Alton, Kansas

Alton is a city in Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 103.[6]

Alton, Kansas
City
Location within Osborne County and Kansas
KDOT map of Osborne County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°28′6″N 98°56′50″W
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyOsborne
Founded1870 (Bull City)
Incorporated1885
Named forAlton, Illinois
Area
 • Total0.31 sq mi (0.80 km2)
 • Land0.31 sq mi (0.80 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,650 ft (500 m)
Population
 • Total103
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
91
 • Density294.50/sq mi (113.55/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67623
Area code785
FIPS code20-01600 [4]
GNIS ID0472257 [5]

History

Alton was founded in 1870 as Bull City, and was named in honor of Hiram C. Bull.[7] It was renamed Alton in 1885, after the city of Alton, Illinois because female residents didn't like the former name.[8][9]

Geography

Alton is located at 39°28′6″N 98°56′50″W (39.468196, −98.947360).[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2), all of it land.[11]

Climate

Alton has a humid continental (Dfa) climate typical for the central Great Plains. Summers are hot and often very humid, with heavy rain from thunderstorms not uncommon, whilst tornadoes are a frequent hazard and are often followed by heavy rainfall. Winter weather varies greatly from warm or even hot weather due to chinook winds to extreme cold when a North American High with very cold air moves southwards from Canada. The coldest temperature recorded in Alton has been −31 °F or −35 °C on December 23, 1989.

One of the highest recorded temperatures in American history (and the highest in Kansas' recorded history) was recorded near Alton on July 24, 1936. On that day, the temperature maxed out at 121 °F or 49.4 °C. Only four states — California, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada — have seen higher record temperatures.[12] Alton's record April temperature of 106 °F or 41.1 °C on April 23 of 1989 has been exceeded only by California, Arizona and Texas.[13] Temperatures over 100 °F or 37.8 °C are expected on fifteen days each summer and 90 °F or 32.2 °C on more than sixty-seven.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Kansas was measured in Lebanon, which sits in the adjacent Smith County, only about 35 miles away.[14]

Climate data for Alton, Kansas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 80
(27)		 87
(31)		 94
(34)		 106
(41)		 105
(41)		 113
(45)		 121
(49)		 113
(45)		 112
(44)		 103
(39)		 88
(31)		 82
(28)		 121
(49)
Average high °F (°C) 41
(5)		 46
(8)		 56
(13)		 67
(19)		 76
(24)		 87
(31)		 93
(34)		 91
(33)		 83
(28)		 70
(21)		 55
(13)		 42
(6)		 67
(20)
Average low °F (°C) 15
(−9)		 18
(−8)		 27
(−3)		 37
(3)		 49
(9)		 59
(15)		 65
(18)		 63
(17)		 53
(12)		 39
(4)		 26
(−3)		 17
(−8)		 39
(4)
Record low °F (°C) −24
(−31)		 −22
(−30)		 −17
(−27)		 9
(−13)		 21
(−6)		 33
(1)		 41
(5)		 38
(3)		 28
(−2)		 6
(−14)		 −10
(−23)		 −31
(−35)		 −31
(−35)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.58
(15)		 0.70
(18)		 1.98
(50)		 2.47
(63)		 4.16
(106)		 3.80
(97)		 4.44
(113)		 3.48
(88)		 2.34
(59)		 2.02
(51)		 1.24
(31)		 0.86
(22)		 28.07
(713)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 4.8
(12)		 3.9
(9.9)		 3.1
(7.9)		 0.9
(2.3)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.2
(0.51)		 2.2
(5.6)		 4.3
(11)		 19.5
(49.46)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) 3.4 3.8 6.5 7.1 10.2 8.7 8.1 7.1 6.0 4.9 4.9 3.7 74.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.01 inch) 2.5 2.1 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 trace 0.1 1.1 1.9 9.5
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration[15]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890338—
1900287−15.1%
191041444.3%
19204232.2%
1930383−9.5%
194043513.6%
1950317−27.1%
1960299−5.7%
1970214−28.4%
1980135−36.9%
1990115−14.8%
20001171.7%
2010103−12.0%
2019 (est.)91[3]−11.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 103 people, 47 households, and 22 families residing in the city. The population density was 332.3 inhabitants per square mile (128.3/km2). There were 68 housing units at an average density of 219.4 per square mile (84.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White and 2.9% from two or more races.

There were 47 households, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.2% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the city was 48.3 years. 18.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 28.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.4% male and 47.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 117 people, 58 households, and 33 families residing in the city. The population density was 373.7 people per square mile (145.7/km2). There were 79 housing units at an average density of 252.3 per square mile (98.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.29% White, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.

There were 58 households, out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,584. There were 7.4% of families and 17.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including 9.1% of under eighteens and 8.0% of those over 64.

Education

Alton is served by USD 392 Osborne County Schools.[16]

Alton High School was closed through school unification in 1970. The Alton High School mascot was Wildcats.[17]

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  7. Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. pp. 257.
  8. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  9. "Profile for Alton, Kansas". ePodunk. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  12. "Record Highest Temperatures by State (through 2003)" (PDF). NOAA.gov. NOAA. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  13. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; ‘Monthly State Maximum/Minimum Extremes’
  14. "Records for the State of Kansas". National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office – Wichita, KS. NOAA. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  15. "Climatography of the United States No. 20, 1971-2000: Alton 6 ESE, KS" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004. Retrieved on October 13, 2016.
  16. "Osborne County Schools". USD 392. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  17. "Reliving The Glory Years", The Salina Journal, 21 August 1998, p.19.

Further reading
See also: List of books about Osborne County, Kansas
City
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.