Council Grove, Kansas

city and county seat in Morris County, Kansas, United States

Council Grove is a city in Morris County, Kansas, United States.[5] It is also the county seat of Morris County. This city is fifty-five miles southwest of Topeka. It was named after an agreement between European Americans and the Osage Nation about allowing settlers' wagon trains to go through the area to go West. Pioneers came together at a grove of trees so that wagons could stay together for their trip west. In 2020, 2,140 people lived there.[4]

Council Grove, Kansas
Downtown Council Grove (2012)
Downtown Council Grove (2012)
Location within Morris County and Kansas
Location within Morris County and Kansas
KDOT map of Morris County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°39′38″N 96°29′23″W / 38.66056°N 96.48972°W / 38.66056; -96.48972[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyMorris
Incorporated1887[2]
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
Area
 • Total2.21 sq mi (5.72 km2)
 • Land2.14 sq mi (5.53 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2)
Elevation1,234 ft (376 m)
Population
 • Total2,140
 • Density970/sq mi (370/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
66846, 66873
Area code620
FIPS code20-15925 [1]
GNIS ID477021 [1]
Websitecityofcouncilgrove.com

History

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1915-1918 Railroad Map of Morris County.
 
Madonna of the Trail monument in Council Grove (2005)

Council Grove was one of the last stops on the Santa Fe Trail when going southwest. The first European-American settler was Seth M. Hays. He came to the area in 1847 to trade with the Kaw tribe. The Kaw had a reservation created in the area in 1846. Hays was a great grandson of Daniel Boone.[source?]

On February 26, 1855, a post office was created in Council Grove.[6]

In 1858, the town was officially incorporated by the Kansas legislature.[7] Hays also opened a restaurant in 1857, the Hays House, which is said to be the oldest restaurant west of the Mississippi River.

In 1943, the United States government brought prisoners to Lawrence. These prisoners were war prisoners from World War II. The prisoners were mostly German people and Italian people. The government brought them because farmers needed more people. They were forced to live in camps. These camps were like prisons. Fort Riley created 12 small camps, and one was in Council Grove.[8]

Geography

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The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 2.21 square miles (5.72 km2). Of that, 2.14 square miles (5.54 km2) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) is water.[3]

Weather

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Council Grove has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. The Köppen Climate Classification system says that Council Grove has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[9]

 
Council Oak at Council Grove (1912)

People

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Historical population
Census Pop.
1870712
18801,04246.3%
18902,211112.2%
19002,2652.4%
19102,54512.4%
19202,85712.3%
19302,8981.4%
19402,875−0.8%
19502,722−5.3%
19602,664−2.1%
19702,403−9.8%
19802,381−0.9%
19902,228−6.4%
20002,3214.2%
20102,182−6.0%
20202,140−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

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The 2020 census says that there were 2,140 people, 912 households, and 528 families living in Council Grove. Of the households, 63.9% owned their home and 36.1% rented their home.

The median age was 41.3 years. Of the people, 90.9% were White, 0.3% were Native American, 0.2% were Black, 0.2% were Asian, 2.1% were from some other race, and 6.1% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.1% of the people.[4][10]

2010 census

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The 2010 census says that there were 2,182 people, 991 households, and 565 families living in Council Grove.[11]

Education

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Former Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Depot built in 1894
 
Aerial photo of Council Grove (2013)

Primary and secondary education

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Council Grove is part of Unified School District 417.[12][13]

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Council Grove, Kansas". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "City of Council Grove". The League of Kansas Municipalities. May 27, 2019.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  7. History of the State of Kansas: Containing a Full Account of Its Growth from an Uninhabited Territory to a Wealthy and Important State. A. T. Andreas. 1883. p. 803.
  8. List of Prisoner Of War (POW) Camps in Kansas, Genealogy Tracer
  9. Climate Summary for Council Grove, Kansas
  10. "P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  11. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  12. USD 417
  13. Kansas School District Boundary Map Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

More reading

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Other websites

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City
Schools
Historical
Maps