Goessel, Kansas

Goessel, Kansas
—  City  —
Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, north of Goessel
Location of Goessel within County and State
Detailed map of Goessel
Coordinates: 38°14′49″N 97°20′53″W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Marion
Platted	1910
Incorporated	1952
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
• Mayor	Peggy Jay
• City Clerk	Anita Goertzen
Area
• Total	0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2)
• Land	0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,532 ft (467 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	539
• Estimate (2011)	535
• Density	1,540.0/sq mi (594.6/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	67053
Area code(s)	620
FIPS code	20-26750
GNIS feature ID	0477764
Website	City website

Goessel is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named after Captain Kurt von Goessel (1852–1895) who went down with his ship, the Elbe, in the English Channel after it was rammed. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 539.

History

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was founded.

The year 1874 saw the first wave of an immigration of Russian Mennonites to south-central Kansas. The move was an attempt to preserve religious heritage and freedom after exclusion from military service was rescinded. During the next decade, one-third of Mennonites in Russia moved to North America. In 1874 a large portion of the Russian village of Alexanderwohl immigrated en masse to the United States aboard the ships Teutonia and Cimbria. This group split into two groups after arriving in Kansas and founded the communities around Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church and Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church. The village of Alexanderwohl was founded in 1874.

Dr. Peter Richert wanted to establish a hospital and decided to locate the hospital on a site that is now Goessel. He had read the story of Captain Kurt von Goessel, who went down with his steamship Elbe in the English Channel. Dr. Richert decided to submit the name Goessel to the U.S. Postal Department, and it was accepted on April 13, 1895.^{[citation needed]}

In 1910, Goessel was platted and had a population of 100 people. In 1952, Goessel was incorporated and had a population of 260.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Goessel is located at 38°14′49″N 97°20′53″W (38.246972, -97.348178). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.35 square miles (0.91 km²), all of it land. The county line is 1 mile west of Goessel.

Area events

• Goessel Threshing Days, located at Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum. 37th annual in 2010. Old-fashioned threshing demonstration and show with more than 100 exhibitors from a 7-state area display and demonstrate antique equipment related to farming during the past century. Numerous antique tractors are displayed. Ethnic Mennonite food is available.

• Goessel Harvest Festival

Area attractions

• Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum, 200 N Poplar St. The Mennonite Heritage Museum was dedicated in 1974. It is a museum of artifacts of the Mennonites that settled in the Goessel area. The museum has eight buildings that show the life of the immigrants that moved to Goessel.
• Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, 1 mi north on K-15 Highway.
• Kansas Historical Marker - The Mennonites In Kansas, 1 mi north on K-15 Highway.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1960	327		—
1970	386		18.0%
1980	421		9.1%
1990	506		20.2%
2000	565		11.7%
2010	539		−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 539 people, 206 households, and 140 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,540.0 inhabitants per square mile (594.6 /km²). There were 231 housing units at an average density of 660.0 per square mile (254.8 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 206 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.0% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 48.6 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 30.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.8% male and 54.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 565 people, 203 households, and 142 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,870.3 people per square mile (727.2/km²). There were 221 housing units at an average density of 731.6 per square mile (284.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.70% White, 0.18% Native American, 0.18% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.

There were 203 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 32.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 73.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.0 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $33,250, and the median income for a family was $42,727. Males had a median income of $30,313 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,106. About 2.2% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 39.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Goessel government consists of a mayor and five council members. The council meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 8PM.

• City Hall, 101 S Cedar St.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Goessel is part of Unified School District 411.

• Goessel High School, 100 E Main St.
• Goessel Junior High School, 100 E Main St.
• Goessel Elementary School, 500 E Main St.

Sports

The Goessel High School mascot is a Bluebird. All high school athletic and non-athletic competition is overseen by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. For 2010/2011 seasons, the football team competes as Class 8 Man - Division I.

Past Championships:

• 1988, 1st Place, Class 1A, High School Boys Basketball.

Library

Each USD 411 school has a library for student access.

The city is served by the Goessel City Library at 101 South Cedar Street. The library is a member of the North Central Kansas Libraries System, which provides an inter-library book loan service between its members.

Media

Print

• The Newton Kansan, regional newspaper in Newton.
• The Wichita Eagle, major regional newspaper in Wichita.

Radio

Goessel is served by numerous radio stations of the Wichita-Hutchinson listening market area, and satellite radio. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Television

Goessel is served by over-the-air ATSC digital TV of the Wichita-Hutchinson viewing market area, cable TV, and satellite TV. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Infrastructure

2005 KDOT Map of Marion County (map legend)

Transportation

K-15 highway runs along the east side of the city.

Utilities

• Internet
  • Wireless is provided by Pixius Communications.
  • Satellite is provided by HughesNet, StarBand, WildBlue.
• TV
  • Satellite is provided by DirecTV, Dish Network.
  • Terrestrial is provided by regional digital TV stations.
• Water
  • City is provided by Marion County RWD #4, billed by City of Goessel.
  • Rural is provided by Marion County RWD #4.
• Sewer is provided by City of Goessel.
• Trash is provied by City of Goessel.

Notable people

• Duane A. Goossen, (born 1955), Kansas House of Representatives, Contractor
• Shirley Knight, (born 1936), American stage, screen, and television actress. Academy Award nominated actress.
• Duane D. Thiessen, (born 1951), Major General, United States Marine Corps.

Gallery

• 

  Wheat Threshing Demo at Goessel Threshing Days in Goessel, Kansas on Aug 7, 2010

• 

  Karl Unruh, 1945

See also

• Goessel High School
• Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Kansas
• Historical Maps of Marion County, Kansas
• Chisholm Trail
• Threshing Stone

Further reading

Goessel

• In Earlier Days - A History of Goessel, Kansas; Marjorie Jantzen; 1987.

Marion County

• Marion County Kansas - Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House in Hillsboro, KS; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
• Standard Atlas of Marion County, Kansas; Geo A. Ogle & Co; 1902.
• World War Roll of Honor, Marion County Kansas, 1917-1920; Mrs Alexander and Mrs Dean of Marion, Kansas; 221 pages; 1920.
• The Early Schools Of Marion County, Kansas; Wilma Stewart Stallwitz; Located at Peabody Township Library; 33 pages; November 11, 1960.

Kansas

• Kansas: A Cyclopedia Of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 1912.
• History Of The State of Kansas''; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883.

External links

City

• City of Goessel
• Goessel - Directory of Public Officials

Schools

• USD 411, school district for Goessel, nearby rural areas of Marion / McPherson / Harvey Counties

Historical

• KsGenWeb Marion County cemetery list

Maps

• Goessel City Map, City of Goessel
• Goessel City Map, KDOT
• Marion County Maps: Current, 1941
• McPherson County Map, KDOT
• Topo Map of Goessel and Walton area, USGS