Ellsworth, Kansas | |
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City andCounty seat | |
 Downtown Ellsworth (2014) | |
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| Coordinates:38°43′58″N98°13′43″W / 38.73278°N 98.22861°W /38.73278; -98.22861[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Ellsworth |
| Founded | 1860s |
| Incorporated | 1867 |
| Named after | Fort Ellsworth |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| • Mayor | Dan Finnegan[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.39 sq mi (6.20 km2) |
| • Land | 2.39 sq mi (6.20 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,545 ft (471 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,066 |
| • Density | 1,280/sq mi (495/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 67439 |
| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-20500 |
| GNIS ID | 485570[1] |
| Website | ellsworthks.net |
Ellsworth is a city in and thecounty seat ofEllsworth County,Kansas, United States.[1] As of the2020 census, the population of the city was 3,066.[4] Known as a cow town in the 1870s, when theKansas Pacific Railroad operated a stockyard here for shipping cattle to eastern markets. In the 21st century, Ellsworth is the trading center of the rural county.
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Once called "The Wickedest Cattletown in Kansas", the city is named for Fort Ellsworth, which was built in 1864.[5] Due to speculation on imminent railroad construction, the population of Ellsworth boomed to over two thousand by the time it was incorporated in 1867. It has since been said, "Abilene, the first, Dodge City, the last, but Ellsworth the wickedest".
Ellsworth was a bustling cattle town during the late 1860s, when theKansas Pacific Railroad had a stop and stockyards there. Cattle were driven up from Texas to this point, and then shipped to major markets. Often cowboys had the run of the town. In 1875 Kansas Pacific closed its cattle pens, moving to another location. The cattle trade dwindled to almost nothing by the mid-1880s.
During the late 1860s into the 1870s, Ellsworth was known for being one of the "wickedest" cattle towns, the scene of numerous killings following shootouts between drunkencowboys. The town sported numeroussaloons,brothels and gambling halls, withprostitution being rampant.[6]Wild Bill Hickok ran for Ellsworth CountySheriff in 1868, but was defeated by veteran Union Army soldier E. W. Kingsbury. Kingsbury was an effective lawman, but relied on local marshals to patrol the town, as he also had to police the county. Violence in Ellsworth was commonplace among the cowboys and people associated with them.[7] Ellsworth marshal Will Semans was shot and killed on September 26, 1869, while attempting to disarm a rowdy man in a dance hall.[8]
For a time during this period, two small-timeoutlaws known only as Craig and Johnson began bullying people around the community, often committingarmed robbery. After Semans' murder, they operated openly. Before long, citizens formed a vigilance squad and captured both men,hanging them in a lynching near theSmoky Hill River. Chauncey Whitney,[9] a deputy to Kingsbury, took over following Sheriff Kingsbury's departure. Whitney quickly gained a reputation as being both tough and respectable, and was well liked. The scale of business is shown by construction of the Drovers Cottage in 1872. It could accommodate 175 guests, and stable 50 carriages and 100 horses.[10]
LawmanWyatt Earp claimed to have served in Ellsworth for a short time. He also later claimed to have arrestedgunmanBen Thompson there. But Thompson was arrested by Deputy Ed Hogue after his brotherBilly Thompson accidentally shot and killed Ellsworth County Sheriff Chauncey Whitney in 1873.[citation needed] Billy Thompson fled, fearing that he would belynched for the death of the popular sheriff. Thompson was eventually captured and put ontrial, but wasacquitted in the shooting. Sheriff Whitney, a friend to both Thompsons, had told bystanders before his death that the shooting was an accident.[11]
By the late 1870s the crime rate had dropped dramatically, as fewer cowboys came through after Kansas Pacific closed its stockyard here. Cattle drives were directed to other market cities, such asDodge City. Ellsworth suffered economically.[citation needed]
In 1888, the Kansas Midland Railway Company built between Wichita and Ellsworth.[12] The line was purchased in 1900 by theSt. Louis-San Francisco Railway (the "Frisco").[12] The Frisco operated the line for many years,[13] but it has since been abandoned.[14]
Ellsworth has been developing heritage tourism related to its unique 19th-century history. The city and activists have plans to restore Ellsworth's Signature Insurance Building for use as the National Drovers Hall of Fame. Funds for the project are being raised party from an annual cattle drive down Main Street and Douglas Avenue; it is one of the few in the United States that is historically accurate.[15]
Ellsworth lies on the north side of theSmoky Hill River in theSmoky Hills region of theGreat Plains. Oak Creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill, flows south past the eastern side of the city to its confluence with the river southeast of the city.
