Kiowa, Kansas

Not to be confused with Kiowa County, Kansas.

Kiowa, Kansas
City
Location within Barber County and Kansas
KDOT map of Barber County (legend)
Coordinates: 37°01′03″N98°29′05″W / 37.01750°N 98.48472°W / 37.01750; -98.48472 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Barber
Founded	1872
Incorporated	1885
Named for	Kiowa people
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
•  Mayor	Bill Watson [2]
Area [3]
• Total	1.11 sq mi (2.87 km2)
• Land	1.11 sq mi (2.87 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	1,332 ft (406 m)
Population  (2020) [4]
• Total	902
• Density	810/sq mi (310/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	67070
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-37125
GNIS ID	2395545 [1]
Website	kiowaks.org

Kiowa is a city in Barber County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 902. ^[4] It is located 1 mile north of the Kansas / Oklahoma state border.

History

19th century

Kiowa was founded in 1872. ^[5] It was named for the Kiowa people. ^{[6] [7]}

20th century

On June 7, 1900, anti-saloon advocate Carrie Nation vandalized her first saloon in Kiowa. ^[8] In 1910, Kiowa became a sundown town, having a sign at each of four roads into the city that read, "Niggers Read and Run", and Black residents were given 24 hours to leave town. ^[9]

In 1905, the Denver, Enid and Gulf Railroad was built from Enid, Oklahoma, to Kiowa. In 1907, it was sold to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. ^[10] In 1996, the line from Kiowa to Blanton, Oklahoma, was abandoned. ^[11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.07 square miles (2.77 km²), all of it land. ^[12]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	42		—
1890	893		2,026.2%
1900	765		−14.3%
1910	1,520		98.7%
1920	1,539		1.3%
1930	1,501		−2.5%
1940	1,379		−8.1%
1950	1,561		13.2%
1960	1,674		7.2%
1970	1,414		−15.5%
1980	1,409		−0.4%
1990	1,160		−17.7%
2000	1,055		−9.1%
2010	1,026		−2.7%
2020	902		−12.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 902 people, 404 households, and 230 families in Kiowa. ^{[13] [14]} The population density was 814.1 per square mile (314.3/km²). There were 552 housing units at an average density of 498.2 per square mile (192.4/km²). ^{[14] [15]} The racial makeup was 90.8% (819) white or European American (90.02% non-Hispanic white), 0.0% (0) black or African-American, 0.44% (4) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.44% (4) Asian, 0.44% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.88% (17) from other races, and 5.99% (54) from two or more races. ^[16] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.33% (30) of the population. ^[17]

Of the 404 households, 23.3% had children under the age of 18; 43.1% were married couples living together; 27.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 37.6% of households consisted of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. ^[14] The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.5. ^[18] The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 16.7% of the population. ^[19]

22.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. ^[14] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 103.2 males. ^[14]

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $51,667 (with a margin of error of +/- $11,439) and the median family income was $65,042 (+/- $7,840). ^[20] Males had a median income of $30,938 (+/- $10,887) versus $14,441 (+/- $5,956) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $24,571 (+/- $1,954). ^[21] Approximately, 6.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those ages 65 or over. ^{[22] [23]}

2010 census

As of the census ^[24] of 2010, there were 1,026 people, 466 households, and 273 families living in the city. The population density was 958.9 inhabitants per square mile (370.2/km²). There were 578 housing units at an average density of 540.2 per square mile (208.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% White, 0.2% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.

There were 466 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.4% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 46.9 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 23.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[25] of 2000, there were 1,055 people, 467 households, and 292 families living in the city. The population density was 995.3 inhabitants per square mile (384.3/km²). There were 569 housing units at an average density of 536.8 per square mile (207.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.83% White, 0.28% African American, 1.23% Native American, 1.71% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.27% of the population.

There were 467 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.0% 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 2.87.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,141, and the median income for a family was $41,806. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $21,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,670. About 9.7% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by South Barber USD 255 public school district. ^[26]

The Kiowa Chieftains won the Kansas State High School class B Track & Field championship in 1940. ^[27]

Media

Kiowa is served by a weekly newspaper, The Kiowa News. ^[28]

Infrastructure

K-2 and K-8 highways, and the Southern Transcon main line of BNSF Railway pass through Kiowa.

Notable people

• Marcellus Boss, the 5th Civilian Governor of Guam; former Kiowa city attorney.
• Charles E. Brown, Jr., Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Army.
• Bill Tidwell, four-time NAIA middle distance champion at Kansas State Teachers College (ESU), then coach and athletic director
• James Wilson, former Colorado State Representative

See also

• List of sundown towns in the United States
• RSI Corporation

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kiowa, Kansas
2. "Governing Body". City of Kiowa. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
4. "Profile of Kiowa, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
5. Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. pp.  144.
6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  176.
7. "Profile for Kiowa, Kansas". ePodunk. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
8. "Carry A. Nation (1846 – 1911)". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
9. "Niggers Read and Run". The Chanute Times. Wichita, Kansas. December 2, 1910. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe / Denver, Enid & Gulf / Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe / Kansas City, Mexico, & Orient / Oklahoma Central / San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley 2-6-0 "Mogul" Locomotives in the USA". www.steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
11. The Surface Transportation Board. "Docket Number: AB_480_0_X" . Retrieved June 23, 2016.
12. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
13. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
14. "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
15. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
16. "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
17. "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
18. "US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
19. "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
20. "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
21. "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
22. "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
23. "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
24. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
25. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
26. "South Barber". USD 255. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
27. "Track & Field". KSHSAA. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
28. "Homepage". The Kiowa News. Retrieved June 4, 2014.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Barber County, Kansas

External links

• City of Kiowa
• Kiowa - Directory of Public Officials
• USD 255, local school district
• Kiowa, Barber County, Kansas Barber County, Kansas: History and Genealogy
• Kiowa city map, KDOT