Pleasanton, Kansas

Pleasanton, Kansas
City
Location within Linn County and Kansas
KDOT map of Linn County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°10′44″N94°42′19″W / 38.17889°N 94.70528°W / 38.17889; -94.70528 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Linn
Founded	1869
Incorporated	1878
Named for	General Alfred Pleasonton
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council-Manager
Area [2]
• Total	2.34 sq mi (6.05 km2)
• Land	2.08 sq mi (5.39 km2)
• Water	0.25 sq mi (0.66 km2)
Elevation [1]	850 ft (260 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	1,208
• Density	520/sq mi (200/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66075
Area code	913
FIPS code	20-56450
GNIS ID	2396236 [1]
Website	pleasantonks.com

Pleasanton is a city in Linn County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,208. ^[3]

History

In 1864, General Alfred Pleasonton defeated the Confederates in the Battle of Mine Creek near present-day Pleasanton. This battle, involving 25,000 men, resulted in a Union victory which ended the threat of Confederate invasion in Kansas.

Pleasanton had its start in the year 1869 by the building of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad through that territory. ^[4] It was named in honor of General Alfred Pleasonton, though the city name is spelled differently. ^[5]

The first post office in Pleasanton was established in August 1869. ^[6]

Pleasanton's first church, namely the Fairmount Church, was constructed in 1884. On April 27, 2014 the church was destroyed by an EF2 tornado which also severely damaged the town's cemetery. ^{[7] [8]}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.05 square miles (5.31 km²), of which 1.80 square miles (4.66 km²) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km²) is water. ^[9]

Pleasanton is approximately 67 miles (108 km) south of Kansas City.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Pleasanton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	709		—
1890	1,139		60.6%
1900	1,097		−3.7%
1910	1,373		25.2%
1920	1,291		−6.0%
1930	1,214		−6.0%
1940	1,227		1.1%
1950	1,178		−4.0%
1960	1,098		−6.8%
1970	1,216		10.7%
1980	1,303		7.2%
1990	1,231		−5.5%
2000	1,387		12.7%
2010	1,216		−12.3%
2020	1,208		−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census ^[11] of 2010, there were 1,216 people, 528 households, and 324 families residing in the city. The population density was 675.6 inhabitants per square mile (260.9/km²). There were 607 housing units at an average density of 337.2 per square mile (130.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% White, 0.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 528 households, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 38 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.1% male and 54.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2000, there were 1,387 people, 562 households, and 384 families residing in the city. The population density was 846.8 inhabitants per square mile (327.0/km²). There were 617 housing units at an average density of 376.7 per square mile (145.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.76% White, 0.65% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.

There were 562 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,714, and the median income for a family was $32,014. Males had a median income of $24,917 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,309. About 18.8% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by Pleasanton USD 344 public school district.

• Pleasanton High School, mascot the "Blu-Jays".
• Pleasanton Public Library

Museums

• Pleasanton Antique Car Museum
• Linn County Museum
• Carpenter's Ol' Iron Motorcycle Museum

Media

• Linn County Newspaper
• KPIO-FM 93.7 - Religious Network

Local networks that serve the Linn County, Kansas area include KCTV 5, Kansas City 41 Action News, KMBC-TV, WDAF-TV, The Four States Network, and KTWU-Topeka.

Notable people

• Carl Hall - executed for kidnapping and murder in the 1953 Kidnapping of Bobby Greenlease
• Julius Holmes - Assistant Secretary of State and United States Ambassador to Iran
• Stephen Johnson - music video director; graduated from Pleasanton High School

See also

• Potosi's post
• Camp Defiance

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pleasanton, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of Pleasanton, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
4. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  482.
5. General Pleasonton Days set for Oct. 6, 7, Fort Scott Tribune , 2007-10-03. Accessed 2008-06-02.
6. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
7. "April 27, 2014 Bourbon and Linn County Tornado". National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
8. Augustine, Martin. "Tornado flattens historic church in southeast Kan". KMBC9. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
10. Climate Summary for Pleasanton, Kansas
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 6, 2012.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Linn County, Kansas

External links

City

• City of Pleasanton
• Pleasanton - Directory of Public Officials

Schools

• USD 344, local school district

Historical photos

• Photos of Mine Creek Battlefield, Civil War location, near Pleasanton: 1, 2
• Photos in Pleasanton: 1, 2, 3

Maps

• Pleasanton city map, KDOT