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Newton, Kansas

Coordinates: 38°02′14″N 97°20′42″W / 38.03722°N 97.34500°W / 38.03722; -97.34500
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Newton, Kansas
City and County seat
Newton City Hall at 201 E 6th St (2006)
Newton City Hall at 201 E 6th St (2006)
Flag of Newton, Kansas
Flag
Location within Harvey County and Kansas
Location within Harvey County and Kansas
KDOT map of Harvey County (legend)
KDOT map of Harvey County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°02′14″N 97°20′42″W / 38.03722°N 97.34500°W / 38.03722; -97.34500[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyHarvey
TownshipNewton
Founded1871
Incorporated1872, 1880
Named afterNewton, Massachusetts
Government
 • MayorLeroy Koehn [citation needed]
 • City ManagerKelly McElroy [citation needed]
Area
[2]
 • Total
14.57 sq mi (37.73 km2)
 • Land14.57 sq mi (37.73 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[1]
1,434 ft (437 m)
Population
 (2020)[3][4]
 • Total
18,602
 • Density1,277/sq mi (493.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
67114
Area code316
FIPS code20-50475[1]
GNIS ID485629[1]
Websitenewtonkansas.com

Newton is a city in and the county seat of Harvey County, Kansas, United States.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 18,602.[3][4] Newton is located 25 miles (40 km) north of Wichita. The city of North Newton. located immediately north, exists as a separate political entity. Newton is located at the intersection of Interstate 135, U.S. Route 50, and U.S. Route 81 highways.

History

[edit]
See also: History of Kansas

19th century

[edit]
A 1915 railroad map of Harvey County
1905 Warkentin Mill

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 1872, Harvey County was founded.

In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a main line from Emporia westward to Newton by July 1871.[5] The town soon became an important railroad shipping point of Texas cattle.[6]

The city was founded in 1871 and named after Newton, Massachusetts, home of some of the Santa Fe stockholders.[7]

In August 1871, the Gunfight at Hide Park occurred, in which eight men were killed. The incident began with an argument between two local lawmen, Billy Bailey and Mike McCluskie. Because of this incident, Newton became known as "bloody and lawless—the wickedest city in the west."[8]

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.[9]

20th century

[edit]
View of the main street, 1920s

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).

Newton served as the Middle Division dispatching headquarters for the "Santa Fe" until the mid-1980s, when all dispatching for the Chicago to Los Angeles system was centralized in the Chicago area. In 1995, the Santa Fe merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad, and is now known as the BNSF Railway. The BNSF continues to be a large industrial taxpayer, although its impact as an employer has decreased in the past decade.

21st century

[edit]

On February 25, 2016, Newton was the site of the first of several related shooting incidents, which culminated in a mass shooting at an Excel Industries building in nearby Hesston that left three people dead and 12 others injured.[10][11] The shooter, identified as Excel employee Cedric Larry Ford, was then killed by a responding police officer.[12][13]

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.60 square miles (32.63 km2), all land.[14]

The city is in the central portion of the continental United States. 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, where it 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.

Climate

[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Newton has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[15]

