Halstead, Kansas

Halstead, Kansas
—  City  —
Aerial view of northern downtown area, 2007
Nickname(s): "The biggest little city in Kansas"
Location of Halstead, Kansas
Detailed map of Halstead, Kansas
Coordinates: 38°0′4″N 97°30′30″W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Harvey
Platted
Incorporated
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
Area
• Total	1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2)
• Land	1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,391 ft (424 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	2,085
• Density	1,600/sq mi (610/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	67056
Area code(s)	316
FIPS code	20-29600
GNIS feature ID	0473677
Website	www.HalsteadKansas.com

Halstead is a city in Harvey County, Kansas, United States. Halstead was named in honor of Murat Halstead, a respected Civil War correspondent and newspaper editor. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,085.

History

Founded largely by Russian Mennonite immigrants, the city of Halstead was incorporated in 1877.^{[citation needed]} With the hard red winter wheat (Turkey Red) they brought from Russia, the Mennonites established Halstead as a farming community, and built the Bernard Warkentine Mill at the confluence of the Little Arkansas River and Black Kettle Creek.^{[citation needed]}

Dr. Arthur Hertzler, the "Horse-and-Buggy Doctor," devoted much of his life and energies to the medical environment of Halstead, founding a clinic and hospital for the area residents. An urban legend claims that Dr. Hertzler performed the first appendectomy in town upon himself.^{[citation needed]} The Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Wichita, Kansas, operated the hospital for many years following Dr. Hertzler's death.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Halstead is located at 38°0′4″N 97°30′30″W (38.001036, -97.508239). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all of it land.

Area events

• Halstead Old Settlers.

Area attractions

• Halstead Heritage Museum and Depot, 116 E 1st St. In August 1988, the Halstead Historical Society was formed for the sole purpose of purchasing and restoring the Halstead Santa Fe Train Depot Railway Station. After dedicated efforts and generous sponsorship, the Halstead Heritage Museum and Depot opened on March 18, 1995. The museum has worked to carefully preserve Halstead history and offers exhibits detailing the founding and naming of Halstead, Bernard Warkentin, local Mennonite Heritage, Dr. Arthur E. Hertzler, and the Halstead Hospital School of Nursing. The museum also features the original pink "swan boat" from Picnic (1955 film) which was primarily filmed in Halstead, as well as many historic artifacts and photos.

Films

• Picnic (1955) An ex-college football star turned drifter arrives in a small Kansas town on Labor Day. It was primarily filmed in Halstead.
• The Parade (1984) A made-for-television movie in which an ex-con returns to his Kansas hometown days before the town's annual Fourth of July parade. It was filmed in Halstead.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1970	1,716		—
1980	1,994		16.2%
1990	2,015		1.1%
2000	1,873		−7.0%
2010	2,085		11.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,873 people, 760 households, and 528 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,438.1 people per square mile (556.3/km²). There were 849 housing units at an average density of 651.9 per square mile (252.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.74% White, 0.21% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.19% of the population.

There were 760 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% 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 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,411, and the median income for a family was $51,458. Males had a median income of $33,239 versus $22,554 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,252. About 2.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Halstead is part of Unified School District 440.

• Halstead High School in Halstead.
• Halstead Middle School in Halstead.
• Bentley Primary School in Bentley.

Notable people

• Conrad Nightingale, competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics
• Jim Roper, NASCAR driver
• Adolph Rupp, NCAA basketball coach

Gallery

• 

  Greeting Sign, 2011

• 

  Halstead city limits, 2007

• 

  Sign north of city, 2007

See also

2005 KDOT Map of Harvey County, Kansas (map legend)

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Harvey County, Kansas
  • Bernhard Warkentin Homestead
• Halstead High School
• Threshing Stone
• La Junta Subdivision, branch of the BNSF Railway

External links

City

• City of Halstead
• Halstead - Directory of Public Officials

Schools

• USD 440, local school district

Photos

• Halstead Aerial Photos

Historical

• Harvey County Genealogical Society
• Harvey County Roots

Maps

• Halstead City Map, KDOT
• Harvey County Map, KDOT