Gem, Kansas

Gem, Kansas
City
Location within Thomas County and Kansas
KDOT map of Thomas County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°25′34″N100°53′50″W / 39.42611°N 100.89722°W / 39.42611; -100.89722 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Thomas
Founded	1880s
Incorporated	1926
Named for	Gem Ranch
Area [2]
• Total	0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2)
• Land	0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	3,091 ft (942 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	98
• Density	300/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	67734
Area code	785
FIPS code	20-26050 [1]
GNIS ID	2394870 [1]

Gem is a city in Thomas County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 98. ^[3]

History

Gem was a shipping point on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. ^[4] The town was named from the Gem Ranch. ^[5]

The first post office in Gem was established in 1885. ^[6] It was closed in March 2014.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.33 square miles (0.85 km²), all of it land. ^[7]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1930	200		—
1940	125		−37.5%
1950	118		−5.6%
1960	116		−1.7%
1970	80		−31.0%
1980	101		26.3%
1990	104		3.0%
2000	96		−7.7%
2010	88		−8.3%
2020	98		11.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 98 people, 37 households, and 28 families in Gem. ^{[8] [9]} The population density was 293.4 per square mile (113.3/km²). There were 38 housing units at an average density of 113.8 per square mile (43.9/km²). ^{[9] [10]} The racial makeup was 88.78% (87) white or European American (86.73% non-Hispanic white), 1.02% (1) black or African-American, 0.0% (0) Native American or Alaska Native, 3.06% (3) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.0% (0) from other races, and 7.14% (7) from two or more races. ^[11] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 5.1% (5) of the population. ^[12]

Of the 37 households, 40.5% had children under the age of 18; 62.2% were married couples living together; 18.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 16.2% of households consisted of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. ^[9] The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.1. ^[13] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 8.2% of the population. ^[14]

28.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.5 males. ^[9] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 94.4 males. ^[9]

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $65,000 (with a margin of error of +/- $44,420) and the median family income was $80,000 (+/- $77,438). ^[15] Males had a median income of $73,750 (+/- $56,867) versus $38,750 (+/- $25,098) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $55,625 (+/- $21,740). ^[16] Approximately, 26.5% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.6% of those under the age of 18 and 20.0% of those ages 65 or over. ^{[17] [18]}

2010 census

As of the census ^[19] of 2010, there were 88 people, 36 households, and 26 families residing in the city. The population density was 266.7 inhabitants per square mile (103.0/km²). There were 43 housing units at an average density of 130.3 per square mile (50.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% White.

There were 36 households, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 37 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 1.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.3% male and 47.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[20] of 2000, there were 96 people, 39 households, and 24 families residing in the city. The population density was 294.9 inhabitants per square mile (113.9/km²). There were 47 housing units at an average density of 144.4 per square mile (55.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.96% White, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.

There were 39 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 128.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,500, and the median income for a family was $45,417. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,805. There were no families and 8.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Cemetery

The Gem Cemetery is on the west side of the city. Situated in the middle of the cemetery is a fenced-in area containing the headstones of the once-prominent Houston family. This family was rich in past years, when Gem was larger than it is now, but even their house has since been removed from the city.^{[ citation needed ]}

Education

The community is served by Colby USD 315 public school district.

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Gem, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of Gem, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 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.  727.
5. "Profile for Gem, Kansas". ePodunk. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
6. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
8. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
9. "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
10. Bureau, US Census. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
11. "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
12. "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
13. "US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
14. "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
15. "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
16. "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
17. "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
18. "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
20. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Thomas County, Kansas

External links

• Gem - Directory of Public Officials
• Gem city map, KDOT