Howard, Kansas
City and County seat
Coordinates37°28′10″N 96°15′47″W
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyElk
Founded1870
Incorporated1877
Named forOliver O. Howard
MayorRichard Clark[1]
Area total0.69 sq mi
Area land0.69 sq mi
Area water0.00 sq mi
Area total1.80 km²
Area land1.80 km²
Area water0.00 km²
Unit prefImperial
Elevation1040 ft
Population as of2020
Population total570
Time zoneCST (UTC-6)
Time zone (DST)CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code67349
Area code620
GNIS ID2394429[2]
Websitecityofhoward.org

Howard is a city in and the county seat of Elk County, Kansas, United States.[2] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 570.[3]

History

See also: History of Kansas

Howard was founded in 1870, and it was incorporated as a city in 1877.[4] Howard was named after Oliver O. Howard, a Union Army general during the Civil War and founder of Howard University.[5][6] The first post office in Howard was established in February, 1870.[7] As of 1901, Howard was a sundown town where African Americans were not allowed to live.[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.70 square miles (1.81 km2), all land.[9]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Howard has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[10]

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 570 people, 268 households, and 148 families in Howard.[11][12] The population density was 808.5 per square mile (312.2/km2). There were 347 housing units at an average density of 492.2 per square mile (190.0/km2).[12][13] The racial makeup was 90.88% (518) white or European American (89.12% non-Hispanic white), 0.35% (2) black or African-American, 1.23% (7) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.18% (1) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.05% (6) from other races, and 6.32% (36) from two or more races.[14] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 4.56% (26) of the population.[15]

Of the 268 households, 20.1% had children under the age of 18; 44.8% were married couples living together; 35.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 39.9% of households consisted of individuals and 28.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12] The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.8.[16] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 21.2% of the population.[17]

23.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 17.7% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 29.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.7 males.[12] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 123.1 males.[12]

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $39,750 (with a margin of error of +/- $14,890) and the median family income was $61,167 (+/- $6,692).[18] Males had a median income of $38,750 (+/- $13,936) versus $13,500 (+/- $9,870) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,944 (+/- $7,633).[19] Approximately, 11.4% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under the age of 18 and 14.4% of those ages 65 or over.[20][21]

2010 census

As of the census[22] of 2010, there were 687 people, 318 households, and 176 families residing in the city. The population density was 981.4 inhabitants per square mile (378.9 /km2). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 592.9 inhabitants per square mile (228.9 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 1.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.

There were 318 households, of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.7% were non-families. 41.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age in the city was 49.6 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.6% were from 25 to 44; 27.3% were from 45 to 64; and 28.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

Education

The community is served by West Elk USD 282 public school district. School unification consolidated Moline, Howard and Severy schools forming USD 282. West Elk High School is located in Howard. The West Elk High School mascot is Patriots.[23]

Prior to school unification, the Howard High School mascot was Pirates.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "City Council". City of Howard, Kansas. City of Howard, Kansas. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Profile of Howard, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived May 4, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc.. Standard Publishing Company. p. 876. ISBN 9780722249055.
  5. ^ Rydjord, John (1972). Kansas Place-Names. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 202. ISBN 0-8061-0994-7.
  6. ^ "Profile for Howard, Kansas". ePodunk. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Kansas Items". Fairview Enterprise. February 9, 1901. p. 3. – via Newspapers.com. Nortonville and Howard are two Kansas towns where negroes are not allowed to live.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  10. ^ "Howard, Kansas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase
  11. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  12. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  13. ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  14. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  15. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  16. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  17. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  18. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  19. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  20. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  21. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  22. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  23. ^ "West Elk Schools". USD 282. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  24. ^ "Howard High School - Scraps Yearbook (Howard, KS) - Class of 1959". E-YEARBOOK.COM. Retrieved 7 January 2017.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Elk County, Kansas