Hesston, Kansas | |
|---|---|
 Alliman Center onHesston College campus | |
 Location withinHarvey County andKansas | |
 | |
| Coordinates:38°08′24″N97°25′37″W / 38.14000°N 97.42694°W /38.14000; -97.42694[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Harvey |
| Township | Emma |
| Founded | 1886[2] |
| Incorporated | 1921 |
| Named after | Hess brothers |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.56 sq mi (9.23 km2) |
| • Land | 3.56 sq mi (9.23 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,476 ft (450 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,505 |
| • Density | 980/sq mi (380/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 67062 |
| Area code | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-31600 |
| GNIS ID | 2394366[1] |
| Website | hesstonks.org |
Hesston is a city inHarvey County,Kansas, United States.[1] As of the2020 census, the population of the city was 3,505.[4] Large manufacturing facilities forAGCO (farm equipment) andStanley Black & Decker (lawn mowers) are located in Hesston. It is home ofHesston College.
For manymillennia, theGreat Plains ofNorth America was inhabited bynomadicNative Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, theKingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts ofNorth America. In 1762, after theFrench and Indian War, France secretly cededNew France toSpain, per theTreaty of Fontainebleau.
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land formodern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mileLouisiana Purchase for 2.83cents peracre.
In 1854, theKansas Territory was organized, and in 1861,Kansas became the 34thU.S. state. In 1872,Harvey County was established within theKansas Territory which included the land for modern day Hesston.
A post office was established asElivon on February 10, 1873. It then moved near the current city site on April 24, 1878.[5]
In 1886,Hesston was founded and named after the Hess brothers who owned the land where a depot on theMissouri Pacific Railroad was built.[2][6] The post office was renamed toHesston on December 16, 1887. Due to the railroad, Hesston became an important regional shipping point.[7]
In 1909, theMennonite Church founded theHesston College, because many of the early settlers wereMennonite farmers.
In 1947,Lyle Yost and Adin Holdemann founded the farm equipment companyHesston Manufacturing Company.[8] In 1991,AGCO Corporation purchased the company. In 1960, John Regier founded the lawn mower companyExcel Industries.[9]
In 1981, theDyck Arboretum of the Plains was founded at theHesston College.
On March 13, 1990, a large portion of Hesston was damaged by anF5 tornado during atornado outbreak. A total of 226 homes and 21 businesses were destroyed, and several were swept completely from their foundations. 20 farms were torn apart in rural areas outside of Hesston. Light debris from Hesston was found 115 miles (185 km) away inNebraska. One person died and 59 people were injured. After passing through Hesston, the tornado increased to an "extreme F5" near the city ofGoessel. The severity of the damage left behind by this tornado led some meteorologists to believe that the Goessel tornado was among the strongest ever documented at that time.[10][11]
On February 25, 2016, Hesston became the scene ofa mass shooting in which three people were killed and twelve others injured at anExcel Industries building. Prior to that shooting, other shooting incidents occurred at the nearby city ofNewton and also OldU.S. Route 81,[12] in which two people were wounded.[13][14] The shooter was identified as Excel employee Cedric Larry Ford, who was killed by responding police officers.[15][16]
In 2021,Stanley Black & Decker acquired Excel Industries.[17][18][19]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.90 square miles (10.10 km2), all land.[20]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Hesston has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[21]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 526 | — | |
| 1940 | 403 | −23.4% | |
| 1950 | 686 | 70.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,103 | 60.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,926 | 74.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,013 | 56.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,012 | 0.0% | |
| 2000 | 3,509 | 16.5% | |
| 2010 | 3,709 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 3,505 | −5.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The2020 United States census counted 3,505 people, 1,357 households, and 945 families in Hesston.[22][23] The population density was 983.2 per square mile (379.6/km2). There were 1,454 housing units at an average density of 407.9 per square mile (157.5/km2).[23][24] The racial makeup was 90.01% (3,155)white orEuropean American (88.53%non-Hispanic white), 1.63% (57)black orAfrican-American, 0.6% (21)Native American orAlaska Native, 1.68% (59)Asian, 0.0% (0)Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian, 1.88% (66) fromother races, and 4.19% (147) fromtwo or more races.[25]Hispanic orLatino of any race was 4.59% (161) of the population.[26]
