Iola, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Iola is a city
situated along the Neosho River
in the northwestern part of Allen County
, located in Southeast Kansas
, in the Central
United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,704. Iola is the county seat
of Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.
, by the legislature of 1858, there was a great deal of dissatisfaction among the residents of the central and northern parts of the county, and a number of citizens selected the present site of Iola, with the intention of ultimately securing the county seat. On January 1, 1859, a large meeting was held at the Deer Creek schoolhouse. It was determined to organize a town company, which was immediately done, and a constitution was then adopted and officers elected. The officers of the company after due consideration of different points selected a site for the proposed town, about two miles (3 km) north of Cofachique
, at the confluence of Elm Creek and the Neosho River
. The site was owned in part by J.F. Colborn and W.H. Cochrane. The claims on two quarter-sections were bought, and were soon after surveyed into lots.
The town company worked hard to get the town started. A meeting was held to choose a name. Several were proposed, and the choice was determined by ballot. Some one had proposed the name Iola, which was the Christian name of J.F. Colborn's wife. As a result of the vote, this name was chosen. Meetings of the company were held every week during the first year and efforts made to induce settlement. By the close of the year a number of lots had been disposed of, several buildings erected, and other improvements made, as all who bought lots were required to make some improvements at once. The residents of Cofachique, despairing of making their town a success, joined with Iola, and most of them moved to the new site, all working together in the endeavor to secure the location of the county seat at once.
The first building on the town site was a small log cabin owned by D.B. Bayne. Late in 1859, he built a frame house addition to it. The first building erected after the town was surveyed was a dwelling completed early in June, 1859, by J.F. Colborn, who had lived on the claim of which the town site formed a part, since 1857. On the completion of the house, Colborn and his family moved into it, thus being the first settlers in the town of Iola. The first birth in Iola was that of Luella E. Colborn.
During 1859, two stores were established by Aaron Case and James Faulkner, who had moved their buildings and goods from the old town of Cofachique, and the first hotel was opened. The post office for the neighborhood had previously been at Cofachique, and Aaron Case was Postmaster, but in October 1859, the office was removed to Iola, Case still being Postmaster, though James Faulkner attended to it, as his deputy, until he was appointed to the office a short time after. In 1860, a number of buildings were erected, and the population increased to about 150. Two more stores were opened—a dry goods store, by D.B. Bayne, and a grocery, by J.M. Cowan.
On March 26, 1860, an election was held on the re-location of the county seat, but the majority of votes were cast to keep the county seat in Humboldt. People were still dissatisfied, and for several years thereafter the county seat question entered largely into every political campaign. Much strife and bitterness of feeling was thus engendered between the two sections of the county, and harsh accusations and recriminations were the order of the day. After a number of years of strife, an election was again ordered, to take place on May 19, 1865. Having secured a majority of the votes, Iola was declared the county seat, and the records and county offices removed there at once, since which time it has remained.
City improvements in 1860 were nearly all made in the spring and early summer. In the latter part of the year the effects of the drought were so badly felt, in addition to failing to secure the county seat, that business became very dull, and for a time all of the citizens were much discouraged. In 1861 the war broke out, and as nearly every able-bodied man in Iola, as well as the county, had entered the army there was no chance for improvement; and until the close of the war, in 1865, the town grew to be no larger than it was in 1860. In 1865, after the return of the citizens from the army at the close of the war, the town began to improve steadily, and so continued until the year 1870, at which time (in March) it was incorporated as a city of the third class, and having secured the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad, rapid strides were made for the next two years in the improvement of the town. Several manufacturing establishments were in project, and some of them were built.
Among other heavy institutions at that time, was the King Bridge Manufacturing Company, which located the Bridge shops at Iola, in 1871. For some time large numbers of men were employed, and good business was done. But with the monetary panic of 1873, the value of bonds so depreciated that the company failed, and removed its machinery. They received bonds in payment, generally, for their bridges and work, and for this reason the "crash" ruined them. The buildings and several acres of land on which they were located were sold at a Sheriff's sale for $1,100, being purchased by several citizens of Iola. The early journal of the city disappeared during the trouble with the King Iron Bridge Company, relative to the payment of the city bonds voted to that company, which caused some trouble regarding the legality of some of the ordinances and acts said to have been enacted by the first City Council. During the period 1873 to 1876, business in all branches was very poor, and little improvement in the town was made.
