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Stockton, Kansas
Rooks County Courthouse (2014)
Rooks County Courthouse (2014)
Location within Rooks County and Kansas
Location within Rooks County and Kansas
KDOT map of Rooks County (legend)
Country United States
State Kansas
County Rooks
Founded 1872
Incorporated 1879
Named for Cattle
Area
 • Total 1.66 sq mi (4.29 km2)
 • Land 1.66 sq mi (4.29 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,762 ft (537 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,480
 • Density 892/sq mi (345.0/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67669
Area code 785
FIPS code 20-68350
GNIS ID 2395974

Stockton is a city in and the county seat of Rooks County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,480.

History

19th century

Stockton was founded in 1872. A large share of the first settlers were cattle dealers, or stockmen, and they named their new home Stocktown, or as it soon became Stockton. Stockton was incorporated as a city in 1879.

Stockton is located on the natural trail up the valley of the South Solomon River and where the military supply trail from Fort Kearney, Nebraska, to Fort Hays, Kansas, crossed the South Solomon River. Stockton survived & grew during the thirteen years from founding until the arrival of the railroad in 1885.

Stockton was once a sundown town, where African Americans living in Nicodemus were not welcome after dark.

20th century

Stockton was featured in British author Tony Parker's 1989 book Bird, Kansas in which he transcribed tape recorded interviews with local residents.

Geography

StocktonKS2023
Stockton from above 2023

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.23 square miles (5.78 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 411
1890 880 114.1%
1900 1,030 17.0%
1910 1,317 27.9%
1920 1,324 0.5%
1930 1,291 −2.5%
1940 1,418 9.8%
1950 1,867 31.7%
1970 1,818
1980 1,825 0.4%
1990 1,507 −17.4%
2000 1,558 3.4%
2010 1,329 −14.7%
2020 1,480 11.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,329 people, 606 households, and 369 families residing in the city. The population density was 596.0 inhabitants per square mile (230.1/km2). There were 743 housing units at an average density of 333.2 per square mile (128.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 606 households, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age in the city was 46.1 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.7% were from 25 to 44; 30.7% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

Area attractions

  • Rooks County Historical Society Frank Walker Museum

Education

The community is served by Stockton USD 271 public school district.

Notable people

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Stockton include:

  • Dale Dodrill (1926-2019), football defensive tackle
  • Roy Fisher (1918-1999), editor, reporter
  • Lorenzo Fuller (1919-2011), singer, musician and actor.
  • Mal Stevens (1900-1979), football halfback, coach, surgeon

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Stockton (Kansas) para niños

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