Climate data for Newton, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1897–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24) 		85
(29) 		93
(34) 		97
(36) 		103
(39) 		112
(44) 		117
(47) 		115
(46) 		108
(42) 		98
(37) 		88
(31) 		81
(27) 		117
(47)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 64.5
(18.1) 		70.0
(21.1) 		78.9
(26.1) 		85.2
(29.6) 		92.3
(33.5) 		97.9
(36.6) 		103.2
(39.6) 		101.8
(38.8) 		96.9
(36.1) 		88.7
(31.5) 		74.9
(23.8) 		64.3
(17.9) 		104.4
(40.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 41.7
(5.4) 		46.6
(8.1) 		57.3
(14.1) 		66.9
(19.4) 		76.3
(24.6) 		87.0
(30.6) 		92.0
(33.3) 		90.3
(32.4) 		82.5
(28.1) 		69.7
(20.9) 		55.7
(13.2) 		43.9
(6.6) 		67.5
(19.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 31.0
(−0.6) 		35.2
(1.8) 		45.2
(7.3) 		54.9
(12.7) 		65.5
(18.6) 		76.0
(24.4) 		80.9
(27.2) 		79.0
(26.1) 		70.7
(21.5) 		57.7
(14.3) 		44.4
(6.9) 		33.9
(1.1) 		56.2
(13.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 20.3
(−6.5) 		23.8
(−4.6) 		33.1
(0.6) 		42.9
(6.1) 		54.7
(12.6) 		65.0
(18.3) 		69.8
(21.0) 		67.6
(19.8) 		59.0
(15.0) 		45.7
(7.6) 		33.2
(0.7) 		23.9
(−4.5) 		44.9
(7.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 2.8
(−16.2) 		6.3
(−14.3) 		15.1
(−9.4) 		26.7
(−2.9) 		39.4
(4.1) 		52.3
(11.3) 		59.3
(15.2) 		56.8
(13.8) 		43.0
(6.1) 		28.6
(−1.9) 		16.2
(−8.8) 		7.0
(−13.9) 		−1.5
(−18.6)
Record low °F (°C) −20
(−29) 		−28
(−33) 		−7
(−22) 		10
(−12) 		23
(−5) 		40
(4) 		43
(6) 		43
(6) 		29
(−2) 		10
(−12) 		−4
(−20) 		−20
(−29) 		−28
(−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.80
(20) 		1.25
(32) 		2.38
(60) 		2.92
(74) 		4.89
(124) 		5.01
(127) 		4.20
(107) 		3.89
(99) 		2.98
(76) 		2.64
(67) 		1.65
(42) 		1.16
(29) 		33.77
(857)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.1
(5.3) 		1.3
(3.3) 		1.2
(3.0) 		0.3
(0.76) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.25) 		0.6
(1.5) 		3.2
(8.1) 		8.8
(22.21)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4.2 4.8 7.1 7.7 9.7 8.5 8.3 7.8 6.4 6.6 4.9 5.0 81.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.6 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.4 1.5 5.8
Source 1: NOAA[16]
Source 2: National Weather Service[17]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18802,601—
18905,605115.5%
19006,20810.8%
19107,86226.6%
19209,78124.4%
193011,03412.8%
194011,0480.1%
195011,5904.9%
196014,87728.4%
197015,4393.8%
198016,3325.8%
199016,7002.3%
200017,1902.9%
201019,13211.3%
202018,602−2.8%
2023 (est.)18,251[18]−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
2010-2020[4]

Newton is included in the Wichita metropolitan statistical area. It is located in Harvey County, which is an agricultural and small manufacturing county with 34,361 people. Harvey County is part of a five-county metropolitan area with 650,000 people, the largest anchored in the state of Kansas. The major city in this metro area is Wichita, 20 miles to the south via I-135.

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, Newton had a population of 18,602 with 7,501 households and 4,798 families.[20][21] The population density was 1,276.4 inhabitants per square mile (492.8/km2). There were 8,256 housing units at an average density of 566.5 per square mile (218.7/km2); 9.1% of housing units were vacant, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 2.5% and a rental vacancy rate of 11.0%.[20][22]

The median age was 39.2 years. The age distribution was 24.1% under 18; 8.2% from 18 to 24; 24.6% from 25 to 44; 23.8% from 45 to 64; and 19.3% 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.6 males age 18 and over.[20][21]

Of the 7,501 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. About 47.2% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. Approximately 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4, and the average family size was 3.0.[20]

99.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.4% lived in rural areas.[23]

Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 73.1% of the population, and Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 17.8%.[21][24]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[21]
Race Number Percent
White 14,657 78.8%
Black or African American 471 2.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native 188 1.0%
Asian 164 0.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.0%
Some other race 1,250 6.7%
Two or more races 1,868 10.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 3,306 17.8%

The percentage of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 21.5% of the population.[25]

The 2016-2020 five-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $56,729 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,501) and the median family income was $66,806 (+/- $5,072).[26] Males had a median income of $41,413 (+/- $3,677) versus $29,782 (+/- $3,872) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $35,192 (+/- $2,644).[27] Approximately, 6.7% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under 18 and 9.4% of those 65 or over.[28][29]

2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[30] of 2010, 19,132 people, 7,584 households, and 5,045 families were living in the city.[31] The population density was 1,518.4 inhabitants per square mile (586.3/km2). The 8,237 housing units had an average density of 653.7 per square mile (252.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.4% White, 2.2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 4.7% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 16.3% of the population.

