W / 37.00167°N 96.28056°W / 37.00167; -96.28056 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Chautauqua
Founded	1869
Incorporated	1919
Area [2]
• Total	0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2)
• Land	0.20 sq mi (0.50 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	787 ft (240 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	60
• Density	300/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-20125
GNIS ID	2394644 [1]

Elgin is a city in Chautauqua County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 60. ^[3] The south edge of the city is the Kansas-Oklahoma state line.

History

Elgin was founded in 1869. ^[4] It was once a stop on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad and one of the world's busiest cattle shipping towns. L. P. Getman established the first store in the county, at Elgin, and John Lee, William Gamble and Beadle Welsh started the first saw mill at the same place, which they brought from Wisconsin in 1870. ^[5] After the decline of the cattle shipping business, it was sustained by an oil boom that lasted until the mid-1920s.

The post office in Elgin was discontinued in 1976. ^[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.20 square miles (0.52 km²), all of it land. ^[7]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	55		—
1920	600		—
1930	446		−25.7%
1940	336		−24.7%
1950	212		−36.9%
1960	143		−32.5%
1970	115		−19.6%
1980	139		20.9%
1990	118		−15.1%
2000	82		−30.5%
2010	89		8.5%
2020	60		−32.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census ^[8] of 2010, there were 89 people, 40 households, and 24 families residing in the city. The population density was 445.0 inhabitants per square mile (171.8/km²). There were 57 housing units at an average density of 285.0 per square mile (110.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.8% White, 3.4% Native American, and 7.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 40 households, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 10.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.0% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 44.5 years. 15.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 20.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.9% male and 46.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[9] of 2000, there were 82 people, 44 households, and 22 families residing in the city. The population density was 441.8 inhabitants per square mile (170.6/km²). There were 54 housing units at an average density of 290.9 per square mile (112.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.46% White and 8.54% Native American.

There were 44 households, out of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 50.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 29.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.86 and the average family size was 2.59.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 17.1% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 30.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $14,500, and the median income for a family was $21,563. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $14,583 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,993. There were 21.1% of families and 17.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 20.7% of those over 64.

Education

Elgin is served by Chautauqua County USD 286 public school district, and its Sedan Jr/Sr High School is located in Sedan. ^[10]

Notable people

• Louis F. Burns, Osage Indian historian and author

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Elgin, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of Elgin, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
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.  572.
5. Cutler, William (1883). History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, IL: A. T. Andreas.
6. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
10. "Home Page". Chautauqua County USD 286. February 13, 2023.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Chautauqua County, Kansas

External links

• Elgin - Directory of Public Officials
• USD 286, local school district
• Photos of Elgin
• Elgin city map, KDOT