The Allen County Courant was the first newspaper published int Iola, and was established January 5, 1867, by W.H. Johnson. On July 27, 1868, Messrs. Talcott & Acers purchased it, and the name of the paper was changed to the Neosho Valley Register. In the following years the ownership of the paper changed five times and it was briefly renamed Kansas State Register between August 24 and December 10, 1870. On January 1, 1875, W.G. Allison & H.W. Perkins took charge and changed the paper's name to the Iola Register. The paper remained Republican under each of these different names and proprietorships.
When the county seat was located at Iola, the town company donated 100 lots to the county, to aid in the construction of public buildings. In July, 1866, bonds were voted to help raise the necessary funds, and not long after a building was purchased from George J. Eldridge, and used for county offices and all court house purposes. In 1877, a new court house, built of stone, was purchased for $1,800, and the old one was sold to the school district to use for a schoolhouse, for $500. The school was kept in two buildings, one the large two-story stone structure erected in 1868, and having an imposing appearance with its twin towers. The other building was a two-story frame, and situated just south of the stone schoolhouse.
The Allen County Jail
, a strong stone structure, was built at a cost of $10,000, in county bonds, which were voted in August, 1868. The next year, the building was erected by White & Hays, at a contract price of $8,400.
In November, 1871, a tax of $5,000 was voted, to purchase and fit up a poor-farm. On February 12, 1872, a tract of land comprising 175 acre (0.7082005 km²) was purchased of David Funkhouser, for $26 per acre, and J.W. Driscoll was appointed keeper of the poor-farm.
An economic boom from natural gas began around 1895 and resulted in a surge in population and industry. In 1910, the population had reached 9,032.
Iola is located at 37°55′22"N 95°24′1"W (37.922651, -95.400367). The city is situated along the eastern bank of the Neosho River
between Deer Creek, to the north, and Rock Creek, to the south, with Coon Creek flowing through the city. Important natural gas fields are in the vicinity. U.S. Route 54
passes through Iola along Madison Street and interchanges with U.S. Route 169
which passes by the east side of the city. The smaller cities of Gas
and La Harpe
are a few miles to the east along US-54. The tiny city of Bassett
lies adjacent to Iola's southern border, and the city of Humboldt is about 7 miles (11.3 km) to the south along US-169.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), of which 0.17% is water.
of 2000, there were 6,302 people, 2,590 households, and 1,590 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,497.0 people per square mile (578.0/km²). There were 2,885 housing units at an average density of 685.3 per square mile (264.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.72% White, 2.82% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.73% from other races
, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.81% of the population.
There were 2,590 household
s, of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples
living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.
The median income for a household
in the city was $29,219, and the median income for a family was $37,795. Males had a median income of $26,407 versus $19,407 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,741. About 14.0% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
situated along 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...
in the northwestern part of Allen County
Allen County, Kansas
Allen County is a county located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 13,371...
, located in Southeast Kansas
Southeast Kansas
Southeast Kansas is a region of the U.S. state of Kansas. It can be roughly defined by Woodson County in the northwest, Bourbon County in the northeast, Cherokee County in the southeast, and Montgomery County in the southwest. Geographically it is dominated by a broad rolling landscape located...
, in the Central
Central United States
The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model, roughly coincident with the Midwestern United States plus the western and central portions of the Southern United States; the term is also sometimes used...
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 5,704. Iola is 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 Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.
History
The history of Iola began in 1859. After the location of the county seat at HumboldtHumboldt, Kansas
Humboldt is a city situated along the Neosho River in the southwest part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,953.-History:...
, by the legislature of 1858, there was a great deal of dissatisfaction among the residents of the central and northern parts of the county, and a number of citizens selected the present site of Iola, with the intention of ultimately securing the county seat. On January 1, 1859, a large meeting was held at the Deer Creek schoolhouse. It was determined to organize a town company, which was immediately done, and a constitution was then adopted and officers elected. The officers of the company after due consideration of different points selected a site for the proposed town, about two miles (3 km) north of Cofachique
Cofachique, Kansas
Cofachique was a town situated along the Neosho River near the present-day city of Iola in the western part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. Being the first town established in Allen County in 1855, it was the original county seat...
, at the confluence of Elm Creek and 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...