Ellsworth is located at the intersection ofK-14,K-140, and K-156 in central Kansas roughly 27 miles (43 km) west-southwest ofSalina, Kansas. Ellsworth is approximately 110 miles (180 km) northwest ofWichita and 212 miles (341 km) west-southwest ofKansas City.[16] According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.43 square miles (6.29 km2), all land.[17]
Under theKöppen climate classification, Ellsworth falls within either ahot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) if the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm is used or ahumid subtropical climate (Cfa) if the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm is used. Summers are hot and humid and winters are moderately cold with wide variations in temperature. The average annual temperature is 53.3 °F (11.8 °C), and the average yearly precipitation is 30.87 inches (78.4 cm). Snowfall averages 16.2 inches (41 cm) per year. On average, July is the warmest month, January is the coldest month and driest, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in was 117 °F (47.2 °C) on August 12–13, 1936, while the coldest temperature recorded was −30 °F (−34.4 °C) on January 8, 1913.[18]
| Climate data for Ellsworth, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1904–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 83 (28) | 89 (32) | 98 (37) | 101 (38) | 108 (42) | 115 (46) | 116 (47) | 117 (47) | 114 (46) | 102 (39) | 88 (31) | 80 (27) | 117 (47) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 65.9 (18.8) | 70.6 (21.4) | 80.5 (26.9) | 87.8 (31.0) | 92.2 (33.4) | 99.0 (37.2) | 104.0 (40.0) | 102.2 (39.0) | 96.9 (36.1) | 89.8 (32.1) | 76.9 (24.9) | 65.1 (18.4) | 105.2 (40.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.2 (5.7) | 46.6 (8.1) | 57.4 (14.1) | 67.5 (19.7) | 76.8 (24.9) | 87.6 (30.9) | 92.7 (33.7) | 90.4 (32.4) | 82.3 (27.9) | 70.1 (21.2) | 56.1 (13.4) | 44.0 (6.7) | 67.8 (19.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.9 (−1.2) | 33.5 (0.8) | 43.5 (6.4) | 53.3 (11.8) | 64.2 (17.9) | 75.0 (23.9) | 80.0 (26.7) | 77.6 (25.3) | 69.1 (20.6) | 56.0 (13.3) | 42.7 (5.9) | 32.1 (0.1) | 54.7 (12.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.8 (−7.9) | 20.3 (−6.5) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 39.1 (3.9) | 51.6 (10.9) | 62.5 (16.9) | 67.4 (19.7) | 64.9 (18.3) | 55.9 (13.3) | 41.9 (5.5) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 20.1 (−6.6) | 41.7 (5.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 0.5 (−17.5) | 2.9 (−16.2) | 12.3 (−10.9) | 23.3 (−4.8) | 35.1 (1.7) | 50.0 (10.0) | 55.8 (13.2) | 53.3 (11.8) | 39.6 (4.2) | 24.8 (−4.0) | 12.8 (−10.7) | 4.0 (−15.6) | −5.0 (−20.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −30 (−34) | −28 (−33) | −16 (−27) | 7 (−14) | 17 (−8) | 40 (4) | 43 (6) | 40 (4) | 24 (−4) | 8 (−13) | −7 (−22) | −28 (−33) | −30 (−34) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.83 (21) | 1.16 (29) | 1.94 (49) | 2.51 (64) | 4.94 (125) | 3.86 (98) | 3.88 (99) | 4.43 (113) | 2.70 (69) | 2.13 (54) | 1.30 (33) | 1.16 (29) | 30.84 (783) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.8 (9.7) | 4.7 (12) | 1.3 (3.3) | 0.4 (1.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.4 (1.0) | 1.2 (3.0) | 4.4 (11) | 16.2 (41) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 4.1 | 3.9 | 5.8 | 6.7 | 8.9 | 7.3 | 8.2 | 7.2 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 70.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 7.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA[19] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[18] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 448 | — | |
| 1880 | 929 | 107.4% | |
| 1890 | 1,620 | 74.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,549 | −4.4% | |
| 1910 | 2,041 | 31.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,065 | 1.2% | |
| 1930 | 2,072 | 0.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,227 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,193 | −1.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,361 | 7.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,080 | −11.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,465 | 18.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,294 | −6.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,965 | 29.3% | |
| 2010 | 3,120 | 5.2% | |
| 2020 | 3,066 | −1.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The2020 United States census counted 3,066 people, 969 households, and 551 families in Ellsworth.[20][21] The population density was 1,281.2 per square mile (494.7/km2). There were 1,144 housing units at an average density of 478.1 per square mile (184.6/km2).[21][22] The racial makeup was 84.15% (2,580)white orEuropean American (79.42%non-Hispanic white), 7.96% (244)black orAfrican-American, 1.27% (39)Native American orAlaska Native, 0.49% (15)Asian, 0.0% (0)Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian, 0.82% (25) fromother races, and 5.32% (163) fromtwo or more races.[23]Hispanic orLatino of any race was 7.21% (221) of the population.[24]
