Newton, Kansas

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Newton, Kansas
Location of Newton, Kansas
Location of Newton, Kansas
Coordinates: 38°2′39″N 97°20′51″W / 38.04417, -97.3475
Country United States
State Kansas
County Harvey
Area
 - Total 11.73 sq mi (30.38 km²)
 - Land 11.73 sq mi (30.38 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation 1,447 ft (441 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 17,190
 - Density 1,794.0/sq mi (692.7/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 67114, 67117
Area code(s) 316
FIPS code 20-50475[1]
GNIS feature ID 0484319[2]
Main Street and East 4th, looking north to downtown
Main Street and East 4th, looking north to downtown
Newton City Hall, 201 E. Sixth
Newton City Hall, 201 E. Sixth

Newton is a city in and the county seat of Harvey County, Kansas, United States. The population was 17,190 at the 2000 census. Newton is located 25 mi (40 km) north of Wichita and is included in the Wichita metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

Contents

[edit] History

Newton Station was modeled after Shakespeare's house in Stratford-on-Avon.
Newton Station was modeled after Shakespeare's house in Stratford-on-Avon.

From the earliest beginnings in 1871 to 1873 Newton came to be known as "bloody and lawless-the wickedest city in the west." This reputation was much due to the 1871 Gunfight at Hide Park, which ultimately resulted in 8 men being killed before, during and after the incident. In 1872 the western terminal for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and the railhead for the Chisholm Trail were established here. Shortly after incorporation of the City in 1872, the Newton city council passed an ordinance prohibiting the running at large of buffalo and other wild animals.

The history of Newton is intertwined with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Newton served as the Middle Division dispatching headquarters for the "Santa Fe" until the mid 1980's when all dispatching for the Chicago to Los Angeles system was centralized in the Chicago area. In 1995 the Santa Fe was merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad. Now called the BNSF Railway, it is one of the largest railroads in the US. The BNSF continues to be a large industrial taxpayer although its impact as an employer has decreased in the past decade. During World War II, the Newton airport was taken over by the US Navy as a secondary Naval Air Station, and the main runway was extended to over 7,000 feet (2,100 m).

[edit] Geography

Newton is located at 38°2′39″N, 97°20′51″W (38.044089, -97.347597)[3].

Newton lies at the "bull's eye" of the North American Continent.[citation needed] U.S. Highway 81, also known as the Meridian Highway, stretches from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to Mexico City, Mexico through Central and South America. It passes through Newton, Kansas and is known as "Main Street." U.S. Highway 50 runs past the White House in Washington, DC through Newton, Kansas and continues on to Sacramento, California.

According to the City of Newton, Kansas, the city has a total area of 11.73 square miles (30.4 km²), all land with the exception of Sand Creek and several small tributaries.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1880 996
—
1890 1,763 77.0%
1900 1,942 10.2%
1910 3,214 65.5%
1920 5,061 57.5%
1930 10,059 98.8%
1940 8,487 -15.6%
1950 11,262 32.7%
1960 13,520 20.0%
1970 14,127 4.5%
1980 18,001 27.4%
1990 21,129 17.4%
2000 25,176 19.2%

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 17,190 people, 6,851 households, and 4,610 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,794.0 people per square mile (692.8/km²). There were 7,277 housing units at an average density of 759.5/sq mi (293.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.73% White, 2.30% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.84% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.73% of the population.

There were 6,851 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% 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 2.99.

In the city the population had 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,236, and the median income for a family was $45,703. Males had a median income of $32,308 versus $21,906 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,529. About 5.1% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Newton is located in Harvey County which is an agricultural and small manufacturing county with 34,361 people. Harvey County Kansas is part of a four county "Metro Area" with about a half million people. The major city in this metro area is Wichita, Kansas, 20 miles (20 minutes) to the South via I-135.

[edit] Area attractions

Blue Sky Sculpture, Centennial Park
Blue Sky Sculpture, Centennial Park
Sand Creek Bike Path
Sand Creek Bike Path

[edit] Transportation

See also: Newton (Amtrak station)

Major highways (I-135, US-50, US-81, K-15), an airport with a 7,002-foot (2,134 m) runway, and the BNSF Railway make Newton a central location for transportation and shipping. Amtrak's Southwest Chief stops in Newton twice each day and provides passenger rail service to either Los Angeles or Chicago.

[edit] Education

Newton public schools consist of Newton High, Santa Fe Middle, Chisholm Middle, Sunset Elementary, Northridge Elementary, Southbreeze Elementary, Slate Creek Elementary, and Walton agricultural charter school. Newton also has two private K-8 schools, Newton Bible and St. Mary's.

[edit] People

[edit] Media

Newton is served by local media as well as that of Wichita and national media. The following lists include both local media and media from the Wichita MSA.

[edit] Print media

The Newton Kansan (GateHouse Media) serves Newton and the surrounding area as the daily local newspaper. It is not published on Sundays. The Wichita Eagle is the major newspaper for the region.

[edit] Television

Cox Communications supplies Newton with cable Television

[edit] Radio

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Phil Epp
  5. ^ Joseph Loganbill
  6. ^ Max Penner
  7. ^ Jeannette K. Seger
  8. ^ Conrad Snider

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Harvey County, Kansas
County seat: Newton
Cities
Map of Kansas highlighting Harvey County
Townships
Ghost town