Cottonwood Falls, Kansas

human settlement in Chase County, Kansas, United States of America

Cottonwood Falls is the biggest city of Chase County, Kansas. It is also the county seat of Chase County. In 2020, 851 people lived there.[4]

Cottonwood Falls, Kansas
Chase County Courthouse designed by Kansas State Capitol architect John G. Haskell
Location within Chase County and Kansas
Location within Chase County and Kansas
KDOT map of Chase County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°22′6″N 96°32′34″W / 38.36833°N 96.54278°W / 38.36833; -96.54278[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyChase
TownshipFalls
Founded1859
Incorporated1872[2]
Named forFalls on Cottonwood River
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
Area
 • Total0.65 sq mi (1.68 km2)
 • Land0.64 sq mi (1.67 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation1,207 ft (368 m)
Population
 • Total851
 • Density1,300/sq mi (510/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
66845
Area code620
FIPS code20-15900[1]
GNIS ID477262[1]
Websitecwfks.org

History

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Looking northward toward the business district, as seen from Courthouse steps (2009)

The first settlement in the Cottonwood Falls area was in 1854. An Indian trader named Seth Hayes created a cattle ranch on the Cottonwood River. In 1859, the area around the town was organized as Chase County. Cottonwood Falls was chosen to be the temporary county seat.[5] Other early people came in Cottonwood and nearby land from 1856 to 1858.[6]

The first post office in Cottonwood Falls was created in 1858.[7] In 1873, the city's French Renaissance style Chase County courthouse was built. Around the same time, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway reached Cottonwood Falls area. Through the late 19th century and early 20th century the area around the city was mostly farms and cattle ranches.

Geography

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1914 bridge over Cottonwood River in Cottonwood Falls (2012)

Cottonwood Falls is at 38°22′6″N 96°32′34″W / 38.36833°N 96.54278°W / 38.36833; -96.54278 (38.368211, -96.542755).[3] It is in the Flint Hills of the Great Plains. The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 0.65 square miles (1.68 km2). Of that, 0.64 square miles (1.66 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[3]

Climate

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Cottonwood Falls has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. The Köppen Climate Classification system says that Cottonwood Falls has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[8]

People

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Historical population
Census Pop.
1880518
189077048.6%
19008429.4%
19108996.8%
19201,04416.1%
1930963−7.8%
19401,07811.9%
1950957−11.2%
19609711.5%
19709871.6%
1980954−3.3%
1990889−6.8%
20009668.7%
2010903−6.5%
2020851−5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

Cottonwood Falls is part of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area.

2020 census

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The 2020 census says that there were 851 people, 318 households, and 179 families living in Cottonwood Falls. Of the households, 74.2% owned their home and 25.8% rented their home.

The median age was 41.9 years. Of the people, 77.3% were White, 1.9% were Black, 0.9% were Asian, 0.2% were Native American, 0.2% were Pacific Islanders, 14.9% were from some other race, and 4.5% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.7% of the people.[4][9]

2010 census

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The 2010 census says that there were 903 people, 342 households, and 205 families living in Cottonwood Falls.[10]

Education

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Cottonwood Falls is part of Unified School District 284.[11][12]

Infrastructure

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Transportation

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K-177 highway goes north-south through the city. Chase County Airport, FAA:9K0,[13] is south-east of 8th St and Airport Rd.[14]

Things to see

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Cottonwood Falls has five things on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Famous people

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Cottonwood Falls, Kansas". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "City of Cottonwood Falls". The League of Kansas Municipalities. May 26, 2019.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  5. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 459. ISBN 9780722249055.
  6. William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/chase/chase-co-p1.html
  7. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  8. Climate Summary for Cottonwood Falls, Kansas
  9. "P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  10. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  11. USD 284
  12. Kansas School District Boundary Map Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  13. Chase County Airport map
  14. Chase County Airport information Archived 2010-03-28 at the Wayback Machine
  15. National Register of Historic Places - Cartter Building
  16. National Register of Historic Places - Chase County Courthouse
  17. National Register of Historic Places - Chase County National Bank
  18. National Register of Historic Places - Cottonwood River Bridge
  19. Cottonwood Falls Dam & Bridge - Kansas Travel
  20. National Register of Historic Places - Samuel N Wood House
  21. Kansas Historical Marker - A Landmark Of Distinction
  22. Chase Lake Falls - Kansas Travel
  23. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1933,' Biographical Sketch of Harley A. Martin, pg. 253

Other websites

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City
Schools
Historical
Lodging
Maps