Meriden, Kansas

Meriden, Kansas
City
Downtown Meriden (2023)
Location within Jefferson County and Kansas
KDOT map of Jefferson County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°11.4′N95°34.1′W / 39.1900°N 95.5683°W / 39.1900; -95.5683 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Jefferson
Founded	1872
Incorporated	1891
Named for	Meriden, New Hampshire
Area [2]
• Total	0.77 sq mi (1.98 km2)
• Land	0.76 sq mi (1.96 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation [1]	974 ft (297 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	744
• Density	970/sq mi (380/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66512
Area code	785
FIPS code	20-45950 [1]
GNIS ID	478474 [1]
Website	meridenks.com

Meriden is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 744. ^[3]

History

Meriden was founded in 1872. ^[4] It was named by a pioneer settler for his former hometown of Meriden, New Hampshire. ^[5]

Several streets in Meriden are named after early settlers. Owens Street is named after Albert Owens, whom owned the land that Meriden was originally platted on in 1872. Dawson Street is named after Dr. A. Dawson, who was the first to build a dwelling in Meriden. ^[6]

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad originally went through the town. A depot was built in 1873. The railroad officially ceased operations on December 31, 1996. Today, there are little remnants left of the railroad line besides a few old train bridges on private property in the surrounding area. ^[7]

Geography

Meriden is located at 39°11.4′N95°34.1′W / 39.1900°N 95.5683°W / 39.1900; -95.5683 (39.1890, -95.5684). ^[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.79 square miles (2.05 km²), of which 0.78 square miles (2.02 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water. ^[9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	103		—
1900	433		—
1910	467		7.9%
1920	422		−9.6%
1930	390		−7.6%
1940	421		7.9%
1950	378		−10.2%
1960	402		6.3%
1970	472		17.4%
1980	707		49.8%
1990	622		−12.0%
2000	706		13.5%
2010	813		15.2%
2020	744		−8.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

Meriden is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census

As of the census ^[10] of 2010, there were 813 people, 315 households, and 215 families living in the city. The population density was 1,042.3 inhabitants per square mile (402.4/km²). There were 336 housing units at an average density of 430.8 per square mile (166.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.8% White, 1.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 315 households, of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 9.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 30.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 8.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.2% male and 48.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[11] of 2000, there were 706 people, 260 households, and 198 families living in the city. The population density was 1,986.0 inhabitants per square mile (766.8/km²). There were 279 housing units at an average density of 784.8 per square mile (303.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.17% White, 0.99% Native American, 0.14% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.

There were 260 households, out of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,221, and the median income for a family was $45,278. Males had a median income of $35,515 versus $25,769 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,008. About 4.5% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by Jefferson West USD 340 public school district.

References

1. "Meriden, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System , United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of Meriden, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 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.  209.
5. Capace, Nancy (2000). Encyclopedia of Kansas. Somerset Publishers. p. 235. ISBN   9780403093120.
6. https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/1912/m/meriden.html
7. https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/1912/m/meriden.html
8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

External links

• City of Meriden
• Meriden - Directory of Public Officials
• Meriden City Map, KDOT