Medicine Lodge, Kansas

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Medicine Lodge is the largest city and county seat of Barber County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,193. It is situated along the Medicine Lodge River.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Sources
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Medicine Lodge is located at 37°17′4″N, 98°34′52″W (37.284352, -98.580977)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²). 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

The community is at the junction of US 160 and US 281

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,193 people, 922 households, and 609 families residing in the city. The population density was 705.6/km² (1,823.7/mi²). There were 1,085 housing units at an average density of 349.1/km² (902.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.08% White, 0.36% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.

There were 922 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,262, and the median income for a family was $41,053. Males had a median income of $30,319 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,231. About 7.4% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

The area that grew into the modern town of Medicine Lodge was considered sacred ground by the Kiowa tribe of Native Americans. Around 1874, during a period of contention with local natives, a fortified camp was built in Medicine Lodge. Several early settlers were killed within a few miles of the compound, but no direct attack was made on the fortifications.

An annual pageant is celebrated each Fall to remember an earlier peace treaty (1867) that ended the disputes with the five plains tribes.

Carrie Nation ran a hotel in Medicine Lodge. It was while she was living here that she became actively involved in the temperance movement.