Cherryvale, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Cherryvale is a city in Montgomery County
, Kansas
, United States
. The population was 2,386 at the 2000 census.
who were pushed out by veterans of the American Civil War
looking for land. The first white man to purchase property and settle here was Mr. Abe Eaton, who later sold it to the Kansas City, Lawrence & Southern Kansas Railroad which then became the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railway. The town site was plotted by the railroad in May 1871—at a time in which the 1870 U.S. Census had already reported 435 pioneering men, women and children taking up residence on a location named for its beautiful spring cherry blossoms.
From 1871-1873 the Benders, later called the Bloody Benders
, set up an inn outside of town and killed at least 12 travellers including one child. While the Benders hold a tragic and morbid story, they are famous in the area.
By 1880, the U.S. Census counted 620 Cherryvale residents, a number that swelled to 3,472 by 1900.
In late 1903, Cherryvale was deeply affected by the death of its city marshal, William G. Jones, who was shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant to a local resident. On the day of his funeral, the entire community closed as all residents attended his funeral.
The town grew exponentially as a railroad hub, becoming a leader in zinc
mining, glass and brick
production. The Edgar Zinc Company was once the world's largest zinc smeltering facility. By 1920, 4,698 people called Cherryvale home, and in 1925 the community featured 20 groceries, 10 restaurants, 2 theatres (the Liberty Theatre and the Royal Theatre), 11 churches, and a "Cherryvale Business College." There were also six brick plants that used the abundant natural gas of the area to fuel their kilns cheaply. Cherryvale once lay on the 90-mile route of the electric interurbans run by the Union Traction Company, with trolley tracks occupying the center of Main Street until 1947. Local boys during the 1930s liked to "soap" the trolley rails as a prank, halting the progress of interurban cars until a motorman climbed down and applied sand. By 1940, the local brickyards had ceased production, and population declined to 3,185 inhabitants. Since the 1970s- with the loss of light manufacturing firms- the number of the town's residents has dwindled further. The high school ball teams were renamed the "Cherryvale Chargers" because the original team name-- "The Fighting Cherries"-- conjured up images of a soft, sweet nature that did not inspire sufficient respect. Today the cherry trees of frontier Cherryvale exist only in local lore.
The city is currently the headquarters for the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad
, a shortline that runs 511 miles of track in Kansas and Oklahoma.
, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.27%) is water. Is self-described as the "Gateway to Big Hill Lake
."
of 2000, there were 2,386 people, 982 households, and 639 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,537.2 people per square mile (594.3/km²). There were 1,142 housing units at an average density of 735.7 per square mile (284.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.09% White, 0.08% African American, 1.97% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 1.30% from other races
, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 982 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $33,599. Males had a median income of $25,964 versus $19,356 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,655. About 13.0% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
Montgomery County, Kansas
Montgomery County is a county located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 35,471. Its county seat is Independence, and its most populous city is Coffeyville. The Coffeyville Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Montgomery...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,386 at the 2000 census.
History
Cherryvale was founded on the land of the Osage IndiansOsage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
who were pushed out by veterans of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
looking for land. The first white man to purchase property and settle here was Mr. Abe Eaton, who later sold it to the Kansas City, Lawrence & Southern Kansas Railroad which then became the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railway. The town site was plotted by the railroad in May 1871—at a time in which the 1870 U.S. Census had already reported 435 pioneering men, women and children taking up residence on a location named for its beautiful spring cherry blossoms.
From 1871-1873 the Benders, later called the Bloody Benders
Bloody Benders
The Bloody Benders were a family of serial killers who owned a small general store and inn in Osage township, Labette County, Kansas from 1872 to 1873. The inn was a dingy place called the Wayside Inn. The alleged family consisted of John Bender, his wife Kate, son John Jr. and daughter Kate...
, set up an inn outside of town and killed at least 12 travellers including one child. While the Benders hold a tragic and morbid story, they are famous in the area.
By 1880, the U.S. Census counted 620 Cherryvale residents, a number that swelled to 3,472 by 1900.
In late 1903, Cherryvale was deeply affected by the death of its city marshal, William G. Jones, who was shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant to a local resident. On the day of his funeral, the entire community closed as all residents attended his funeral.
