| City of Baxter Springs | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Downtown Baxter Springs | |
| Location of Baxter Springs in Kansas. | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Cherokee |
| Platted | |
| Incorporated | 1868 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| • Mayor | Jennifer Bingham[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.2 sq mi (8.3 km2) |
| • Land | 3.1 sq mi (8.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) 2.48% |
| Elevation | 843 ft (257 m) |
| Population (2010)[2] | |
| • Total | 4,238 |
| • Density | 1,324.4/sq mi (511.3/km2) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 66713 |
| Area code(s) | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-04625[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1669487[4] |
| Website | BaxterSprings.us |
Baxter Springs is a town situated along the Spring River in the southeastern area of Cherokee County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,238.[2] It is the most populous city of Cherokee County.
After the American Civil War, in the late 1860s, the town developed as one of the first "cow towns" in Kansas, where thousands of heads of Texas cattle were driven to market. It was a stopping place on their way to northern markets.
Baxter Springs downtown main street is part of the historic U.S. Route 66 that passes through Kansas, established in 1926 and connecting Chicago and Los Angeles. For decades it was the Main Street of this part of the United States.
Contents |
For thousands of years, indigenous peoples had lived along the waterways throughout the west. The Osage migrated west from the Ohio River area of Kentucky, driven out by the Iroquois. They settled in Kansas by the mid-17th century and competed with other tribes. By 1750 they dominated much of the region of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. One of the largest Osage bands in present-day Oklahoma, led by Chief Black Dog (Manka - Chonka), made the Black Dog Trail before 1800.[5] It started from their winter territory east of Baxter Springs and extended northwest to their hunting grounds at the Great Salt Plains in present-day Alfalfa County, Oklahoma.[5] The Osage stopped at the springs for healing on their way to summer hunting grounds. They cleared the trail of brush and large rocks, and made ramps to the fords. Wide enough for eight horsemen to ride abreast, the trail was the first improved road in Kansas and Oklahoma.[6]
During the American Civil War, the United States government built several military posts at present-day Baxter Springs, fortifying what had been a trading post: Fort Baxter, Camp Ben Butler and Camp Hunter. In October 1863 Confederate forces attacked Fort Baxter in the Battle of Baxter Springs.
The town had a cable ferry in use by 1867, which operated into the 1880s, when a bridge was built across the Spring River. Expansion of European-American cattle ranching led to the growth of Baxter Springs as the first cow town in Kansas. Around 1868 there was a great demand for beef in the North. Texas cattlemen and stock raisers drove large herds of cattle from the southern plains, and used Baxter Springs as a way point to the northern markets linking to railroads to the East. The town organized the Stockyards and Drovers Association to buy and sell cattle. They constructed corrals for up to 20,000 head of cattle, supplied with ample grazing lands and fresh water. Texas cattle trade stimulated the growth of related businesses, and Baxter Springs grew rapidly. At the same time that settlers were building schools and churches, the town was the rowdy gathering place of cowboys, with saloons, livery stables and hotels to support the seasonal business.[7]
When Texas constructed railroads later in the century, cattlemen no longer needed Baxter Springs as a way station to the northern markets. The town had to create a new economy and became more limited as a regional trading center.[7] In 1926 the downtown main street became part of the historic Route 66 transcontinental highway connecting Chicago and Los Angeles. The designated highway was informally known as America's "Main Street" and had a prominent place in popular culture.[7]
Baxter Springs is located at (37.023062, -94.734762).[8] The city is situated along the western bank of the Spring River at the edge of the Ozarks. It is at the junction of U.S. Route 69 Alternate and U.S. Route 166, and U.S. Route 400 bypasses the city to the northeast. The center of town is less than two miles (3 km) from the Kansas-Oklahoma state border though the incorporated area of the city extends to the border. It is also about 13 miles (21 km) west-southwest of Joplin, Missouri.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2), of which 3.1 sq mi (8.0 km2). (8.1 km²) is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.26 km2). (0.2 km²), or 2.48%, is water.[3]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 4,498 |
|
|
| 1970 | 4,489 | −0.2% | |
| 1990 | 4,351 |
|
|
| 2000 | 4,602 | 5.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,238 | −7.9% | |
|
|
|||
As of the census of 2000,[3] there were 4,602 people, 1,860 households, and 1,246 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,469.1 people per square mile (567.7/km²). There were 2,106 housing units at an average density of 672.3 per square mile (259.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.03% White, 0.98% Black or African American, 5.04% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 5.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 1,860 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,876, and the median income for a family was $33,933. Males had a median income of $27,005 versus $19,038 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,789. About 9.3% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
|
|||||||||||||||||