Louisburg, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Louisburg is a city in Miami County
, Kansas
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,315.
, the land of what is now called Louisburg was part of that reserved for members of various tribes of Native Americans
that were ceding their lands in Missouri
, Illinois
, and Indiana
. Settling there were the Peoria
, Wea
, Piankeshaw
, and Kaskaskia
tribes which together eventually became the Confederated Tribe of Peoria. Traders and missionaries
often visited the area, and by 1854 settlers began moving nearby, establishing homes.
Upon the organization of the state of Kansas
in 1861, the Confederated Tribes were being charged with taxes, and the new state laws conflicted with their own. By 1866, following the American Civil War, the government moved the Confederated Tribe of Peoria to Oklahoma
, and the land they once occupied was sold to settler
s. A community of homes resulted by 1867, and was called St. Louis. Soon, it was often referred to as New St. Louis or Little St. Louis as an effort to distinguish it from St. Louis, Missouri
located on the banks of the Mississippi River
.
From 1868 to 1870 the settlement of Little St. Louis grew to include businesses and churches, and a railroad depot
was to be completed. Because the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad (MKT Railroad) would be coming to serve the community, and to avoid additional confusion, Little St. Louis was renamed Louisburg in 1870. The railroad depot was completed by 1871, and Louisburg's first school opened the same year. The community had some disorder during this time. As a town near the border, there remained conflicts between Kansas Jayhawkers
and Missouri Raiders
. In addition, the railroad tracks running through the community divided it into north and south areas. Around 1875, many businesses and homes were moved from north of the railroad to the south, and formed what was to become downtown Louisburg.
Louisburg was incorporated
as a city of the third class November 3, 1882, and held its first city election two weeks later on November 17, 1882. The population was listed as 400, and 141 of those residents voted in the first election.
In October 1912, an unsolved murder in the community took place as the towns post master at the time, George McElhaney was shot twice by a 12 gauge shot gun at his home. Several people were accused of the murder including his own wife after she admitted an affair with one of the accused, but after intense trails and no hard evidence the case was dropped,and no one ever admitted as the murderer.In later years the murder was almost forgotten asides memory from a handful of senior citizens,until Joe Towne one of the community leaders, grew interested in the subject and studied it and interviewed those who remembered the tragic situation and wrote it into a true story novel "Tongues on Fire".
, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.63%) is water.
house in the nearby town of Paola
, and was called such because it was indeed round in shape. Because of increased truck traffic from Missouri on K-68 through town, Louisburg was contacted by the State of Kansas about needing an inspection station. As a solution, the Little Round House was moved to Louisburg in the 1930s to serve as a border checkpoint
office. As years passed, the Little Round House became a home to a variety of small businesses, and had been used as temporary housing during World War II
. The shape and size aided in it becoming a landmark to Louisburg. In 2005, The Little Round House was moved from its original location to the Louisburg City Lake, and has been restored by the community due to its historical value to the town.
runs part of the Frontier Military Scenic Byway, a 168 miles (270.4 km)-long route from near Leavenworth, Kansas
to the border of Oklahoma. The byway closely follows a road originally built between 1838 and 1844 that was used to transport soldiers and supplies from Fort Leavenworth
in Kansas to Fort Scott
in Kansas and to Fort Gibson
in Oklahoma.
of 2000, there were 2,576 people, 946 households, and 687 families residing in the city. The population density
was 775.1 people per square mile (299.6/km²). There were 1,026 housing units at an average density of 308.7 per square mile (119.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.21% White, 0.31% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races
, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 946 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,500, and the median income for a family was $51,729. Males had a median income of $33,783 versus $29,250 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,560. About 2.8% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
, which was built in 1984 by members of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City. The observatory's telescopes include one of the largest in the region, which is also one of the few in the nation of its size that is made available for public viewing. The observatory regularly schedules viewings available to the public, and also provides shows that are intended to educate individuals about astronomy. Private viewings can also be scheduled. Also near Louisburg is Middle Creek Theatre - Rutlader Outpost, which has an RV park for those who camp and listen to the live music and entertainment, and an antique store for shopping.
The Louisburg Middle School achieved building-wide Standard of Excellence Awards on state assessment tests in reading from 2006 to 2008, and in math from 2007 to 2008. For the 2009-2010 school year the school again received Standard of Excellence Awards in both areas, and was a finalist for the National Middle School of the Year Award.
