Lucas, Kansas

Lucas, Kansas
City
Location of Lucas, Kansas
Detailed map of Lucas
Coordinates: 39°3′32″N 98°32′15″W / 39.05889°N 98.53750°W / 39.05889; -98.53750Coordinates: 39°3′32″N 98°32′15″W / 39.05889°N 98.53750°W / 39.05889; -98.53750
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Russell
Founded	1887
Area[1]
• Total	0.60 sq mi (1.55 km2)
• Land	0.60 sq mi (1.55 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,489 ft (454 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	393
• Estimate (2012[3])	394
• Density	655.0/sq mi (252.9/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	67648
Area code(s)	785
FIPS code	20-43150[4]
GNIS feature ID	0472535[5]
Website	City Website

Lucas is a city in Russell County, Kansas, United States.^[6] As of the 2010 census, the city population was 393.^[7]

Geography

Lucas is located at 39°3′32″N 98°32′15″W / 39.05889°N 98.53750°W / 39.05889; -98.53750 (39.058839, -98.537457)^[8] at an elevation of 1,489 feet (454 m).^[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.60 square miles (1.55 km²), all of it land.^[1] It lies in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains approximately 8 miles (13 km) north of Wilson Lake.^[6][9] Wolf Creek, a tributary of the Saline River, flows east along the southern edge of the city.^[9] Located in north-central Kansas at the junction of Kansas Highway 18 (K-18) and Kansas Highway 232 (K-232), Lucas is 115 miles (185 km) northwest of Wichita, 212 miles (341 km) west of Kansas City, and 21 miles (34 km) northeast of Russell, the county seat.^[6][9][10]

Demographics

As of 2009, the median income for a household in the city was $30,962, and the median income for a family was $51,875. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $24,861 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,666. About 5.7% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.^[11]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 393 people, 192 households, and 108 families residing in the city. The population density was 786 people per square mile (303.5/km²). There were 257 housing units at an average density of 514 per square mile (183.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.7% White, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.8% from some other race, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.5% of the population.^[7]

There were 192 households of which 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 2.1% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.8% were non-families. 42.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05, and the average family size was 2.79.^[7]

In the city, the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 17.3% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males age 18 and over.^[7]

2000 census

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 436 people, 180 households, and 113 families residing in the city. The population density was 823.4 people per square mile (317.6/km²). There were 232 housing units at an average density of 438.1 per square mile (169.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.71% White, 1.38% African American, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 180 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 31.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

Government

Lucas is a city of the third class with a mayor-council form of government. The city council consists of five members, and it meets on the second Tuesday of each month.^[12]

Education

Lucas lies within Unified School District (USD) 299, based in Sylvan Grove, Kansas. The district operates one school in the city: Lucas-Sylvan Unified Elementary School (Grades K-6). Local students in Grades 7-12 attend school in Sylvan Grove.^[13]

Infrastructure

2005 KDOT Map of Russell County showing Lucas and surrounding communities (map legend)

Transportation

K-18, an east-west route, approaches Lucas from the west, then turns southeast along the eastern side of the city. K-232, a north-south route, terminates at its junction with K-18 southeast of the city.^[9]

Lucas Airport is located immediately east of the city. Publicly owned, it has one asphalt runway and is used for general aviation.^[14]

Culture

Events

Each year on the Saturday before Labor Day, the city holds its annual community celebration, the Adams Apple Festival. It includes an art show, a fun run, Scottish Highland Games, contests, and other entertainment. Other annual events include the Spook Parade, a children's costume contest held the day before Halloween, and Santa Claus Day, held the Saturday before Christmas.^[15]

Points of interest

In 1996, Governor Bill Graves named Lucas the "Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas" due to the number of sites in the community devoted to local folk art. The Garden of Eden is a permanent outdoor sculpture exhibit built between 1905 and 1927 by local sculptor Samuel P. Dinsmoor. The site consists of Dinsmoor's home, a "log cabin" constructed of carved limestone, more than 150 sculptures representing his interpretation of the Biblical creation and world history, and a mausoleum housing the remains of Dinsmoor and his first wife.^[16] Inspired by Dinsmoor, local resident Florence Deeble constructed a rock garden around her home, using rocks acquired during her travels to construct works representing places she visited.^[17] Since 2002, Deeble's house has served as a gallery called the Garden of Isis, exhibiting works made from recycled materials by visual artist Mri-Pilar.^[18] The Grassroots Arts Center is a non-profit gallery located downtown which promotes and exhibits the work of Kansas folk artists.^[19] Other folk art sites in the city include porcelain artist Eric Abraham's Flying Pig Studio & Gallery, The World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Version of the World's Largest Things traveling museum, and the World's Largest Travel Plate.^[20]

Notable people

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Lucas include:

• Samuel P. Dinsmoor, sculptor^[21]
• Bill Volok, football tackle^[22]

See also

• Meades Ranch, Kansas, the geodetic base point for the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27), which was used as a reference point until 1983.
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Russell County, Kansas

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lucas, Kansas.

City

• Lucas Chamber of Commerce
• Lucas - Directory of Public Officials

Schools

• USD 299, local school district

Attractions

• Garden of Eden
• Grassroots Arts Center
• Florence Deeble's Rock Garden
• Traveling Roadside Attraction and Museum

Photos and Videos

• KWCH 'One of a Kind' Kansas road trip in 2011: Photos, Video 1, Video 2, Video 3. Towns included were Coldwater, Sterling, Atwood, Lucas, Marion.

Maps

• Lucas City Map, KDOT
• Russell County Map, KDOT

v t e Municipalities and communities of Russell County, Kansas, United States County seat: Russell Cities Bunker Hill Dorrance Gorham Lucas Luray Paradise Russell Waldo Townships Big Creek Center Fairfield Fairview Grant Lincoln Luray Paradise Plymouth Russell Waldo Winterset Unincorporated communities Balta Dubuque Fairport Homer Milberger

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