Holton, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Holton is a city in and the county seat
of Jackson County
, Kansas
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,329. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
, in May 1856. A train of six covered wagons, each drawn by two yoke of oxen, started the long trek to take Free State settlers to Kansas. They were financed by the Kansas Society of Milwaukee which was headed by E. D. Holton. They met General James H. Lane with two hundred men at Nebraska City, Nebraska
, a rendezvous for Free State men. They followed the Jim Lane Road into Kansas approximately thirty miles. They came to Elk Creek, 2½ miles west of Holton, where they cut timbers to make a bridge, crossed it and made camp where Central School now stands. They liked the two streams (later named Banner Creek and Elk Creek) and the pleasant grassy hills, so they decided to stay. A company was organized and a civil engineer who was with them commenced the survey. They named the new town in honor of Mr. Holton, the Milwaukee abolitionist.
A log house 20 by 30 feet was erected; it was so planned that is could be used for a fort and was known as Jim Lane's Fort. In the spring of 1857, J. B. Ingerson surveyed the townsite lots.
The county that contains Holton was previously named Calhoun County until 1859 when the name was changed to Jackson County. Holton was chosen as the county seat in 1858. A frame building served as the first courthouse on the east side of the square, near the middle of the block. The first courthouse was built in the center of the square in 1872. The present courthouse was completed in 1921.
In 1859, the famous John Brown
took a group of escaped slaves through Holton, leading to an incident known as the "Battle of the Spurs".
In 1859, Holton had seven dwellings, one store, a blacksmith shop and a steam saw mill. The census taken in April, 1857, gave Holton 291 people; in 1860 the population was 1,936. In 1859 the city was incorporated.
In 1879, the residents of Jackson County, Kansas
decided to form a university in Holton. It was funded by mining magnate, A. C. Campbell, a former resident who had moved to Utah
, and thus named Campbell University
. In 1902 it merged with Lane University
and became Campbell College
. In 1913, it merge with Kansas City University
.
, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.54%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,353 people, 1,396 households, and 862 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,369.2 people per square mile (528.4/km²). There were 1,522 housing units at an average density of 621.5 per square mile (239.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.14% White, 1.13% African American, 2.89% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.54% from other races
, and 2.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.
There were 1,396 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 80.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,866, and the median income for a family was $44,591. Males had a median income of $32,241 versus $24,006 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,459. About 8.1% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
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 Jackson County
Jackson County, Kansas
Jackson County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 13,462. Its county seat and most populous city is Holton...
, 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...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,329. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Topeka metropolitan area
The Topeka Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in northeastern Kansas, anchored by the city of Topeka...
.
History
The party that chose the site of Holton started at Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, in May 1856. A train of six covered wagons, each drawn by two yoke of oxen, started the long trek to take Free State settlers to Kansas. They were financed by the Kansas Society of Milwaukee which was headed by E. D. Holton. They met General James H. Lane with two hundred men at Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska City is a city in Otoe County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,228 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Otoe County...
, a rendezvous for Free State men. They followed the Jim Lane Road into Kansas approximately thirty miles. They came to Elk Creek, 2½ miles west of Holton, where they cut timbers to make a bridge, crossed it and made camp where Central School now stands. They liked the two streams (later named Banner Creek and Elk Creek) and the pleasant grassy hills, so they decided to stay. A company was organized and a civil engineer who was with them commenced the survey. They named the new town in honor of Mr. Holton, the Milwaukee abolitionist.
A log house 20 by 30 feet was erected; it was so planned that is could be used for a fort and was known as Jim Lane's Fort. In the spring of 1857, J. B. Ingerson surveyed the townsite lots.
The county that contains Holton was previously named Calhoun County until 1859 when the name was changed to Jackson County. Holton was chosen as the county seat in 1858. A frame building served as the first courthouse on the east side of the square, near the middle of the block. The first courthouse was built in the center of the square in 1872. The present courthouse was completed in 1921.
In 1859, the famous John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
took a group of escaped slaves through Holton, leading to an incident known as the "Battle of the Spurs".
In 1859, Holton had seven dwellings, one store, a blacksmith shop and a steam saw mill. The census taken in April, 1857, gave Holton 291 people; in 1860 the population was 1,936. In 1859 the city was incorporated.
In 1879, the residents of Jackson County, Kansas
Jackson County, Kansas
Jackson County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 13,462. Its county seat and most populous city is Holton...
decided to form a university in Holton. It was funded by mining magnate, A. C. Campbell, a former resident who had moved to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, and thus named Campbell University
Campbell University
Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of...
. In 1902 it merged with Lane University
Lane University
Lane University was a college located in Lecompton, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 by Rev. Solomon Weaver, the first president, and was named after U.S. Senator James H. Lane. Jim Lane was a main free-state leader, and Lecompton was previously the capital of the opposing pro-slavery faction...
and became Campbell College
Campbell College (Kansas)
Campbell College was a former college in Holton, Kansas. It was initially planned in 1870 and opened in 1880 with a large part of the funding provided by A. G. Campbell a wealthy Utah mine owner and former Jackson County, Kansas resident, for whom it was named. It initially operated under the...
. In 1913, it merge with Kansas City University
Kansas City University
Kansas City University was a private Methodist university in Kansas City, Kansas that was founded 1896 and into the 1930s. During the term of college president D. S. Stephens, the university was the site of a church conference between United Brethren and Methodist church conferences where a...
.
Geography
Holton is located at 39°28′1"N 95°44′13"W (39.466935, -95.736869). 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 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.54%) is water.
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 3,353 people, 1,396 households, and 862 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 1,369.2 people per square mile (528.4/km²). There were 1,522 housing units at an average density of 621.5 per square mile (239.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.14% White, 1.13% African American, 2.89% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.54% 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 2.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.
There were 1,396 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% 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, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 80.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,866, and the median income for a family was $44,591. Males had a median income of $32,241 versus $24,006 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 $17,459. About 8.1% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
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)