Mahaska, Kansas

Mahaska, Kansas
City
Location within Washington County and Kansas
KDOT map of Washington County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°59′14″N97°21′13″W / 39.98722°N 97.35361°W / 39.98722; -97.35361 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Washington
Founded	1887
Incorporated	1909
Named for	Chief Mahaska
Area [2]
• Total	0.22 sq mi (0.58 km2)
• Land	0.22 sq mi (0.58 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	1,601 ft (488 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	46
• Density	210/sq mi (79/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66955
Area code	785
FIPS code	20-44150
GNIS ID	2395816 [1]

Mahaska is a city in Washington County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 46. ^[3] It is located 1 mile south of the Nebraska state line.

History

Mahaska was founded in 1887 by L. Bonham. ^[4] It was likely named for Chief Mahaska. ^[5]

The first post office in Mahaska was established in December 1887. ^[6]

In 1854, the Sixth Principal Meridian or 40th Parallel, approximately 1 mile northwest of the present day Mahaska. Originally marked in 1856, this site was the beginning point for land surveys for all land in Kansas, Nebraska, three-fourths of Colorado, most of Wyoming, and part of South Dakota. The original marker was rediscovered in 1976, then a new monument was dedicated in 1987. ^[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.25 square miles (0.65 km²), all of it land. ^[7] The community is approximately 1.0 mile (1.6 km) south of the Kansas-Nebraska state line.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	246		—
1920	210		−14.6%
1930	218		3.8%
1940	195		−10.6%
1950	179		−8.2%
1960	160		−10.6%
1970	122		−23.7%
1980	119		−2.5%
1990	98		−17.6%
2000	107		9.2%
2010	83		−22.4%
2020	46		−44.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census ^[8] of 2010, there were 83 people, 30 households, and 23 families residing in the city. The population density was 332.0 inhabitants per square mile (128.2/km²). There were 47 housing units at an average density of 188.0 per square mile (72.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.6% White and 2.4% from two or more races.

There were 30 households, of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.22.

The median age in the city was 37.5 years. 33.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.8% were from 25 to 44; 16.8% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 54.2% male and 45.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[9] of 2000, there were 107 people, 39 households, and 31 families residing in the city. The population density was 430.8 inhabitants per square mile (166.3/km²). There were 49 housing units at an average density of 197.3 per square mile (76.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.46% White, 0.93% African American, 1.87% Native American, and 3.74% from two or more races.

There were 39 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.1% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,375, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $19,583 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,162. There were 19.2% of families and 21.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including 30.4% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Education

The community is served by Washington County USD 108 public school district, ^[10] which formed in 2006 by the consolidation of North Central USD 221 and Washington USD 222. ^[11] The Washington County High School mascot is Tigers. ^[12]

Mahaska High School was closed through school unification. The Mahaska High School mascot was Mahaska Cardinals. ^[13]

Notable people

• Charles McAtee - former director of Kansas prison system

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Kansas

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mahaska, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of Mahaska, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
4. Mahaska City Website
5. Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. pp.  312.
6. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2". 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 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. "USD 108 Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation . Retrieved April 29, 2020.
11. "School consolidations in Kansas for past decade". The Topeka Capital-Journal . July 24, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
12. "Washington Co. USD 108". USD 108. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
13. "MAHASKA UNBEATEN", The Belleville Telescope, 12 January 1961, p.8.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Washington County, Kansas

External links

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