Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery
County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the central United States. The population was estimated to be 10,359 in the year 2005.[2] It is the most populous city of Montgomery County.
Coffeyville is home to online retailer
Amazon.com's largest distribution center, leased in 1999. It was opened in a facility
previously operated by Golden Books.
History
Sign at the entrance to the city
Founded in 1869 as an Indian trading post by Col. James A. Coffey, serving the population across
the Oklahoma border in what was then the Indian Territory, the town was confirmed and
expanded by the arrival of the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston railroad in 1871. With the
arrival of the railroad, a young surveyor, Napoleon B. Blanton, was dispatched to lay out the town. The naming of the town was
left to the toss of a coin between Col. Coffey and U.S. Army Captain Blanton. Blanton lost the toss and the town was officially
named Coffeyville.
Incorporated in 1872, the charter was voided, and the city was re-incorporated in March of
1873.
Coffeyville's most famous moment may have been the end of the Dalton Gang: on
October 5, 1892, four of the gang were killed while
Emmett Dalton survived with 23 gunshot wounds and was imprisoned for 14 years before being
pardoned. They had been attempting to rob two banks, First National Bank and Condon Bank, at once when the citizens recognized
them under the fake beards they were wearing and fought them after coming out of one of the banks. The two banks at the time of
the attempted robbery were directly across the street from one another. Three citizens, including a U.S. marshal, Marshal Charles T. Connelly, died in defense
of the town.
On July 1, 2007, Coffeyville had a major flood in which the local refinery, Coffeyville Resources LLC, had an oil leak which
polluted the water. It flooded approximately a third of the town. Approximately 71,000 gallons[3] of crude oil mingled with the already
contaminated flood waters. The EPA was reportedly on site trying to prevent the oil and flood water mix from continuing down
river where it could damage the water in Oologah Lake near Oologah, Oklahoma. Many
Oklahomans get their water from the Verdigris River or Oologah Lake. Last reports show a
minimal amount of oil reached Oolagah Lake, but it did not pose a threat to the water supplies of other cities along the
Verdigris River or from the lake. A number of animals have been found dead or injured in flood areas covered with oil. By July 2,
2007, areas east of Patterson Street in Coffeyville were off limits and a curfew was enacted in other areas of the city. July 3,
2007 the city lost its supply of potable water, but the water service has been restored
and the order to boil water was rescinded on July 7. FEMA and the
Red Cross were on hand and the area was declared a
federal disaster area. Most displaced residents took shelter with family and friends, but
many were sheltered in three shelters set up by the Red Cross at two area churches and a senior citizens' apartment complex.
Mayor Virgil Horn's house is in the flooded off limits area. Some pets were rescued to a temporary animal shelter built for them
at LeClere Park. The temporary animal shelter has since been relocated to the former Whittier
School. The flooded area on the city's east side was reopened on July 11 for residents and business owners to begin assessing
damage and to retrieve salvageable items, although a curfew from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. remains in effect.
In order to focus on the post-flood recovery and clean-up, the 2007 Inter-State Fair & Rodeo was canceled. [4]
Geography
Coffeyville is located at 37°2′16″N, 95°37′35″W (37.037708,
-95.626438).[5] The city is situated along the west
bank of the Verdigris River only a few miles up river from the lowest point in
Kansas—679 feet (207 m), where the river crosses the Kansas-Oklahoma border. Located at the junction of U.S. Routes 166 and
169, it is 75 miles north of Tulsa, Oklahoma
along US-169. Coffeyville Municipal Airport is only a few miles northeast
of the city along US-169. The city is also 16 miles southeast of Independence, the
county seat.
Coffeyville is the default starting point of Google Maps.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 18.3 km² (7.1 mi²), all land.[5]
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1880 |
|
|
—
|
| 1890 |
|
|
203.1% |
| 1900 |
|
|
117.0% |
| 1910 |
|
|
156.1% |
| 1920 |
|
|
6.0% |
| 1930 |
|
|
20.4% |
| 1940 |
|
|
7.1% |
| 1950 |
|
|
-1.4% |
| 1960 |
|
|
1.6% |
| 1970 |
|
|
-13.0% |
| 1980 |
|
|
0.5% |
| 1990 |
|
|
-14.9% |
| 2000 |
|
|
-14.7% |
Coffeyville's population was estimated to be 10,359 in the year 2005, a decrease of 674, or -6.1%, over the previous five
years.[2]
As of the U.S. Census in 2000,[6] there were 11,021 people, 4,691 households, and 2,847 families residing in the
city. The population density was 602.7/km² (1,562.1/mi²). There were 5,550 housing
units at an average density of 303.5/km² (786.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.76% White, 12.12% Black or African
American, 4.97% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 4.87% from two or
more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.82% of
the population.
There were 4,691 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were
non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from
45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,542, and the median
income for a family was $33,180. Males had a median income of $29,199 versus $17,940 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,182. About 10.9% of families and 15.0% of the population were
below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age
65 or over.
Education
The Coffeyville school district (USD 445), with three schools, serves almost 2,000 students.[7] The district has consolidated its elementary schools into a single Community
Elementary School with four pods.
- Community Elementary School, grades PK–6
- Roosevelt Middle School, grades 7–8
- Field Kindley High School, grades 9–12
There is also Holy Name School, grades PK-6, a parochial school operated by the Roman
Catholic Church.
Notable natives
Born in Coffeyville
Famous Coffeyville Community College Alumni
Notable Residents
- Walter Johnson (Hall of Fame Professional Baseball Player)
- Wendell Wilkie (1940 Republican Presidential Candidate)
- Johnny Rutherford (Race Car Driver)
- David Evitts (baritone)[1], Metropolitan Opera and international venues)
References
- See also: Geographic
references and United States Census, 2000
- ^ “[Coffeyville] was incorporated in March, 1872, but the corporation was
found to be illegal and it was again incorporated in March, 1873.” —Coffeyville History. City of Coffeyville. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
- ^ a b Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Annual estimates of the population through
2005-07-01. Released 2006-06-21.
- ^ Brownback, Roberts view flooded areas in Kansas. KansasCity.Com. Retrieved on 2007-07-6.
- ^ Fair Association Press Release. CoffeyvilleFlood.Com. Retrieved on 2007-07-7.
- ^ a b Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files. U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division.
- ^ Census 2000 Gateway. U.S. Census Bureau.
- ^ Coffeyville schools. GreatSchools.net. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
Bibliography
- Cadenhead, Rogers. "All Google's Roads Lead to Kansas", Wired News, 2006-02-22. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
Kristine Crispel's horse farm outside Coffeyville has the distinction of being the center of the world—according to Google.
External links
Official sites
Additional information Coordinates: 37.037708° N 95.626438°
W
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