Lehigh, Kansas

Lehigh, Kansas
—  City  —
Skyline of Lehigh, in 2010.
Motto: "Small But It's Home"
Location of Lehigh, Kansas
Detailed map of Lehigh, Kansas
Coordinates:
Country  United States
State  Kansas
County Marion
Platted 1881
Incorporated 1901
Government
 • Type Mayor–Council
 • Mayor Mike Geiman[1]
 • City Clerk Rose Funk[1]
Area
 • Total 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
 • Land 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 1,532 ft (467 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 175
 • Density 583.3/sq mi (225.2/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 67073
Area code(s) 620
FIPS code 20-39225[3]
GNIS feature ID 0477226[4]
Website City website

Lehigh is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 175.[2]

History

19th century

For millennia, the land that is currently Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1855, Marion County, Kansas, where Lehigh is located, was founded.

The source of the Lehigh name was not well documented. One of the rumors is the city being slightly higher altitude which was "lay high" above the prairie, the other rumor that it was named by representatives of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania who came to Kansas and considered settling the area in the 1870s or 1880s.[5]

Four and one half miles north of Lehigh is the junction of the old Santa Fe Trail and Chisolm Trail, which is near the site of the municipal water well for the city.

As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.[6] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood.[7] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[8] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion through Lehigh to McPherson was abandoned and removed. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

20th century

The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Lehigh, Hillsboro, Marion, Lost Springs.

Geography

Lehigh is located at (38.373447, -97.302907)[9]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), all land. The county line is 3.5 miles west of Lehigh.

Area Events

Area attractions

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1960 178
1970 168 −5.6%
1980 189 12.5%
1990 180 −4.8%
2000 215 19.4%
2010 175 −18.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 215 people, 77 households, and 62 families residing in the city. The population density was 714.3 people per square mile (276.7/km²). There were 83 housing units at an average density of 275.7 per square mile (106.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.95% White, 4.65% Native American, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 77 households out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples living together, 2.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,958, and the median income for a family was $41,875. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $20,714 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,554. About 6.8% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.

Government

Lehigh has a government consisting of a Mayor and Five City Council. The council meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:30PM.[1]

Education

Primary and secondary education

Lehigh Rural High School was closed after the spring graduation in 1966.

Lehigh is now part of Unified School District 410.[11][12] The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network between five area high schools.[13] All students attend schools in Hillsboro.

Media

Print

Radio

Lehigh is served by numerous radio stations of the Wichita-Hutchinson listening market area,[14] and satellite radio. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Television

Lehigh is served by over-the-air ATSC digital TV of the Wichita-Hutchinson viewing market area,[15] cable TV, and satellite TV. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Infrastructure

Transportation

U.S. Route 56 highway is 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of the city.

Utilities

Gallery

See also

Further reading

Marion County
Kansas
USA

References

  1. ^ a b c Lehigh - Directory of Public Officials
  2. ^ a b "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table. Retrieved March 6, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ Marion County Kansas - Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; 1972.
  6. ^ Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
  7. ^ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.
  8. ^ Railway Abandonment 1968
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  10. ^ Lehigh Antique Tractor & Engine Show
  11. ^ USD 410
  12. ^ Kansas School District Boundary Map
  13. ^ T.E.E.N. video teaching network
  14. ^ Wichita-Hutchinson Radio market.
  15. ^ Wichita-Hutchinson TV market.
  16. ^ Standard Atlas of Marion County, Kansas; 1902. (Download eBook)
  17. ^ World War Roll of Honor, Marion County Kansas, 1917-1920; 1920. (Downlaod eBook)
  18. ^ Kansas: A Cyclopedia Of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc - Vol 1; 1912. (Download eBook)
  19. ^ Kansas: A Cyclopedia Of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc - Vol 2; 1912.
  20. ^ Kansas: A Cyclopedia Of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc - Vol 3; 1912.
  21. ^ History Of The State of Kansas; 1883. (Download eBook)

External links

Kansas portal
City
Schools
Historic
Maps