Winfield, Kansas
Winfield is a city in and the county seat of Cowley County, Kansas, United States. It is situated along the Walnut River in south central Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 11,777. It is home to Southwestern College.
History
19th century
Winfield was founded in 1870. It was named for Rev. Winfield Scott, who promised to build the town a church in exchange for the naming rights. The first post office at Winfield was established in May 1870. In 1873, Winfield incorporated as a city.Railroads
Railroads reached Winfield in the late 1870s, and finished at Arkansas City in 1881. Eventually, a total of five railroads passed through Winfield.State mental hospital
In 1881, the State of Kansas established the Kansas State Asylum for Idiotic and Imbecile Youth, temporarily established at Lawrence, but moved to Winfield in 1887/1888, where it served as a dominant local employer for 117 years.20th century
The Winfield–Arkansas City area became an industrial community in the 20th century, manufacturing consumer goods, and eventually aircraft and aircraft parts, while retaining its traditional dominant employer, the Winfield State Hospital.On August 13, 1903, 35-year-old Gilbert Twigg, armed with a 12-gauge double-barrelled shotgun, opened fire at a concert, killing six people and wounding at least 25, before killing himself.
Strother Field
In World War II, Winfield, along with neighboring Arkansas City, became home to a military pilot–training base, Strother Field, which remained in operation until the end of the war, bringing several thousand military personnel into the area. After the war, in the early 1950s, the field became the shared municipal airport and industrial park for Winfield and Arkansas City.Aviation industry
The aircraft-manufacturing industry in nearby Wichita —one of the world's principal aircraft-manufacturing centers—provided employment for many Winfield residents, directly and indirectly. That opportunity grew substantially in the last half of the century, as General Electric's GE Aviation division, in the late 1940s, began producing engines for Wichita aircraft, and eventually in the 1960s, one of Wichita's principal manufacturers, Cessna Aircraft Company built a factory at Strother Field.Crayola
The Crayola plant, near Winfield, was established in 1952. At the time, it was the only Crayola plant that made paints. The plant made a large part of the jobs in the county. Tours were conducted until 1992, and five years later, in 1997, the plant shut down and the paint-making equipment was moved to Pennsylvania. Lots of crayons and memorabilia from the plant can still be seen at the Winfield Historical Society museum.Institutions
The Winfield State Hospital and Training Center, established in the community in the prior century to house and confine the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, remained as a dominant local employer throughout the 20th century. Towards the end of the century the housed developmentally disabled people. Social, political and legal changes, led to closing of most of the facility in 1998. It was gradually turned into the Winfield Correctional Facility.Southwestern College grew to become a leading local institution and employer, drawing students from throughout the central United States, and bringing an extra level of intellectual and cultural development and diversity to the community.
21st century
In the 21st century, Winfield remained an industrial and institutional town. With the exception of Cessna, most of the area's major employers continued into the early 21st century.Geography
Winfield is situated along the Walnut River at its confluence with Timber Creek. It is located north of the Kansas-Oklahoma state border at the junction of U.S. Routes 77 and 160. State highway route K-15 follows U.S. Route 77 to the north of the city and U.S. Route 160 to the east. K-360 is a bypass around the southeastern part of the city between U.S. Route 77 and U.S. Route 160. Arkansas City is south of Winfield along U.S. Route 77, and Strother Field, a general aviation airport, is approximately five miles south.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Winfield has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Winfield was on August 12, 1936, while the coldest temperature recorded was on February 13, 1905.Demographics
2020 census
The 2020 United States census counted 11,777 people, 4,339 households, and 2,687 families in Winfield. The population density was 1,057.2 per square mile. There were 5,136 housing units at an average density of 461.0 per square mile. The racial makeup was 80.28% white, 4.14% black or African-American, 1.55% Native American, 3.49% Asian, 0.66% Pacific Islander, 2.42% from other races, and 7.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 9.0% of the population.Of the 4,339 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18; 45.1% were married couples living together; 27.1% had a female householder with no husband present. 30.4% of households consisted of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.1.
23.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 106.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 109.8 males.
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $48,027 and the median family income $57,236. Males had a median income of $31,570 versus $25,677 for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $28,904. Approximately, 12.5% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under the age of 18 and 12.7% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,301 people, 4,600 households, and 2,848 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 5,217 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 85.7% White, 3.9% African American, 1.3% Native American, 3.9% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.1% of the population.There were 4,600 households, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.
The median age in the city was 36.7 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 12% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,206 people, 4,627 households, and 2,952 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 5,049 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 88.06% White, 3.26% Black or African American, 1.08% Native American, 3.74% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.73% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.66% of the population.There were 4,627 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,443, and the median income for a family was $44,539. Males had a median income of $31,768 versus $21,605 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,162. About 9.9% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
19th century
Railroads
In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado. The line was extended to Douglass then reached Winfield on October 1, 1879, and finished at Arkansas City in 1881. The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942. The original branch line connected Florence, Burns, De Graff, El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rock, Akron, Winfield, Arkansas City.The Southern Kansas and Western Railroad was completed from the east to Winfield on February 17, 1880, then continued westward, and it reached the western county line on March 16. This railroad changed its name over time as it merged or purchased by other railroads.
Eventually, a total of five railroads passed through Winfield.