Louisburg High School has also recently performed well on state assessments, being honored with the Governor's Achievement Award for the 2009 year. Louisburg High School was in the top 5 percent of all state high schools. Louisburg High School recently has been nominated to be a Blue Ribbon School, which is a national recognition of its recent academic achievements.
Maps
Miami County, Kansas
Miami County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 32,787. Its county seat and most populous city is Paola...
, 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 4,315.
19th century
Prior to the American Civil WarAmerican 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...
, the land of what is now called Louisburg was part of that reserved for members of various tribes of Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
that were ceding their lands in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Settling there were the Peoria
Peoria (tribe)
The Peoria people are a Native American tribe. Today they are enrolled in the federally recognized Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma. Historically, they were part of the Illinois Confederation.-History:...
, Wea
Wea
The Wea were a Miami-Illinois-speaking tribe originally located in western Indiana, closely related to the Miami. The name Wea is used today as the a shortened version of their many recorded names...
, Piankeshaw
Piankeshaw
The Piankeshaw Indians were Native Americans, and members of the Miami Indians who lived apart from the rest of the Miami nation. They lived in an area that now includes western Indiana and Ohio, and were closely allied with the Wea Indians...
, and Kaskaskia
Kaskaskia
The Kaskaskia were one of about a dozen cognate tribes that made up the Illiniwek Confederation or Illinois Confederation. Their longstanding homeland was in the Great Lakes region...
tribes which together eventually became the Confederated Tribe of Peoria. Traders and missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
often visited the area, and by 1854 settlers began moving nearby, establishing homes.
Upon the organization of the state of 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...
in 1861, the Confederated Tribes were being charged with taxes, and the new state laws conflicted with their own. By 1866, following the American Civil War, the government moved the Confederated Tribe of Peoria to Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and the land they once occupied was sold to settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s. A community of homes resulted by 1867, and was called St. Louis. Soon, it was often referred to as New St. Louis or Little St. Louis as an effort to distinguish it from St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
located on the banks of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
From 1868 to 1870 the settlement of Little St. Louis grew to include businesses and churches, and a railroad depot
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
was to be completed. Because the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad (MKT Railroad) would be coming to serve the community, and to avoid additional confusion, Little St. Louis was renamed Louisburg in 1870. The railroad depot was completed by 1871, and Louisburg's first school opened the same year. The community had some disorder during this time. As a town near the border, there remained conflicts between Kansas Jayhawkers
Jayhawker
Jayhawkers is a term that came to prominence just before the American Civil War in Bleeding Kansas, where it was adopted by militant bands affiliated with the free-state cause. These bands, known as "Jayhawkers", were guerrilla fighters who often clashed with pro-slavery groups from Missouri known...
and Missouri Raiders
Quantrill's Raiders
Quantrill's Raiders were a loosely organized force of pro-Confederate Partisan rangers, "bushwhackers", who fought in the American Civil War under the leadership of William Clarke Quantrill...
. In addition, the railroad tracks running through the community divided it into north and south areas. Around 1875, many businesses and homes were moved from north of the railroad to the south, and formed what was to become downtown Louisburg.
Louisburg 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...
as a city of the third class November 3, 1882, and held its first city election two weeks later on November 17, 1882. The population was listed as 400, and 141 of those residents voted in the first election.
20th century
In the early 1900s Louisburg's downtown had a variety of businesses such as retail stores, supply stores, livery stables, a hotel, and large nurseries. By 1910 the population was 603, and Louisburg was known as a good supply town for agricultural districts.. w By the 1920s, the town also had a gas station, as automobile ownership and traffic through town had increased. By the late 1950s the MKT Railroad ended its service to Louisburg, but because K-68 went through town and US Highway 69 and K-68 intersected near town, growth continued..In October 1912, an unsolved murder in the community took place as the towns post master at the time, George McElhaney was shot twice by a 12 gauge shot gun at his home. Several people were accused of the murder including his own wife after she admitted an affair with one of the accused, but after intense trails and no hard evidence the case was dropped,and no one ever admitted as the murderer.In later years the murder was almost forgotten asides memory from a handful of senior citizens,until Joe Towne one of the community leaders, grew interested in the subject and studied it and interviewed those who remembered the tragic situation and wrote it into a true story novel "Tongues on Fire".
Geography
Louisburg is located at 38°37′11"N 94°40′45"W (38.619751, -94.679050). 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 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.63%) is water.
