Cawker City, Kansas

Cawker City, Kansas
City

Water Tower and Downtown (2012)
(view from near the Ball of Twine)

Location within Mitchell County and Kansas

KDOT map of Mitchell County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°30′32″N 98°26′2″W / 39.50889°N 98.43389°W / 39.50889; -98.43389Coordinates: 39°30′32″N 98°26′2″W / 39.50889°N 98.43389°W / 39.50889; -98.43389
Country United States
State Kansas
County Mitchell
Government
 • Mayor Steve Bader
Area[1]
 • Total 1.00 sq mi (2.59 km2)
 • Land 1.00 sq mi (2.59 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 1,496 ft (456 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 469
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 465
 • Density 470/sq mi (180/km2)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 67430
Area code 785
FIPS code 20-11175 [4]
GNIS feature ID 0472174 [5]
Website City Website

Cawker City is a city in Mitchell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 469.[6] The city is located along the north shore of Waconda Lake and Glen Elder State Park.

It is one of several places claiming to be home of the largest ball of twine in the world.[7][8][9]

History

Cawker City was founded in 1870.[10] It was named for one of its founders, E. H. Cawker. Cawker City was incorporated as a city in 1874.[11] The first post office in Cawker City was established in June 1870.[12]

Geography

Cawker City is located at 39°30′32″N 98°26′2″W / 39.50889°N 98.43389°W / 39.50889; -98.43389 (39.508835, -98.433842).[13] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.00 square mile (2.59 km2), all of it land.[1] The city is located along the north shore of Waconda Lake.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18801,039—
1890898−13.6%
1900816−9.1%
19108706.6%
1920788−9.4%
1930739−6.2%
1940657−11.1%
19506915.2%
1960686−0.7%
19707265.8%
1980640−11.8%
1990588−8.1%
2000521−11.4%
2010469−10.0%
Est. 2015455[14]−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 469 people, 244 households, and 132 families residing in the city. The population density was 469.0 inhabitants per square mile (181.1/km2). There were 315 housing units at an average density of 315.0 per square mile (121.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 244 households of which 19.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.9% were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.52.

The median age in the city was 50.1 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.9% were from 25 to 44; 32.4% were from 45 to 64; and 26.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.

2000 census

Colorful old tractor at a closed service station (2008)

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 521 people, 261 households, and 151 families residing in the city. The population density was 525.9 people per square mile (203.2/km²). There were 335 housing units at an average density of 338.2 per square mile (130.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.50% White, 0.19% African American, 1.73% Native American, 0.38% from other races, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 261 households out of which 17.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.0% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 29.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,833, and the median income for a family was $30,769. Males had a median income of $25,893 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,693. About 12.3% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

Largest community rolled ball of twine (2013)

Cultural references

In the 1980 MGM movie "Hero at Large," the main character, Steve Nichols played by John Ritter, hales from Cawker City. Three times during the movie the town is mentioned and there is a green and white Cawker City school banner hanging on the wall.

Cawker City is prominently featured in the 2010 sci-fi novel, Human Trial II: Adam's War.

Cawker City is mentioned in the 2008 young-adult novel Paper Towns by John Green.

Cawker City is mentioned several times in the book series The Genius Files

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  4. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  7. ↑ Heim, Michael (2007). Exploring Kansas Highways. p. 78.
  8. ↑ Cawker City wins the ball game with massive sphere of twine; The Wichita Eagle; September 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ Twisted: The Battle to Be the World's Largest Ball of Twine; The Atlantic; September 9, 2014.
  10. ↑ Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. p. 241.
  11. ↑ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 301.
  12. ↑ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  13. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  14. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
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