Americus, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Americus, Kansas
|
|
|---|---|
Location within Lyon County and Kansas
|
|
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Lyon |
| Platted | 1857 |
| Incorporated | 1884 |
| Named for | Amerigo Vespucci |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.09 sq mi (2.84 km2) |
| • Land | 1.08 sq mi (2.80 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,158 ft (353 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 776 |
| • Density | 712/sq mi (273.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
66835
|
| Area code | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-01675 |
| GNIS ID | 2393946 |
Americus is a small city in Lyon County, Kansas, USA. In 2020, about 776 people lived there. It's located northwest of Emporia. Americus is also a stop for some Unbound Gravel bike races.
Contents
History of Americus
Americus was started in 1857. It got its name from Amerigo Vespucci, a famous explorer. The city was once an important stop for the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad, where goods were shipped.
Geography and Area
Americus covers about 1.13 square miles (2.93 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 431 | — | |
| 1890 | 393 | −8.8% | |
| 1900 | 332 | −15.5% | |
| 1910 | 451 | 35.8% | |
| 1920 | 493 | 9.3% | |
| 1930 | 430 | −12.8% | |
| 1940 | 406 | −5.6% | |
| 1950 | 339 | −16.5% | |
| 1960 | 300 | −11.5% | |
| 1970 | 441 | 47.0% | |
| 1980 | 915 | 107.5% | |
| 1990 | 891 | −2.6% | |
| 2000 | 938 | 5.3% | |
| 2010 | 894 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 776 | −13.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Americus is part of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's connected to the larger Emporia area for jobs and services.
2020 Population Details
In 2020, Americus had 776 people living in 324 households. Most residents, about 92%, were white. About 5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
- Around 24.6% of the people were under 18 years old.
- About 18.7% were 65 years or older.
- The average age in Americus was 39.9 years.
- For every 100 females, there were about 110 males.
2010 Population Details
In 2010, the city had 894 people. There were 354 households.
- About 36.4% of households had children under 18.
- The average age was 38 years.
- About 27.4% of residents were under 18.
- About 12.2% were 65 or older.
- There were slightly more females (52.1%) than males (47.9%).
Education in Americus
The local public schools are part of the North Lyon County USD 251 district. The district's main office is in Americus.
- Northern Heights High School is located east of Allen. Their sports teams are called the Wildcats.
- The NLC Elementary School and NLC Early Learning Center (for preschool) are both in Americus.
Americus High School used to be open. It closed after the school districts joined together. The Americus Indians boys' basketball team won the Kansas State High School Class B championship in 1961. They had a perfect record of 26 wins and 0 losses!
Transportation
The closest exit for the Kansas Turnpike is about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Americus. This exit is located along U.S. Route 50 in Emporia.
Notable People from Americus
- Ross Grimsley (1922–1994): He was a professional baseball pitcher in the 1950s.
- Chuck Norris (1925–2009): He was a politician in Oregon, a military officer, and a businessman.
- Grant Timmerman (1919–1944): He was a U.S. Marine. He received the Medal of Honor after he died in World War II.
See also
In Spanish: Americus (Kansas) para niños
