West Mineral, Kansas

West Mineral, Kansas
City
Big Brutus near West Mineral (2014)
Location within Cherokee County and Kansas
KDOT map of Cherokee County (legend)
Coordinates: 37°17′02″N94°55′36″W / 37.28389°N 94.92667°W / 37.28389; -94.92667 [1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Cherokee
Incorporated	1907
Named for	Coal
Area [2]
• Total	0.34 sq mi (0.87 km2)
• Land	0.34 sq mi (0.87 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [1]	906 ft (276 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	154
• Density	450/sq mi (180/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66782
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-77150
GNIS ID	2397270 [1]

West Mineral is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. ^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 154. ^[3] It is the home of Big Brutus, the second largest electric shovel in the world.

History

West Mineral was named from the coal mines found there. ^{[4] [5]} A post office was established in West Mineral in 1899. ^[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.34 square miles (0.88 km²), all land. ^[7]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	1,770		—
1920	938		−47.0%
1930	491		−47.7%
1940	486		−1.0%
1950	349		−28.2%
1960	262		−24.9%
1970	232		−11.5%
1980	229		−1.3%
1990	226		−1.3%
2000	243		7.5%
2010	185		−23.9%
2020	154		−16.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census ^[8] of 2010, there were 185 people, 81 households, and 49 families living in the city. The population density was 544.1 inhabitants per square mile (210.1/km²). There were 95 housing units at an average density of 279.4 per square mile (107.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 1.6% Native American, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 81 households, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.5% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 40.1 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[9] of 2000, there were 243 people, 100 households, and 73 families living in the city. The population density was 709.2 inhabitants per square mile (273.8/km²). There were 121 housing units at an average density of 353.2 per square mile (136.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.30% White, 2.06% Native American, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.47% of the population.

There were 100 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,042, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $28,036 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,176. About 8.3% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 8.3% of those 65 or over.

Education

West Mineral is served by USD 247 Southeast. ^[10]

The West Mineral School was closed through school unification. The Elementary and Junior High mascot was the Wildcat with school colors of purple and gold. When the school serviced upper grade levels, the West Mineral High School mascot was Crusaders. ^[11]

Notable person

• Orval Grove, Major League Baseball pitcher

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Mineral, Kansas
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
3. "Profile of West Mineral, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 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.  157.
5. "Profile for West Mineral, Kansas". ePodunk . Retrieved June 6, 2014.
6. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau . 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 247 Southeast Lancers". USD 247. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
11. "1954 Rural High School Yearbook". classmates.com. Retrieved January 15, 2017.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Cherokee County, Kansas

External links

• West Mineral - Directory of Public Officials
• USD 247, local school district
• West Mineral city map, KDOT
• 1973 USGS Topo Map of West Mineral / Monmouth area