. The site was owned in part by J.F. Colborn and W.H. Cochrane. The claims on two quarter-sections were bought, and were soon after surveyed into lots.
The town company worked hard to get the town started. A meeting was held to choose a name. Several were proposed, and the choice was determined by ballot. Some one had proposed the name Iola, which was the Christian name of J.F. Colborn's wife. As a result of the vote, this name was chosen. Meetings of the company were held every week during the first year and efforts made to induce settlement. By the close of the year a number of lots had been disposed of, several buildings erected, and other improvements made, as all who bought lots were required to make some improvements at once. The residents of Cofachique, despairing of making their town a success, joined with Iola, and most of them moved to the new site, all working together in the endeavor to secure the location of the county seat at once.
The first building on the town site was a small log cabin owned by D.B. Bayne. Late in 1859, he built a frame house addition to it. The first building erected after the town was surveyed was a dwelling completed early in June, 1859, by J.F. Colborn, who had lived on the claim of which the town site formed a part, since 1857. On the completion of the house, Colborn and his family moved into it, thus being the first settlers in the town of Iola. The first birth in Iola was that of Luella E. Colborn.
During 1859, two stores were established by Aaron Case and James Faulkner, who had moved their buildings and goods from the old town of Cofachique, and the first hotel was opened. The post office for the neighborhood had previously been at Cofachique, and Aaron Case was Postmaster, but in October 1859, the office was removed to Iola, Case still being Postmaster, though James Faulkner attended to it, as his deputy, until he was appointed to the office a short time after. In 1860, a number of buildings were erected, and the population increased to about 150. Two more stores were opened—a dry goods store, by D.B. Bayne, and a grocery, by J.M. Cowan.
On March 26, 1860, an election was held on the re-location of the county seat, but the majority of votes were cast to keep the county seat in Humboldt. People were still dissatisfied, and for several years thereafter the county seat question entered largely into every political campaign. Much strife and bitterness of feeling was thus engendered between the two sections of the county, and harsh accusations and recriminations were the order of the day. After a number of years of strife, an election was again ordered, to take place on May 19, 1865. Having secured a majority of the votes, Iola was declared the county seat, and the records and county offices removed there at once, since which time it has remained.
City improvements in 1860 were nearly all made in the spring and early summer. In the latter part of the year the effects of the drought were so badly felt, in addition to failing to secure the county seat, that business became very dull, and for a time all of the citizens were much discouraged. In 1861 the war broke out, and as nearly every able-bodied man in Iola, as well as the county, had entered the army there was no chance for improvement; and until the close of the war, in 1865, the town grew to be no larger than it was in 1860. In 1865, after the return of the citizens from the army at the close of the war, the town began to improve steadily, and so continued until the year 1870, at which time (in March) it was incorporated as a city of the third class, and having secured the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad, rapid strides were made for the next two years in the improvement of the town. Several manufacturing establishments were in project, and some of them were built.
Among other heavy institutions at that time, was the King Bridge Manufacturing Company, which located the Bridge shops at Iola, in 1871. For some time large numbers of men were employed, and good business was done. But with the monetary panic of 1873, the value of bonds so depreciated that the company failed, and removed its machinery. They received bonds in payment, generally, for their bridges and work, and for this reason the "crash" ruined them. The buildings and several acres of land on which they were located were sold at a Sheriff's sale for $1,100, being purchased by several citizens of Iola. The early journal of the city disappeared during the trouble with the King Iron Bridge Company, relative to the payment of the city bonds voted to that company, which caused some trouble regarding the legality of some of the ordinances and acts said to have been enacted by the first City Council. During the period 1873 to 1876, business in all branches was very poor, and little improvement in the town was made.
The Allen County Courant was the first newspaper published int Iola, and was established January 5, 1867, by W.H. Johnson. On July 27, 1868, Messrs. Talcott & Acers purchased it, and the name of the paper was changed to the Neosho Valley Register. In the following years the ownership of the paper changed five times and it was briefly renamed Kansas State Register between August 24 and December 10, 1870. On January 1, 1875, W.G. Allison & H.W. Perkins took charge and changed the paper's name to the Iola Register. The paper remained Republican under each of these different names and proprietorships.
