Erie, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Erie is a city in and the county seat
of Neosho County
, Kansas
, United States
, and situated in the valley of the Neosho River
, about a mile Northeast of the river. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,150.
ted 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the present townsite, while another community, known as "Crawfordsville," was started two miles southeast of the current site. In 1866, the proprietors of these two towns made a compromise to abandon the towns and start a new one. They selected the present townsite for the new location. In November of that year the Erie Town Company was formed consisting of D. W. Bray, Luther Packet, Peter Walters, and J. F. Hemilwright. Each member of this company donated forty acres of land in the center of Section 32, Township 28, Range 20 east.
Erie's first fire company
was established in November 1866; its charter members were those men who had donated the land on which the community was built. The first log home in Erie was built in 1866, while the first businesses were built in the following year. By 1883, the city had two general stores, two blacksmith shops, one drug store, two hotels, one newspaper office, two churches, and a population of about 300.
Erie was incorporated
on December 25, 1869 with J. A. Wells, G. W. Dale, John McCullough, Isaac M. Fletcher and Douglas Putnam as trustees. On December 30, the trustees met and declared Erie to be a city of the 3rd class.
In 1872, Erie was designated the county seat
of Neosho County, defeating Osage Mission in a contentious election. After a lawsuit reached the Kansas Supreme Court
, Erie retained the position of county seat.
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,211 people, 492 households, and 318 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,361.2 people per square mile (525.4/km²). There were 545 housing units at an average density of 612.6 per square mile (236.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.11% White, 0.17% African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.74% from other races
, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.
There were 492 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples
living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,568, and the median income for a family was $39,048. Males had a median income of $27,137 versus $18,672 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,019. About 9.1% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
program. The Extension program is jointly administered by Kansas State University Research and Extension and the joint Extension Board, with members from both Neosho and Allen Counties.
The Neosho County Fair, held at the fairgrounds in Erie, is also generally held around the third week of July. This includes entries from 4-H
and FFA
members and also open class entries from residents in the community. The Neosho County Fair is operated by Neosho County Extension Service and the Neosho County Fair Association, a 501(c)(5) non-profit corporation founded in 1956.
Salt pork and navy beans were a staple food for soldiers in the Civil War. So it was natural to serve kettles of beans during these reunions. Soon it became a tradition. Now over 1,400 pounds of beans are cooked in more than 50 iron kettles on the Courthouse lawn by the American Legion Post. Other events include the Rodeo held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings during Reunion Week. The Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion culminates on Friday night when Mainstreet Memories brings in Country and Western Recording Artists from Nashville each year.
Schools
Maps
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Neosho County
Neosho County, Kansas
Neosho County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 16,512...
, 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...
, and situated in the valley of the Neosho River
Neosho River
The Neosho River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. Its tributaries also drain portions of Missouri and Arkansas. The river is about long. Via the Arkansas, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.- Course :The Neosho's...
, about a mile Northeast of the river. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,150.
History
A settlement named "Erie," later referred to as "Old Erie" and "Beantown USA," was platPlat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the present townsite, while another community, known as "Crawfordsville," was started two miles southeast of the current site. In 1866, the proprietors of these two towns made a compromise to abandon the towns and start a new one. They selected the present townsite for the new location. In November of that year the Erie Town Company was formed consisting of D. W. Bray, Luther Packet, Peter Walters, and J. F. Hemilwright. Each member of this company donated forty acres of land in the center of Section 32, Township 28, Range 20 east.
Erie's first fire company
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
was established in November 1866; its charter members were those men who had donated the land on which the community was built. The first log home in Erie was built in 1866, while the first businesses were built in the following year. By 1883, the city had two general stores, two blacksmith shops, one drug store, two hotels, one newspaper office, two churches, and a population of about 300.
Erie was incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
on December 25, 1869 with J. A. Wells, G. W. Dale, John McCullough, Isaac M. Fletcher and Douglas Putnam as trustees. On December 30, the trustees met and declared Erie to be a city of the 3rd class.
In 1872, Erie was designated the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Neosho County, defeating Osage Mission in a contentious election. After a lawsuit reached the Kansas Supreme Court
Kansas Supreme Court
The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the state of Kansas. Composed of seven justices, led by Chief Justice Lawton Nuss, the Court supervises the legal profession, administers over the judicial branch, and serves as the state court of last resort in the appeals...
, Erie retained the position of county seat.
Geography
Erie is located at 37°34′7"N 95°14′33"W (37.568548, -95.242562). 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 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
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 1,211 people, 492 households, and 318 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 1,361.2 people per square mile (525.4/km²). There were 545 housing units at an average density of 612.6 per square mile (236.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.11% White, 0.17% African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.74% 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 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.
There were 492 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% 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, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,568, and the median income for a family was $39,048. Males had a median income of $27,137 versus $18,672 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 $17,019. About 9.1% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
Extension service
On July 1, 2010, the Neosho County Extension Service joined with the Allen County Extension Service to form the Southwind Extension District, headquartered in Erie. The Extension Service's mission is to help country residents with questions about their lawn and garden, crops and livestock, health and nutrition and family living. In addition the Extension Service sponsors youth development through the 4-H4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
program. The Extension program is jointly administered by Kansas State University Research and Extension and the joint Extension Board, with members from both Neosho and Allen Counties.
The Neosho County Fair, held at the fairgrounds in Erie, is also generally held around the third week of July. This includes entries from 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
and FFA
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
members and also open class entries from residents in the community. The Neosho County Fair is operated by Neosho County Extension Service and the Neosho County Fair Association, a 501(c)(5) non-profit corporation founded in 1956.
Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion
Erie is famous for its annual Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion held during the third week of July, including the annual Free Bean Feed. This reunion has been conducted continuously since 1873 and is claimed to be the oldest consecutively running Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion in the country.Salt pork and navy beans were a staple food for soldiers in the Civil War. So it was natural to serve kettles of beans during these reunions. Soon it became a tradition. Now over 1,400 pounds of beans are cooked in more than 50 iron kettles on the Courthouse lawn by the American Legion Post. Other events include the Rodeo held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings during Reunion Week. The Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion culminates on Friday night when Mainstreet Memories brings in Country and Western Recording Artists from Nashville each year.
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Preparation
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Education
The Consolidated Unified School District 101 (CUSD 101) serves Erie, Galesburg, Stark, and rural Parsons in Neosho County. On September 18, 2007 the district passed a $21.9 million bond issue. They are building a new green high school at Erie which will be open for classes beginning with the Fall 2010 semester. In addition, they are planning to rebuild the old high school into a K-8 facility and have built a new gym at Galesburg. The mascot for Erie High School is the Red Devil. The mascot for Galesburg Middle School is the Timber Wolf.Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
CitySchools
- USD 101, local school district
Maps
- 2005 Erie City Map, KDOT
- 2000 Neosho County Map, KDOT