Of the 969 households, 24.1% had children under the age of 18; 44.6% were married couples living together; 29.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 39.4% of households consisted of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[21] The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.7.[25] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 12.6% of the population.[26]
16.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 57.7 males.[21] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 52.2 males.[21]
The 2016-2020 5-yearAmerican Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $53,547 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,733) and the median family income was $76,125 (+/- $23,135).[27] Males had a median income of $27,146 (+/- $5,757) versus $32,944 (+/- $5,231) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $30,033 (+/- $4,968).[28] Approximately, 3.0% of families and 6.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 10.2% of those under the age of 18 and 4.5% of those ages 65 or over.[29][30]
As of thecensus[31] of 2010, there were 3,120 people, 997 households, and 639 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,284.0 inhabitants per square mile (495.8/km2). There were 1,154 housing units at an average density of 474.9 per square mile (183.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.9%White, 9.3%African American, 0.6%Native American, 0.4%Asian, 0.7% fromother races, and 1.1% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 6.2% of the population.
There were 997 households, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% weremarried couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.77.
The median age in the city was 38.4 years. 17% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.5% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 61.9% male and 38.1% female.
As of thecensus[32] of 2000, there were 2,965 people, 995 households, and 641 families living in the city. The population density was 1,413.3 inhabitants per square mile (545.7/km2). There were 1,141 housing units at an average density of 543.9 per square mile (210.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.40%White, 7.55%African American, 0.94%Native American, 0.51%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.94% fromother races, and 1.62% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.95% of the population.
There were 995 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% weremarried couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 132.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 139.9 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $45,156. Males had a median income of $30,233 versus $19,762 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $15,396. About 3.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
AGreat Plains Manufacturing Ellsworth Tillage Implement Plant, a manufacturing facility, is located in Ellsworth.
The Ellsworth government consists of an elected mayor and five council members, who are also elected. The council meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 5:30PM.[2]
The community is served byEllsworth USD 327 public school district. The district high school, Ellsworth Jr/Sr High School, is in Ellsworth. Bearcats are the Ellsworth High School mascot.
Ellsworth has a weeklynewspaper, theEllsworth County Independent/Reporter.[33][34]
K243AR, a translator ofradio station KRSL inRussell, Kansas, broadcasts from Ellsworth on 96.5FM playing aChristian format.[35]
In 2008, TradeWind Energy andEnel North America made Ellsworth and Lincoln counties home to theSmoky Hills Wind Farm. Its 155 wind turbines have a total capacity of 250MW[36] and are installed on approximately 20,000 acres of agricultural land.[37] Some 100 landowners have lease arrangements to have the Smoky Hills Wind Farm's turbines installed on their properties.[38] The wind farm generates enough power to satisfy energy consumption requirements of 85,000 homes.[36]
The Post Rock Wind Farm is a 200 MW wind power facility in Kansas, reaching across Ellsworth and Lincoln counties. Post Rock Wind consists of 134 three-bladed 1.5 MW GE wind turbines. Pattern Energy owns 60% of the project, equal to 120 MW. The facility, which reached commercial operation in October 2012, sells 100% of its electrical output under a long-term power purchase agreement with Westar, which has a BBB+ credit rating.Post Rock Wind facility spreads across an area of 23,000 acres in Ellsworth and Lincoln counties of Kansas
Municipalities and communities ofEllsworth County, Kansas,United States | ||
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