| Elkhart, Kansas | |
| Settlement Type: | City and County seat |
| Image Map1: | Map of Morton Co, Ks, USA.png |
| Map Caption1: | KDOT map of Morton County (legend) |
| Coordinates: | 37.0031°N -101.8944°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kansas |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Morton |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1913 |
| Established Title1: | Platted |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Established Date2: | 1913 |
| Named For: | Elkhart, Indiana |
| Government Type: | Mayor–Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Leo Carrillo |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.05 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.05 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Km2: | 5.32 |
| Area Land Km2: | 5.32 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Elevation Ft: | 3596 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1888 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CST |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 67950 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 620 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 20-20350 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2394655 |
Elkhart is a city in and the county seat of Morton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,888.[2] The south edge of the city is the Kansas-Oklahoma state border, and the city is from the Kansas-Colorado border.
Elkhart was founded in 1913,[3] and was named after Elkhart, Indiana.[4]
Elkhart was the starting point of the Elkhart and Santa Fe Railway.[5] This line, both leased to and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,[6] was built in 1925 to Felt, Oklahoma, and extended into New Mexico in 1932; but, was abandoned in 1942.[7]
In 1961, the county seat was moved from Richfield to Elkhart.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.11sqmi, all of it land.[9]
Elkhart has a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) characterized by generally dry winters with extreme temperature variations, and hot summers with occasional heavy precipitation from thunder showers or storms.
During winter, because western Kansas lies both on the edge of the subtropical anticyclones and in the rain shadow of westerly winds crossing the Rocky Mountains, the region is generally dry: no measurable precipitation fell in Elkhart between 25 December 1903 and 2 April 1904, while monthly precipitation above 21NaN1 has never been recorded during January and is observed fewer than one year in ten during November, December or February. Temperatures can vary greatly during this season: strong chinook winds can drive temperatures above 801NaN1 even in the depth of winter, with 701NaN1 reached on average during six days between December and February, seven during November and eight during March. Nevertheless, cold outbreaks from Canada drive temperatures to or below 01NaN1 on an average of 3.6 nights per winter. The coldest temperature recorded in Elkhart has been NaNF on January 19, 1984, while the hottest winter temperature has been 871NaN1 on February 1, 1963.
Snowfall is generally light due to dryness; however in the extremely wet and cold February 1903, 412NaN2 fell, being the major factor behind a record seasonal snowfall of 59inches between July 1902 and June 1903. In contrast, only a trace of snow was recorded between July 1949 and January 1950.
In the summer, the climate is generally very hot with relief from thunderstorms that provide most of the 18.9inches of precipitation expected during one year. When an upper level anticyclone moves poleward, the atmosphere can become very stable and produce sustained extreme heat: in the hottest month of July 1980 the average maximum was 103F and all but seven days topped 1001NaN1. When the high retreats southward or a trough forms over the interior of the United States during the summer, however, precipitation can be heavy, with 10.911NaN1 falling in April 2016, 10.191NaN1 in June 2004 and 9.861NaN1 in July 1927. The wettest calendar year has been 1941 with 29.741NaN1 and the driest 1937 when only 9.031NaN1 fell.
The 2020 United States census counted 1,888 people, 729 households, and 469 families in Elkhart.[10] The population density was 919.2 per square mile (354.9/km). There were 907 housing units at an average density of 441.6 per square mile (170.5/km).[11] [12] The racial makeup was 75.05% (1,417) white or European American (69.97% non-Hispanic white), 0.74% (14) black or African-American, 0.74% (14) Native American or Alaska Native, 1.17% (22) Asian, 0.26% (5) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 10.22% (193) from other races, and 11.81% (223) from two or more races.[13] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 23.52% (444) of the population.[14]
Of the 729 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18; 50.3% were married couples living together; 24.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.2% of households consisted of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 3.3.[15] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 10.9% of the population.[16]
25.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 109.2 males.
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $40,765 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,305) and the median family income was $49,957 (+/- $15,144).[17] Males had a median income of $33,125 (+/- $16,302) versus $26,868 (+/- $23,251) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $29,531 (+/- $15,296).[18] Approximately, 13.6% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under the age of 18 and 17.3% of those ages 65 or over.[19] [20]
As of the census[21] of 2010, there were 2,205 people, 856 households, and 571 families residing in the city. The population density was 1045PD/sqmi. There were 999 housing units at an average density of 473.5/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 87.7% White, 0.1% African American, 1.2% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 6.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.7% of the population.
There were 856 households, of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.07.
The median age in the city was 38.4 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
As of the census[22] of 2000, there were 2,233 people, 854 households, and 610 families residing in the city. The population density was 1205sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 977 housing units at an average density of 527.2sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 89.34% White, 0.09% African American, 1.16% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 6.63% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.39% of the population.
There were 854 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,333, and the median income for a family was $43,548. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,900. About 7.3% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
The community is served by Elkhart USD 218 public school district. The Elkhart High School mascot is Wildcats.[23]
See main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Morton County, Kansas.
Elkhart is home to multiple locations relevant to the Santa Fe Trail, including