Valley Falls, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valley Falls, Kansas
|
|
|---|---|
Downtown Valley Falls (2014)
|
|
Location within Jefferson County and Kansas
|
|
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Jefferson |
| Founded | 1854 |
| Platted | 1855 |
| Incorporated | 1869 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.71 sq mi (1.84 km2) |
| • Land | 0.70 sq mi (1.82 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 942 ft (287 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,092 |
| • Density | 1,538/sq mi (593.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
66088
|
| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-73300 |
| GNIS ID | 478332 |
Valley Falls is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,092.
History
Valley Falls was originally called Grasshopper Falls, from the falls in the Grasshopper River (now known as the Delaware River). The first settlement was made there in 1854, and the town was platted in 1855. Many of the town's streets were named after women pioneer settlers.
Geography
Valley Falls is located at 39°20′35″N 95°27′38″W / 39.34306°N 95.46056°W (39.342936, -95.460584). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.78 square miles (2.02 km2), of which 0.77 square miles (1.99 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Valley Falls has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 202 | — | |
| 1870 | 603 | 198.5% | |
| 1880 | 1,016 | 68.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,180 | 16.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,078 | −8.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,129 | 4.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,218 | 7.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,238 | 1.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,241 | 0.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,139 | −8.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,193 | 4.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,169 | −2.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,189 | 1.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,253 | 5.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,254 | 0.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,192 | −4.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,092 | −8.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Valley Falls is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,192 people, 444 households, and 290 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,548.1 inhabitants per square mile (597.7/km2). There were 518 housing units at an average density of 672.7 per square mile (259.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 2.1% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 444 households, of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.1% 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 2.44 and the average family size was 3.04.
The median age in the city was 40.8 years. 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.5% male and 53.5% female.
Education
The community is served by Valley Falls USD 338 public school district. It has one local grade school serving grades PreK-8 and one local high school serving grades 9-12. The local sports teams are known as the Dragons and their school colors are black and gold.
Notable people
- Puella Dornblaser, temperance activist, lived in Valley Falls and edited at a newspaper in Oskaloosa
- Moses Harman, American schoolteacher and publisher of the anarchist periodical Lucifer, the Light-Bearer. The periodical began as The Kansas Liberal and was published in Valley Falls.[1]
- Fred Marsh, professional baseball player, born in Valley Falls in 1924.
- King O'Malley, member of the Australian House of Representatives in the early 20th century, although he also claimed he was born in Quebec, Canada
- George Stafford, former chairman for the Interstate Commerce Commission was born and schooled in Valley Falls
See also
In Spanish: Valley Falls (Kansas) para niños
