Kensington, Kansas

Kensington, Kansas
City
Kensington in 2021
Location within Smith County and Kansas
KDOT map of Smith County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°46′00″N99°01′58″W / 39.76667°N 99.03278°W / 39.76667; -99.03278 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Smith
Founded	1887
Incorporated	1900
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
Area [2]
• Total	0.34 sq mi (0.87 km2)
• Land	0.34 sq mi (0.87 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	1,778 ft (542 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	399
• Density	1,200/sq mi (460/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66951
Area code	785
FIPS code	20-36550
GNIS ID	2395511 [1]
Website	kensingtonks.net

Kensington is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 399. ^[3]

History

(2021)

Kensington was founded circa 1887. ^[4] It was incorporated as a city in 1900. ^[5]

Kensington was considered a discordant community in 1892. Many of the husbands and wives lived apart from each other and the society was deemed "broken apart on the account of it". ^[6]

Kensington was located on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. ^[7]

The first post office in Kensington was established in January 1888. ^[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.36 square miles (0.93 km²), all land. ^[9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	497		—
1920	595		19.7%
1930	546		−8.2%
1940	597		9.3%
1950	635		6.4%
1960	619		−2.5%
1970	653		5.5%
1980	681		4.3%
1990	553		−18.8%
2000	529		−4.3%
2010	473		−10.6%
2020	399		−15.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 399 people, 181 households, and 109 families in Kensington. ^{[10] [11]} The population density was 1,191.0 per square mile (459.9/km²). There were 237 housing units at an average density of 707.5 per square mile (273.2/km²). ^{[11] [12]} The racial makeup was 94.74% (378) white or European American (94.74% non-Hispanic white), 0.75% (3) black or African-American, 0.25% (1) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.25% (1) Asian, 0.25% (1) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.25% (1) from other races, and 3.51% (14) from two or more races. ^[13] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 1.0% (4) of the population. ^[14]

Of the 181 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18; 49.2% were married couples living together; 25.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 38.7% of households consisted of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. ^[11] The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 2.8. ^[15] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 14.5% of the population. ^[16]

23.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 29.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. ^[11] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 109.7 males. ^[11]

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $52,083 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,186) and the median family income was $68,125 (+/- $24,243). ^[17] Males had a median income of $48,750 (+/- $9,723) versus $26,406 (+/- $8,666) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $35,819 (+/- $6,414). ^[18] Approximately, 1.4% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under the age of 18 and 3.6% of those ages 65 or over. ^{[19] [20]}

2010 census

As of the census ^[21] of 2010, there were 473 people, 203 households, and 126 families living in the city. The population density was 1,313.9 inhabitants per square mile (507.3/km²). There were 261 housing units at an average density of 725.0 per square mile (279.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.7% White, 0.2% Native American, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.2% of the population.

There were 203 households, of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.9% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 49.7 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 29% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.3% male and 53.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[22] of 2000, there were 529 people, 231 households, and 140 families living in the city. The population density was 1,652.0 inhabitants per square mile (637.8/km²). There were 264 housing units at an average density of 824.5 per square mile (318.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.35% White, 0.19% African American, 0.19% from other races, and 2.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 231 households, out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 27.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 32.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,219, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $16,607 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,131. About 3.4% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Kensington government consists of a mayor and five council members. The council meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 5:30PM. ^[23]

• City Hall, 101 S Main.

Education

The community is served by Thunder Ridge USD 110 public school district. ^[24] In 2008 West Smith County USD 238 and Eastern Heights USD 324 combined to form Thunder Ridge USD 110. ^[25] The Thunder Ridge High School mascot is the Thunder Ridge Longhorns. ^[26]

Prior to school unification, the Kensington High School mascot was Kensington Goldbugs. ^[27]

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kensington, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of Kensington, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 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.  301.
5. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  68.
6. "Chronicling America - The Library of Congress". chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
7. Gannett, Henry (1898). A Gazetteer of Kansas. Govt. Print. Off. p. 123.
8. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
10. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
11. "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
12. Bureau, US Census. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
13. "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
14. "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
15. "US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
16. "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
17. "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
18. "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
19. "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
20. "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
21. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
23. Kensington - Directory of Public Officials
24. "USD 110 Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. June 10, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
25. "School consolidations in Kansas for past decade". The Topeka Capital-Journal . July 24, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
26. "USD 110 Thunder Ridge". USD 110. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
27. "Kengsington Has 28 Candidates", The Salina Journal, 27 November 1962, p.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Smith County, Kansas

External links

• City of Kensington
• Kensington - Directory of Public Officials
• Kensington city map, KDOT