St. Francis, Kansas

St. Francis, Kansas
City and County seat
Cheyenne County Courthouse (2010)
Location within Cheyenne County and Kansas
KDOT map of Cheyenne County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°46′17″N101°48′05″W / 39.77139°N 101.80139°W / 39.77139; -101.80139 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Cheyenne
Founded	1887
Incorporated	1903
Area [2]
• Total	0.86 sq mi (2.22 km2)
• Land	0.86 sq mi (2.22 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	3,320 ft (1,010 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	1,263
• Density	1,500/sq mi (570/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	67756
Area code	785
FIPS code	20-62175
GNIS ID	2396488 [1]
Website	stfranciskansas.com

St. Francis is a city in and the county seat of Cheyenne County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,263. ^[3]

History

St. Francis was founded in 1887. ^[4] The city may have been named for the wife of its founder. ^[5]

In June 1903 a total of eight people were killed near St Francis in a conflict over a cattle fence. The Berry family had taken to cutting the fence to gain access to the road to town. Cattlemen employed by the Dewar Cattle Company came across the family while they were cutting the fence. They attacked, pursuing the settlers to their home. In total five member of the Berry family were killed along with three cowboys. ^[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.87 square miles (2.25 km²), all of it land. ^[7]

Climate

St. Francis experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.

Climate data for St. Francis, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1908–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	81 (27)	83 (28)	92 (33)	97 (36)	103 (39)	110 (43)	111 (44)	110 (43)	105 (41)	104 (40)	89 (32)	80 (27)	111 (44)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	66.4 (19.1)	70.4 (21.3)	80.9 (27.2)	87.1 (30.6)	94.1 (34.5)	102.2 (39.0)	103.8 (39.9)	101.5 (38.6)	97.6 (36.4)	90.1 (32.3)	78.4 (25.8)	68.4 (20.2)	105.2 (40.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	43.4 (6.3)	46.1 (7.8)	56.5 (13.6)	64.5 (18.1)	74.1 (23.4)	86.2 (30.1)	91.7 (33.2)	89.3 (31.8)	81.5 (27.5)	67.9 (19.9)	54.5 (12.5)	44.5 (6.9)	66.7 (19.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)	29.4 (−1.4)	31.8 (−0.1)	41.4 (5.2)	49.6 (9.8)	60.0 (15.6)	71.6 (22.0)	77.1 (25.1)	74.8 (23.8)	65.9 (18.8)	51.9 (11.1)	39.4 (4.1)	30.4 (−0.9)	51.9 (11.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	15.3 (−9.3)	17.6 (−8.0)	26.3 (−3.2)	34.8 (1.6)	45.9 (7.7)	57.1 (13.9)	62.6 (17.0)	60.3 (15.7)	50.3 (10.2)	35.9 (2.2)	24.4 (−4.2)	16.2 (−8.8)	37.2 (2.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−4.3 (−20.2)	0.0 (−17.8)	8.5 (−13.1)	21.3 (−5.9)	31.2 (−0.4)	44.9 (7.2)	53.5 (11.9)	50.2 (10.1)	36.4 (2.4)	19.8 (−6.8)	8.8 (−12.9)	−2.1 (−18.9)	−9.9 (−23.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−28 (−33)	−28 (−33)	−20 (−29)	0 (−18)	17 (−8)	33 (1)	41 (5)	33 (1)	18 (−8)	0 (−18)	−9 (−23)	−31 (−35)	−31 (−35)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.38 (9.7)	0.44 (11)	0.72 (18)	1.63 (41)	2.43 (62)	2.42 (61)	2.89 (73)	2.92 (74)	1.49 (38)	1.29 (33)	0.50 (13)	0.45 (11)	17.56 (444.7)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	4.6 (12)	4.5 (11)	2.9 (7.4)	1.7 (4.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.3 (0.76)	0.9 (2.3)	2.0 (5.1)	2.9 (7.4)	19.8 (50.26)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	2.7	3.1	3.8	6.1	7.6	7.9	8.1	6.8	4.1	4.4	3.0	2.4	60.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	1.8	1.6	1.3	0.7	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	1.0	1.7	8.5
Source 1: NOAA [8]
Source 2: National Weather Service [9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	492		—
1920	733		49.0%
1930	944		28.8%
1940	1,041		10.3%
1950	1,892		81.7%
1960	1,594		−15.8%
1970	1,725		8.2%
1980	1,610		−6.7%
1990	1,495		−7.1%
2000	1,497		0.1%
2010	1,329		−11.2%
2020	1,263		−5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, ^[10] there were 1,329 people, 650 households and 357 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,527.6 per square mile (589.8/km²). There were 768 housing units at an average density of 882.8 per square mile (340.9/km²). The racial make-up of the city was 98.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.

There were 650 households, of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present and 45.1% were non-families. 42.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.67.

The median age was 51.7 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24, 17.8% were from 25 to 44, 26.8% were from 45 to 64 and 31.8% were 65 years of age or older. The sex ratio was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[11] there were 1,497 people, 669 households and 426 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,771.2 per square mile (683.9/km²). There were 766 housing units at an average density of 906.3 per square mile (349.9/km²). The racial make-up of the city was 97.80% White, 0.20% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.27% of the population.

There were 669 households, of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 36.2% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.8% 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 2.76.

21.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64 and 31.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median household income was $30,842 and the median family income was $36,250. Males had a median income of $25,484 and females $19,167. The per capita income was $16,714. About 8.9% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by St. Francis USD 297 public school district.

Notable people

• Ron Evans, astronaut and, as a member of Apollo 17, one of 24 people to have orbited the Moon
• Ray Stafford, Olympian

See also

• Burns, Kansas, was originally named St. Francis

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: St. Francis, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of St. Francis, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
4. Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. pp.  159.
   - Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History. Vol. 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  619.
5. "Profile for Saint Francis, Kansas". ePodunk . Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved June 27, 2022.^{[ unreliable source? ]}
6. "Farmers and Cowboys Fight". New York Times. June 5, 1903. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
8. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Saint Francis, KS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
9. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Goodland". National Weather Service. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
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.

Further reading

• Kansas portal

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

See also: List of books about Cheyenne County, Kansas

External links

• City of St. Francis
• St. Francis - Directory of Public Officials
• St. Francis USD 297, local school district
• St. Francis City Map, KDOT