Walton, Kansas

Coordinates: 38°07′07″N 97°15′30″W / 38.11861°N 97.25833°W / 38.11861; -97.25833
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Walton, Kansas
City
Walton City Hall at 122 E Main St (2010)
Walton City Hall at 122 E Main St (2010)
Location within Harvey County and Kansas
Location within Harvey County and Kansas
KDOT map of Harvey County (legend)
KDOT map of Harvey County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°07′07″N 97°15′30″W / 38.11861°N 97.25833°W / 38.11861; -97.25833[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyHarvey
TownshipWalton
Founded1871
Platted1871
Incorporated1886 [2]
Named forATSF stockholder
Government
[2]
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • MayorBarry Wentz [citation needed]
Area
[3]
 • Total0.31 sq mi (0.81 km2)
 • Land0.31 sq mi (0.81 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[1]
1,532 ft (467 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total219
 • Density710/sq mi (270/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67151
Area code620
FIPS code20-75200
GNIS ID2397186[1]
Websitewaltonkansas.com

Walton is a city in Harvey County, Kansas, United States.[1] It is named in honor of one of the 19th century stockholders of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.[5][6] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 219.[4]

History[edit]

Walton United Methodist Church (2010). Dedicated on July 20, 1919.

Early history[edit]

See also: History of Kansas

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century[edit]

1915 Railroad Map of Harvey County

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861, Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1872, Harvey County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Walton.

In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a main line from Emporia through Walton to Newton,[7] reaching Walton and Newton in July.[8] In 1996, it merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

Walton was laid out as a town site in December 1871 by William Mathews. He built a home, and this was followed by a general store and railroad section house. Because of difficulty in perfecting title to the lots, the town-site remained dormant until it was sold to J.F. Watson and he filed a plat of the town in 1876.[5] In 1871, a Kansas one room school, measuring 18 x 20 feet, was built and the first school was held by Mrs. M. J. Sharron.[9] A post office was established in Walton on December 28, 1871, Mrs. E. Peck as Postmistress.[10]

20th century[edit]

The New Santa Fe Trail road was routed through Walton in the late 1910s. Initially, the road entered the north side of the city on Walton Ave.[11][12] The trail became U.S. Route 50 in the late 1930s, when the new highway was routed northeast to southwest parallel to the railroad.

Geography[edit]

Walton is near the dividing line between the Cottonwood and Arkansas River basins and near the highest ground in Harvey County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.36 square miles (0.93 km2), all of it land.[13]

Area events[edit]

  • Walton Rural Life Festival, every October.[14][15]

Area attractions[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880162—
189024953.7%
1900174−30.1%
1910357105.2%
1920228−36.1%
1930212−7.0%
19402172.4%
19502201.4%
19602252.3%
1970211−6.2%
198026927.5%
1990226−16.0%
200028425.7%
2010235−17.3%
2020219−6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[17] of 2010, there were 235 people, 93 households, and 69 families residing in the city. The population density was 652.8 inhabitants per square mile (252.0/km2). There were 105 housing units at an average density of 291.7 per square mile (112.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 0.4% African American, 5.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.0% of the population.

There were 93 households, of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.8% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 40.9 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 30.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 57.0% male and 43.0% female.

2000 census[edit]

Mid Kansas Cooperative, east side of BNSF Railway and US-50 (2010)

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 284 people, 109 households, and 79 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,162.6 inhabitants per square mile (448.9/km2). There were 118 housing units at an average density of 483.1 per square mile (186.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.42% White, 1.41% African American, 1.06% Native American, 1.06% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.87% of the population.

There were 109 households, out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 129.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.4 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household was $34,375, and the median income for a family was $39,500. Males had a median income of $30,781 versus $18,882 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,679. About 9.1% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

Government[edit]

The Walton government consists of a mayor and five council members. The council meets once a month.[2]

  • City Hall, Police Department, Fire Department, 122 Main St.
  • US Post Office, 301 S 2nd Ave.

Education[edit]

Walton Rural Life Center (charter elementary) School (2010)
500 W Main St (2009)

Primary and secondary education[edit]

The community is served by Newton USD 373 public school district. Walton students of junior and high school ages attend school in Newton.

Walton High School was closed through school unification. The Walton High School mascot was Walton Wildcats.[21]

Library[edit]

Film[edit]

Using Agriculture to Spur Achievement : The Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center,[22] 2011, U.S. Department of Education filmed a documentary at the Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center charter elementary school in November 2010.[23] The crew also interviewed farm families, teachers, students, and community members. The resulting video will be featured on their website, highlighting the center as a best practices model of innovation in education.[24][25]

Media[edit]

See also: List of newspapers in Kansas, List of radio stations in Kansas, and List of television stations in Kansas

Print[edit]

Radio[edit]

Walton is served by numerous radio stations of the Wichita-Hutchinson listening market area,[26] and satellite radio. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Television[edit]

Walton is served by over-the-air ATSC digital TV of the Wichita-Hutchinson viewing market area,[27] cable TV, and satellite TV. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Infrastructure[edit]

Harvey County Rural Water District #1 at 210 Esau Ave (2010)

Transportation[edit]

A major highway US-50 and a railroad BNSF Railway pass through Walton. US-50 was originally the New Santa Fe Trail and roughly parallels the BNSF Railway.

The Amtrak Southwest Chief stops in nearby Newton twice each day and provides passenger rail service towards Los Angeles and Chicago. See Newton (Amtrak station).

Utilities[edit]

Notable people[edit]

See also List of people from Harvey County, Kansas

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Walton, Kansas
  2. ^ a b c "Information about City of Walton". The League of Kansas Municipalities. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Profile of Walton, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  5. ^ a b History of the State of Kansas; William G Cutler; 1883
  6. ^ Harvey County Township History
  7. ^ Santa Fe Rail History
  8. ^ "The Birth of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, 2 - Kansas Historical Society".
  9. ^ kancoll.com
  10. ^ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  11. ^ 1918 Kansas Highway Map; KSDOT.
  12. ^ 1932 Kansas Highway Map; KSDOT.
  13. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  14. ^ Walton Rural Life Festival; YouTube.com; August 2010.
  15. ^ Walton Rural Life Festival, The Newton Kansan, October 9, 2009
  16. ^ Kansas Historical Marker - Red Turkey Wheat
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. ^ Walton Rural Life Center (Elementary School); USD 373.
  20. ^ Rural life fuels Kansas school’s revival; The Wichita-Eagle; December 26, 2012.
  21. ^ "Assaria Regional", The Salina Journal, 6 March 1958, p.11.
  22. ^ Using Agriculture to Spur Achievement : The Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center; U.S. Department of Education; YouTube.com; January 2011.
  23. ^ Walton School Focus Of U.S. Dept. Of Education Documentary; Craig Andres; KSN; November 9, 2010
  24. ^ Rural Kansas Charter School Featured In US Film; Amy Bickel; The Hutchinson News; November 10, 2010
  25. ^ National Crew Films At Walton Ag School; Cristina Janney; The Newton Kansan; November 18, 2010
  26. ^ Wichita-Hutchinson Radio market.
  27. ^ Wichita-Hutchinson TV market.
  28. ^ Kansas Legislators Past & Present

Further reading[edit]

See also: List of books about Harvey County, Kansas

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Walton, Kansas.
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