Elk Falls, Kansas

"Elk Falls" redirects here. For other uses, see Elk Falls (disambiguation).

Elk Falls, Kansas
City
Location within Elk County and Kansas
KDOT map of Elk County (legend)
Coordinates: 37°22′24″N96°11′36″W / 37.37333°N 96.19333°W / 37.37333; -96.19333 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Elk
Founded	1870
Incorporated	1887 [2]
Named for	Falls on Elk River
Government [2]
• Type	Mayor–Council
Area [3]
• Total	0.73 sq mi (1.89 km2)
• Land	0.73 sq mi (1.88 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	965 ft (294 m)
Population  (2020) [4]
• Total	113
• Density	150/sq mi (60/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	67345
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-20300
GNIS ID	2394648 [1]

Elk Falls is a city in Elk County, Kansas, United States, ^[1] along the Elk River. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 113. ^[4]

History

The first European-American house was built at Elk Falls in 1870, and a post office was opened that same year. ^[5] Elk Falls was named for a waterfall on the Elk River, near where the town developed. ^[6] Two early settlers in the rural community were the widow Prudence Crandall (who took back her maiden name after her husband died), an educator from Connecticut who had established the Canterbury Female Boarding School in the 1830s for African-American girls and young women; and her brother Hezekiah. They both died here and were buried in the town cemetery. ^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.87 square miles (2.25 km²), of which, 0.86 square miles (2.23 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water. ^[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	513		—
1890	350		−31.8%
1910	271		—
1920	203		−25.1%
1930	288		41.9%
1940	294		2.1%
1950	276		−6.1%
1960	179		−35.1%
1970	124		−30.7%
1980	151		21.8%
1990	122		−19.2%
2000	112		−8.2%
2010	107		−4.5%
2020	113		5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census ^[9] of 2010, there were 107 people, 54 households, and 33 families residing in the city. The population density was 124.4 inhabitants per square mile (48.0/km²). There were 68 housing units at an average density of 79.1 per square mile (30.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.5% White, 1.9% Native American, 0.9% Asian, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 54 households, of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.52.

The median age in the city was 52.9 years. 16.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 2.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 9.3% were from 25 to 44; 42.9% were from 45 to 64; and 28% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.8% male and 54.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[10] of 2000, there were 112 people, 51 households, and 32 families residing in the city. The population density was 128.5 inhabitants per square mile (49.6/km²). There were 74 housing units at an average density of 84.9 per square mile (32.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.86% White, 0.89% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.89% from other races, and 4.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.57% of the population.

There were 51 households, out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 2.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.6% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 37.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,893, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $20,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,817. There were 6.7% of families and 2.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Education

The community is served by West Elk USD 282 public school district. West Elk High School is located in Howard. The West Elk High School mascot is Patriots. ^[11]

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Elk Falls, Kansas
2. "City of Elk Falls". The League of Kansas Municipalities. May 29, 2019.
3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
4. "Profile of Elk Falls, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
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.  575.
6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  117.
7. "Prudence Crandall Interstate Memorial Marker", Travel Kansas
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "West Elk Schools". USD 282. Retrieved January 4, 2017.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Elk County, Kansas

External links

• Elk Falls - Directory of Public Officials
• Elk Falls city map, KDOT