Of the 1,357 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18; 60.0% were married couples living together; 24.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 28.3% of households consisted of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23] The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 2.9.[27] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 30.6% of the population.[28]
23.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.1 males.[23] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 113.6 males.[23]
The 2016-2020 5-yearAmerican Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $50,644 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,797) and the median family income was $69,432 (+/- $24,126).[29] Females had a median income of $25,772 (+/- $7,009). The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,065 (+/- $10,118).[30] Approximately, 8.9% of families and 10.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.2% of those under the age of 18 and 1.8% of those ages 65 or over.[31][32]
As of thecensus[33] of 2010, there were 3,709 people, 1,345 households, and 972 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 951.0 inhabitants per square mile (367.2/km2). There were 1,433 housing units at an average density of 367.4 per square mile (141.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.7%White, 1.6%African American, 0.6%Native American, 1.7%Asian, 1.5% fromother races, and 1.9% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 4.5% of the population.
There were 1,345 households, of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% weremarried couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.7% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.96.
The median age in the city was 37.2 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 22.6% were from 45 to 64; and 19.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
As of thecensus[34] of 2000, there were 3,509 people, 1,227 households, and 904 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,353.2 inhabitants per square mile (522.5/km2). There were 1,308 housing units at an average density of 504.4 per square mile (194.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.56%White, 1.48%African American, 0.60%Native American, 0.83%Asian, 1.25% fromother races, and 1.28% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.88% of the population.[35][36]
There were 1,227 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% weremarried couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 14.3% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $42,585, and the median income for a family was $51,474. Males had a median income of $39,891 versus $26,424 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $18,138. About 3.9% of families and 5.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
The two largest companies in Hesston are AGCO (Hesston Corp) and Excel Industries (Hustler).
In 1947,Lyle Yost founded the farm equipment companyHesston Manufacturing Company. In 1955, it introduced the first commercially available self-propelled windrower, then in 1967 it introduced the first hydrostatic drive windrower. In 1978, it introduced the first large square baler, then in 1988 it introduced the first totally automatically large round baler.[37] In 1974, the Hesston Company commissioned its first belt buckles,[38] which became popular on therodeo circuit and with collectors. The company's controlling stake was sold to Italian corporationFiat Trattori in 1977. The remainder of the company was purchased in 1987 by the same firm.[8] In 1991, the American-based equipment manufacturerAGCO Corporation purchasedHesston Corporation and later expanded the manufacturing facilities.
In 1960, John Regier founded the lawn mower companyExcel Industries.[9] The company manufactures outdoor equipment, primarily Hustler and Big Dog mowers.[39] The original Hustler was the world's first twin-lever, zero-turn mower.[18] In 2021, Stanley Black & Decker acquired Excel.[17][18][19]
The Hesston government consists of a mayor and five council members. The council meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 6 pm.[40]
The community is served byHesston USD 460 public school district. It has three schools:
Hesston is served by numerousradio stations of theWichita-Hutchinson listening market area,[45] andsatellite radio. SeeMedia in Wichita, Kansas.
Hesston is served by over-the-airATSCdigital TV of theWichita-Hutchinson viewing market area,[46]cable TV byCox Communications, andsatellite TV. SeeMedia in Wichita, Kansas.
InterstateI-135 and highwayUS 81 pass through Hesston.
Hesston is served by a branch of theKansas and Oklahoma Railroad operating betweenMcPherson andNewton, where it connects to theBNSF Railway.
Municipalities and communities ofHarvey County, Kansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Townships | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This community also has portions in an adjacent county or counties. | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