Area attractions
The Little Round House
The The Little Round House was originally an addition to a front porch for a Victorian-styleVictorian fashion
Victorian fashion comprises the various fashions and trends in British culture that emerged and grew in province throughout the Victorian era and the reign of Queen Victoria, a period which would last from June 1837 to January 1901. Covering nearly two thirds of the 19th century, the 63 year reign...
house in the nearby town of Paola
Paola, Kansas
Paola is a city in and the county seat of Miami County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,602.-History:...
, and was called such because it was indeed round in shape. Because of increased truck traffic from Missouri on K-68 through town, Louisburg was contacted by the State of Kansas about needing an inspection station. As a solution, the Little Round House was moved to Louisburg in the 1930s to serve as a border checkpoint
Border checkpoint
A border checkpoint is a place, generally between two countries, where travellers and/or goods are inspected. Authorization often is required to enter a country through its borders. Access-controlled borders often have a limited number of checkpoints where they can be crossed without legal...
office. As years passed, the Little Round House became a home to a variety of small businesses, and had been used as temporary housing during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The shape and size aided in it becoming a landmark to Louisburg. In 2005, The Little Round House was moved from its original location to the Louisburg City Lake, and has been restored by the community due to its historical value to the town.
Frontier Military Scenic Byway
Along the west side of Louisburg and close to U.S. Route 69U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69 is a north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus is in Port Arthur, Texas at an intersection with State Highway 87...
runs part of the Frontier Military Scenic Byway, a 168 miles (270.4 km)-long route from near Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
to the border of Oklahoma. The byway closely follows a road originally built between 1838 and 1844 that was used to transport soldiers and supplies from Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
in Kansas to Fort Scott
Fort Scott
General Winfield Scott, former General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army, was the namesake for five places named Fort Scott:*Fort Scott, Kansas, a city that grew up around a military fort of the same name**Fort Scott National Historic Site...
in Kansas and to Fort Gibson
Fort Gibson
Fort Gibson, now located in Oklahoma and designated Fort Gibson Historical Site, guarded the American frontier in Indian Territory from 1824 until 1890...
in Oklahoma.
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 2,576 people, 946 households, and 687 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 775.1 people per square mile (299.6/km²). There were 1,026 housing units at an average density of 308.7 per square mile (119.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.21% White, 0.31% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.12% 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 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 946 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,500, and the median income for a family was $51,729. Males had a median income of $33,783 versus $29,250 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 $21,560. About 2.8% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation
Recreation in Louisburg includes several options. The Middle Creek State Fishing Lake is nearby for fishing, and the Louisburg City Lake has a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) paved pathway around it for individuals to walk or jog. Additionally, Louisburg has the Louisburg Aquatic Center for swimming, a 9-hole public golf course, a city park, and the Lewis-Young Park which has softball, baseball, and soccer fields that are used day and night. Also located at Lewis-Young Park is the Powell ObservatoryPowell Observatory
Powell Observatory is an astronomical observatory located near Louisburg in Miami County, Kansas, near Kansas City. It features several large telescopes and is available for public viewing, for private use of Astronomical Society of Kansas City members, and for ongoing research projects.The...
, which was built in 1984 by members of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City. The observatory's telescopes include one of the largest in the region, which is also one of the few in the nation of its size that is made available for public viewing. The observatory regularly schedules viewings available to the public, and also provides shows that are intended to educate individuals about astronomy. Private viewings can also be scheduled. Also near Louisburg is Middle Creek Theatre - Rutlader Outpost, which has an RV park for those who camp and listen to the live music and entertainment, and an antique store for shopping.
Government
The Louisburg government consists of a mayor and five council members. The council meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM.Education
The public schools in the Louisburg Unified School District 416 are:- Louisburg High School (grades 9–12)
- Louisburg Middle School (grades 6–8)
- Broadmoor Elementary (grades 3–5)
- Rockville Elementary (grades Pre K–2)
The Louisburg Middle School achieved building-wide Standard of Excellence Awards on state assessment tests in reading from 2006 to 2008, and in math from 2007 to 2008. For the 2009-2010 school year the school again received Standard of Excellence Awards in both areas, and was a finalist for the National Middle School of the Year Award.
Louisburg High School has also recently performed well on state assessments, being honored with the Governor's Achievement Award for the 2009 year. Louisburg High School was in the top 5 percent of all state high schools. Louisburg High School recently has been nominated to be a Blue Ribbon School, which is a national recognition of its recent academic achievements.
External links
CityMaps
- Louisburg City Map, KDOT
- Miami County Map, KDOT