Chanute, Kansas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 37°40′37″N 95°27′23″W / 37.67694, -95.45639
Chanute, Kansas
Location of Chanute, Kansas
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Neosho
Area
- Total	6.2 sq mi (16.1 km²)
- Land	6.1 sq mi (15.9 km²)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Elevation	958 ft (292 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	9,411
- Density	1,533.7/sq mi (592.2/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	66720
Area code(s)	620
FIPS code	20-12500^[1]
GNIS feature ID	0484936^[2]

Chanute is a city in Neosho County, Kansas, United States. Founded on January 1, 1873, it was named after railroad engineer and aviation pioneer Octave Chanute.

The city's population was 9,411 at the 2000 census. Although Chanute is the largest city in Neosho County, it is not the county seat, the position held by Erie.

According to KANSAS: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc., "In 1870 when the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston R. R. (now the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe) crossed the Missouri, Kansas and Texas line within the limits of Neosho county four rival towns sprang up, in the vicinity of the junction. They were New Chicago, Chicago Junction, Alliance and Tioga. Two years of the most bitter animosity ensued until the four were consolidated in 1872, and the name of Chanute given it in honor of Octavius Chanute, a railroad civil engineer" [1].

[edit] History

Though Chanute was not founded until 1873, settlers had begun populating the area as early as 1856. With the LL&G Railroad set to arrive shortly thereafter, the early residents of the towns of Tioga, Chicago Junction, Alliance, and New Chicago needed an innovative solution to an escalating dispute over which town would claim the right to house the LL&G Railroad’s new land office. The towns were unable to settle their differences until an individual by the name of Octave Chanute came to town. Octave was the Chief Engineer and General Superintendent of the LL&G Railroad. In 1872, he suggested the towns merge together to end the bickering. On January 1, 1873 the towns merged and became chartered as the City of Chanute.

With the Southern Kansas Railroad locating a division headquarters in Chanute, the city began to flourish. In 1887, Chanute boasted a rapid growth in flourmills, grain elevators, banks, drug and hardware stores, and natural gas. In 1903, the City of Chanute established the electric utility, and in the years to follow, established the gas, water, wastewater, and refuse utilities. Chanute is one of only a handful of remaining full-service cities in the State of Kansas.

[edit] Geography

Chanute is located at 37°40′37″N, 95°27′23″W (37.677070, -95.456468)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²), of which, 6.1 square miles (15.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (1.61%) is water.

The Macintosh version of Google Earth, software that allows the user to "fly" over the surface of the earth, mapped with high-quality satellite photography and accurate topographical data, has a default position when started up that is centered exactly on the town of Chanute (specifically, on the corner of Lincoln and Main). This may be verified by running the software on the Macintosh and zooming in from the default start position without rotating the virtual globe at all. This location was set by Dan Webb, who was born and raised in Chanute, graduated from the University of Kansas in 1986, and is now a senior software engineer at Google. Dan is a long time friend of Brian McClendon, who centered the Windows version of Google Earth on his hometown of Lawrence, Kansas.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	887	—
1890	2,826	218.6%
1900	4,208	48.9%
1910	9,272	120.3%
1920	10,286	10.9%
1930	10,277	-0.1%
1940	10,142	-1.3%
1950	10,109	-0.3%
1960	10,849	7.3%
1970	10,341	-4.7%
1980	10,506	1.6%
1990	9,488	-9.7%
2000	9,411	-0.8%

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 9,411 people, 3,864 households, and 2,496 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,533.7 people per square mile (591.8/km²). There were 4,262 housing units at an average density of 694.6/sq mi (268.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.20% White, 1.42% African American, 1.11% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.39% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.89% of the population.

There were 3,864 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.7% 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 2.34 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,912, and the median income for a family was $36,630. Males had a median income of $25,696 versus $17,938 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,288. About 12.0% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

[edit] Unified School District #413 Public Schools

Chanute public schools (Unified School District #413) include four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Elementary schools include: Lincoln Kindergarten, Alcott Elementary, Hutton Elementary, and Murray Hill Elementary. Chanute’s middle school is Royster Middle School. Chanute’s high school is Chanute High School. Chanute’s public school system also includes a separately housed but Chanute High School-affiliated New Beginnings Academy, a program for students lacking credits to graduate and designed for individuals who have dropped out or are in danger of dropping out of high school. High school credits for New Beginnings Academy are provided by Chanute High School.

Recently, a bond issue was passed providing funding for renovations for Royster Middle School, and brand new elementary and High School buildings. The new buildings are set to be finished in time for the 2008-2009 school year.

[edit] Private Schools

Chanute is also home to two private schools: Saint Patrick Catholic School and Chanute Christian Academy. Saint Patrick Catholic School provides schooling for students from pre-school(ages three to four) through the fifth grade while Chanute Christian Academy provides schooling for students from kindergarten through the twelfth grade.

St. Patrick Catholic School was awarded the Governor's Award for meeting the standard of excellence and scoring in the top 5% on Kansas assessments in both reading and math^[4].

[edit] Colleges

Chanute’s only college is the Neosho County Community College known locally as NCCC, or sometimes as NC³. Neosho County Community College is a public, two-year institution, that currently provides post-secondary education for just under 3,200 students.

[edit] Tourist Attractions

The Chanute area has many tourist attractions known for their historical significance and small-town charm.

[edit] The Chanute Art Gallery

The Chanute Art Gallery, unique for a small town, houses a permanent core collection of over 500 works of art and special collections include: The Luigi Kasimir Etchings, European and Oriental art, The Kansas Prairie Printmakers, as well as works of art from local and area artists.

[edit] The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum

The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum offers award winning exhibits and programs that highlight the achievements of Martin and Osa Johnson, pioneering documentary filmmakers, photographers, authors, explorers, and Kansans. A trip to the museum allows one to relive the Johnsons’ 1917-1936 adventures in Africa, Borneo and the South Seas. Additional exhibits feature the rich cultures and art of Africa.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Location

Chanute is within a two-hour drive from several major metropolitan areas including:

Rank	City Name	City Proper Population	Metropolitan Statistical Area Population
1	Kansas City, Missouri	444,387	1,925,319
2	Tulsa, Oklahoma	383,764	881,815
3	Wichita, Kansas	353,823	584,671
4	Springfield, Missouri	150,704	390,986
5	Topeka, Kansas	121,809	227,820
6	Joplin, Missouri	46,830	164,235

[edit] Highways

Major highways running through Chanute are US-169 (North-South) and K-39 (East-West). US-75 and US-59 both are within 10 miles of Chanute. These highways provide easy access to I-70, I-35, and US-400. A full-line of trucking companies serves Chanute.

[edit] Railways

The South Kansas Oklahoma (SKO) Railroad serves Chanute, as well as Southern and Eastern Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. The SKO connects to several major railroads allowing local businesses the opportunity to bid and negotiate their rail transportation costs to acquire the best possible price to all locations throughout North America.

[edit] Airports

Chanute's Martin Johnson Municipal Airport is one of the nicest general aviation airports in Kansas with a 4,255-foot runway and taxiway. Expansion of services and infrastructure is in the planning stages, including new T-hangars and pavement improvements.