Of the 7,584 households, 33.1% had children under 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.5% were not families. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 36.8 years, and the age distribution was 26.4% under 18; 7.9% from 18 to 24; 24.9% from 25 to 44; 25% from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

Area attractions

[edit]
1886 Warkentin House (2007)
Former Newton Carnegie Library, now Harvey County Historical Society Library and Museum (1912 postcard)

Education

[edit]
Newton High School (2006)

Primary and secondary education

[edit]

The community is served by Newton USD 373 public school district. Newton public schools consist of:

High school
Intermediate schools
  • Santa Fe 5/6 Center
  • Chisholm Middle School
Elementary
  • Northridge Elementary
  • Slate Creek Elementary
  • South Breeze Elementary
  • Sunset Elementary.
Early education
  • Cooper Early Education
Private

Newton has two kindergarten - grade-8 private schools:

  • St. Mary's Catholic School[37]
  • Newton Bible Christian School[38]

College

[edit]

Media

[edit]
Railroad Savings and Loan Building, across street from rail depot (2018)
[edit]

The Newton Kansan (GateHouse Media) serves Newton and the surrounding area as the daily local newspaper. It is not published on Sundays or Mondays. The Wichita Eagle is the major newspaper for the region. Harvey County Now newspaper is also based in Newton and covers Harvey County.

Radio

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Newton is served by over-the-air ATSC digital TV of the Wichita-Hutchinson viewing market area,[39] cable TV by Cox Communications, and satellite TV. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Infrastructure

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]
Newton Amtrak Depot at 414 N. Main St. (2006)
Downtown Newton (looking north). Depot on right. (2006)
An Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map from 1891 issue of Grain Dealers and Shippers Gazetteer.
See also: Newton (Amtrak station)

BNSF Railway passes through Newton for transportation and shipping. Amtrak's Southwest Chief stops in Newton twice each day and provides passenger rail service towards Los Angeles and Chicago.[40] The Amtrak station is located at 414 N Main St.[41]

Bus service is provided daily towards Wichita and Salina by BeeLine Express (subcontractor of Greyhound Lines).[42][43] While there is no local fixed-route transit service, Harvey Interurban provides dial-a-ride transit service to the community.[44]

Major roads that pass through Newton are I-135, US-50, US-81, and K-15.

Newton City/County Airport, FAA:EWK,[45] is located 2 miles east of Newton. Its 7,002-foot (2,134 m) runway is one of only 11 runways in Kansas 7,000-foot (2,100 m) or longer. It has ILS and GPS approaches.[46][47]

Utilities

[edit]

Notable people

[edit]
See also List of people from Harvey County, Kansas

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Newton, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Profile of Newton, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Newton, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  5. ^ Santa Fe Rail History
  6. ^ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 367.
  7. ^ "Harvey County History". Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  8. ^ Smith, Jessica (2013). "Morality and Money: A Look at how the Respectable Community Battled the Sporting Community over Prostitution in Kansas Cowtowns, 1867-1885" (PDF). Kansas State University.
  9. ^ Route of the Chisholm cattle trail in Kansas; Kansas Historical Society, 1960s.
  10. ^ "Excel Industries shooter identified as Cedric Ford". KWCH. February 25, 2016. Archived from the original on February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  11. ^ Berman, Mark; Miller, Michael E. (February 25, 2016). "Kansas gunman kills three people and injures 14 people, sheriff says". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  12. ^ "Gunman Among 4 Dead, 14 Hurt in Kansas Workplace Shooting". NBC New York. February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  13. ^ Eversley, Melanie (February 25, 2016). "Multiple dead plus shooter after Kansas shootings; up to 20 injured". USA Today. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  14. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  15. ^ Climate Summary for Newton, Kansas
  16. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Newton, KS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  17. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Wichita". National Weather Service. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  18. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  19. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  20. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  21. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  22. ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  24. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  25. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  26. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  27. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  28. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  29. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  30. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  31. ^ "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2011.[dead link]
  32. ^ Harvey County Historical Society Library and Museum
  33. ^ Kauffman Museum
  34. ^ "8 Wonders of Kansas Art | Blue Sky Sculpture, Newton by Epp, Corbett, Snider Kansas Sampler Foundation".
  35. ^ Carriage Factory Art Gallery
  36. ^ Sand Creek Station Golf Course
  37. ^ St. Mary's Catholic School
  38. ^ Newton Bible Christian School.
  39. ^ Wichita-Hutchinson TV market.
  40. ^ Amtrak - Southwest Chief route
  41. ^ Amtrak - Newton Station
  42. ^ BeeLine Express
  43. ^ "Greyhound Lines". Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  44. ^ "Interurban Transportation". Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  45. ^ Newton City/County Airport map
  46. ^ "Newton City/County Airport web site". Archived from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  47. ^ Newton City/County Airport information
  48. ^ Basketball Hall Of Fame - Harold E. Foster Archived 2013-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
  49. ^ "Kansans in U.S. House - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society".

Further reading

[edit]
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
See also: List of books about Harvey County, Kansas
See also: List of books about Chisholm Trail
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Newton, Kansas.
Wikivoyage logo
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Newton (Kansas).
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