Independence, Kansas
Location of Independence, Kansas
Coordinates: 37°13′42″N 95°42′41″W / 37.22833, -95.71139
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Montgomery
Area
- City	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation	ft ( m)
Population (2000)
- City
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	67301
Area code(s)	620
FIPS code	20-338752
GNIS feature ID	04694143

Independence is a city in Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. The population was 9,846 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County⁶.

Geography

Independence is located at 37°13′42″N, 95°42′41″W (37.228251, -95.711392)¹, along the Verdigris River just south of its confluence with the Elk River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.9 km² (5.0 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census², there were 9,846 people, 4,149 households, and 2,609 families residing in the city. The population density was 764.9/km² (1,979.4/mi²). There were 4,747 housing units at an average density of 368.8/km² (954.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.00% White, 7.17% African American, 1.16% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.84% of the population.

There were 4,149 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,574, and the median income for a family was $37,134. Males had a median income of $26,552 versus $20,017 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,496. About 11.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

History

On April 28, 1930, Independence was the site of organized baseball's first night game. The Independence team lost 13-3 to Muskogee (Oklahoma), its Western Association rival.

Points of interest

• Independence hosts the annual Halloween "Neewollah" festival the last full week of October. It lasts anywhere from a week to a week and a half.
• Independence Community College is home to the William Inge Center for the Arts, which maintains the archives of playwright William Inge (an alumnus), utilizes the writer's boyhood home for a playwrights-in-residence program, and sponsors an annual festival bestowing a lifetime achievement award on a nationally-recognized American playwright.
• The high school colors are orange and black, and the mascot is a bulldog.
• Journalist Bill Kurtis once worked for radio station KIND-AM & FM and is a part owner of the stations.

Sign in front of Little House on the Prairie historic site in Kansas

• The State of Kansas designated the childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Ingalls family at Independence as a historic site, which is open to visitors. It is the location from which the events of the book Little House on the Prairie take place. It includes a cabin modeled after the original (at the William Kurtis ranch) and the original post office. Much of the surrounding countryside retains its open and undeveloped nature.
• The first monkey in space, Miss Abel, was born at Ralph Mitchell Zoo.

Notable natives

• William Inge, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.
• Bill Kurtis, television journalist.
• Patrick Townson, editor of Telecom-Digest.
• Alf Landon, 1936 Republican presidential candidate
• Scott Hastings, professional basketball player
• Harry S. Pruitt Jr., Tuskegee Airman- Awarded Congressional Gold Medal
• Toby Cook, Kansas City Royals vice president of public relations, former television news broadcaster.
• William Wadsworth Hodkinson, founded Paramount Pictures and ventured into commercial aviation.

Education

Independence Community College is located in the city.

• Independence High School, home of grades 9-12
• Independence Middle School, grades 6-8
• Washington Elementary School, grade 5
• Lincoln Elementary School, grades 3-4
• Eisenhower Elementary School, grades Pre-K-2
• Zion Lutheran School, grades PreK-8
• St. Andrews School

External links

• Independence Chamber of Commerce
• Independence Community College
• William Inge Center for the Arts
• The Independence Public Library

Coordinates: 37.228251° N 95.711392° W

Donate to Wikimedia