When the county seat was located at Iola, the town company donated 100 lots to the county, to aid in the construction of public buildings. In July, 1866, bonds were voted to help raise the necessary funds, and not long after a building was purchased from George J. Eldridge, and used for county offices and all court house purposes. In 1877, a new court house, built of stone, was purchased for $1,800, and the old one was sold to the school district to use for a schoolhouse, for $500. The school was kept in two buildings, one the large two-story stone structure erected in 1868, and having an imposing appearance with its twin towers. The other building was a two-story frame, and situated just south of the stone schoolhouse.
The Allen County Jail
Allen County Jail
The Allen County Jail is a former jail in Iola, Kansas, United States. Built in the late 1860s, it operated as a detention facility for nearly a century before a replacement opened; today, it is a local history museum, and it has been designated a historic site.-Structure:The jail is a stone...
, a strong stone structure, was built at a cost of $10,000, in county bonds, which were voted in August, 1868. The next year, the building was erected by White & Hays, at a contract price of $8,400.
In November, 1871, a tax of $5,000 was voted, to purchase and fit up a poor-farm. On February 12, 1872, a tract of land comprising 175 acre (0.7082005 km²) was purchased of David Funkhouser, for $26 per acre, and J.W. Driscoll was appointed keeper of the poor-farm.
An economic boom from natural gas began around 1895 and resulted in a surge in population and industry. In 1910, the population had reached 9,032.
Geography
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...
between Deer Creek, to the north, and Rock Creek, to the south, with Coon Creek flowing through the city. Important natural gas fields are in the vicinity. U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54 is an east–west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 1,197 miles from western Illinois to El Paso, Texas. It enters and leaves Texas twice...
passes through Iola along Madison Street and interchanges with U.S. Route 169
U.S. Route 169
U.S. Route 169 currently runs for 966 miles from the city of Virginia, Minnesota to Tulsa, Oklahoma at U.S. Route 64.-Oklahoma:U.S. Highway 169 is a major south–north highway spanning in Oklahoma. The southern terminus for US-169 is Memorial Drive...
which passes by the east side of the city. The smaller cities of Gas
Gas, Kansas
Gas is a city in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 564. The city was named for the abundant natural gas that was found in the area.-History:...
and La Harpe
La Harpe, Kansas
La Harpe is a city situated in the central part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 578.-History:...
are a few miles to the east along US-54. The tiny city of Bassett
Bassett, Kansas
Bassett is a city situated along the Neosho River in the west-central part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 14.-History:...
lies adjacent to Iola's southern border, and the city of Humboldt is about 7 miles (11.3 km) to the south along US-169.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), of which 0.17% 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 6,302 people, 2,590 households, and 1,590 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 1,497.0 people per square mile (578.0/km²). There were 2,885 housing units at an average density of 685.3 per square mile (264.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.72% White, 2.82% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.73% 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 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.81% of the population.
There were 2,590 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s, of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% 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, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.
The median income for a household
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
in the city was $29,219, and the median income for a family was $37,795. Males had a median income of $26,407 versus $19,407 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 $14,741. About 14.0% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Unified school districts
- Iola USD 257 (Web site), home of the 2006 Kansas 4A Girls State Basketball Champions.
Transportation
- Allen County AirportAllen County AirportAllen County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Iola, in Allen County, Kansas, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
is three miles south of the city. Domestic busBusA bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
and railRail transportRail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
service have been discontinued over the years. - The Greyhound Lines has a bus stop in Iola.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Allen County, Kansas
- Iola High SchoolIola High SchoolIola High School is a fully accredited high school located in Iola, Kansas, USA, serving students in grades 9-12. The current principal is David Grover. There are two different school mascots for the high school. The boys mascot is the Mustang and the girls mascot is the Fillies...
- Frederick FunstonFrederick FunstonFrederick N. Funston also known as Fred Funston, was a General in the United States Army, best known for his role in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War...
- Great Flood of 1951Great Flood of 1951In mid-July 1951, heavy rains led to a great rise of water in the Kansas River and other surrounding areas. Flooding resulted in the Kansas, Neosho, Marais Des Cygnes, and Verdigris river basins. The damage in June and July 1951 exceeded $935 million dollars in an area covering eastern Kansas and...
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
- City of Iola
- Iola - Directory of Public Officials
- Iola information
- The Iola Register Interactive
- KIKS-KIOL Radio Stations
- Nautilus Commercial Data Systems, local ISP: Iola information
- Official website of the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce