Mulvane, Kansas

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Mulvane is a city in Sedgwick and Sumner counties in Kansas. The population was 5,155 at the 2000 census.

Mulvane was founded in August of 1879 at the junction of five Santa Fe rail lines. It is named for Joab R. Mulvane. Mr. Mulvane came to Kansas in 1876. He resided in Topeka and in his later years spent the summer season at his island estate on Crab Lake in northern Wisconsin. Joab Mulvane was perhaps the most successful Kansan of his generation. The breadth of his interests has shaped modern Kansas and far beyond especially in shipping logistics and the strategic advantage of Kansas as a single point distribution hub for North America which means his work had profound and lasting impacts. He brought many elements of the Santa Fe Railway together. He was president of at least nine railroads and he presided over the Chicago, Kansas and Western Railway Company, as its President, when it built over 900 miles of rail lines for the Santa Fe. Some of his other interests included: President of: the Kansas Town Company, the Quivera Town and Land Company (which incorporated Argentine, KS in 1881),the Edison Electric Light Company of Topeka, Shawnee Fire Insurance Company, the Kansas Salt Company. He was interlocked in various other companies as vice-president or treasurer. He was a major stockholder and director of the Bank of Topeka. He was married to Miss Sarah A. Ross of Ohio who hales from the famous Whitaker Steel Family. Joab Mulvane was responsible for the location of the important junction city that bears his name. Mulvane's Main Street follows part of the Sedgwick and Sumner county lines, and the town center is about five miles west of the spot where Sedgwick, Sumner, Butler and Cowley counties meet.

The Mulvane Old Settlers celebration is one of the longest-running community events in Kansas, having started in 1873 (three years before the town was officially incorporated).

[edit] Geography

Mulvane is located at 37°28′47″N, 97°14′32″W (37.479746, -97.242309)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 km² (2.3 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,155 people, 1,896 households, and 1,444 families residing in the city. The population density was 873.0/km² (2,261.1/mi²). There were 1,963 housing units at an average density of 332.4/km² (861.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.39% White, 0.17% African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.58% of the population.

There were 1,896 households of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14.

The age distribution of the population was 30.4% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,923, and the median income for a family was $56,285. Males had a median income of $39,732 versus $26,797 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,523. About 2.1% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.