The town grew exponentially as a railroad hub, becoming a leader in zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
mining, glass and brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
production. The Edgar Zinc Company was once the world's largest zinc smeltering facility. By 1920, 4,698 people called Cherryvale home, and in 1925 the community featured 20 groceries, 10 restaurants, 2 theatres (the Liberty Theatre and the Royal Theatre), 11 churches, and a "Cherryvale Business College." There were also six brick plants that used the abundant natural gas of the area to fuel their kilns cheaply. Cherryvale once lay on the 90-mile route of the electric interurbans run by the Union Traction Company, with trolley tracks occupying the center of Main Street until 1947. Local boys during the 1930s liked to "soap" the trolley rails as a prank, halting the progress of interurban cars until a motorman climbed down and applied sand. By 1940, the local brickyards had ceased production, and population declined to 3,185 inhabitants. Since the 1970s- with the loss of light manufacturing firms- the number of the town's residents has dwindled further. The high school ball teams were renamed the "Cherryvale Chargers" because the original team name-- "The Fighting Cherries"-- conjured up images of a soft, sweet nature that did not inspire sufficient respect. Today the cherry trees of frontier Cherryvale exist only in local lore.
The city is currently the headquarters for the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad
South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad
South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad is a short line railroad which operates 511 miles of rail lines in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. SKOL is a unit of Watco Companies....
, a shortline that runs 511 miles of track in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Geography
Cherryvale is located at 37°16′5"N 95°33′3"W (37.268010, -95.550778). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.27%) is water. Is self-described as the "Gateway to Big Hill Lake
Big Hill Lake
Big Hill Lake, is located 8 miles west of the city of Parsons, Kansas, USA along highway 160. The reservoir holds 1,240 acres of water, with available for public use. Fishing, picnicking, boating, and a sandy beach swimming area are popular activities. The lake is operated by the U.S. Army Corps...
."
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,386 people, 982 households, and 639 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,537.2 people per square mile (594.3/km²). There were 1,142 housing units at an average density of 735.7 per square mile (284.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.09% White, 0.08% African American, 1.97% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 1.30% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 982 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $33,599. Males had a median income of $25,964 versus $19,356 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,655. About 13.0% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
USD 447 is home to Lincoln Central Elementary School (Cherryvale) (K-6), Thayer Elementary (K-8) and Cherryvale Middle/High School (7-12). They compete in the Tri-Valley League and the mascot is the Charger, represented by a knight. It was previously the Fighting Cherries. The mascot was changed in 1969 by the high school student council after an overwhelming vote of the student body.Notable people
- Sam AveySam AveySam Avey was an American businessman and sports promoter. Best known as the wrestling promoter of little big men, he is also credited for helping to create the Tulsa wrestling territory later used by the National Wrestling Alliance.-Early life:Sam Avey was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on February...
, wrestling promoter - Louise BrooksLouise BrooksMary Louise Brooks , generally known by her stage name Louise Brooks, was an American dancer, model, showgirl and silent film actress, noted for popularizing the bobbed haircut. Brooks is best known for her three feature roles including two G. W...
, dancer, silent film star, and author - Claude Wendell Horton, Sr.Claude Wendell Horton, Sr.Claude Wendell Horton, Sr. was one of the principal contributors to the development of the Applied Research Laboratories and the Department of Physics at The University of Texas at Austin.-References:...
, geophysicist, acoustic researcher - Billy SandowBilly SandowWilhelm Baumann, better known as Billy Sandow , was the manager of professional wrestler Ed "Strangler" Lewis and a subsequent member of the famed Gold Dust Trio promotion that changed the face of the industry during the 1920s...
, manager for World Champion Ed "Strangler" Lewis - Vivian VanceVivian VanceVivian Roberta Jones was an American television and theater actress and singer. Often referred to as “TV’s most beloved second banana,” she is best known for her role as Ethel Mertz, sidekick to Lucille Ball on the American television sitcom I Love Lucy, and as Vivian Bagley on The Lucy...
, actress who played Ethel MertzEthel MertzEthel Roberta Louise Mae Mertz is one of the four main fictional characters in the highly popular 1950s and 1960s American television sitcom I Love Lucy, played by Vivian Vance. Ethel is the main character Lucy's middle-aged landlady - supposed to have been born about 1905, and raised in New Mexico...
on I Love LucyI Love LucyI Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...