Elbing, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elbing, Kansas
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Location within Butler County and Kansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Butler |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Incorporated | 1919 |
| Named for | Elbląg |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2) |
| • Land | 0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,437 ft (438 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 226 |
| • Density | 1,330/sq mi (502/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
67041
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| Area code | 316 |
| FIPS code | 20-20050 |
| GNIS ID | 2394635 |
Elbing is a small city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. It was named after a city called Elbląg (which used to be known as Elbing) in northern Poland. In 2020, about 226 people lived there. Elbing is located about 10.7 miles (17.2 km) east of Newton, right next to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
History
Early Days
For thousands of years, the Great Plains of North America were home to nomadic Native American tribes. In the 16th to 18th centuries, France claimed a large part of North America. Later, in 1762, France secretly gave this land to Spain.
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. Then, in 1803, the United States bought a huge area, including what is now Kansas, from France. This was part of the Louisiana Purchase.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was created. Kansas became the 34th U.S. state in 1861. Butler County, where Elbing is located, was set up in 1855.
How Elbing Started
In 1887, a railroad company, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway, built a line through this area. The tracks went through land owned by Jacob W. Regier. The Regier family sold 80 acres (32 ha) of their land for $5,000 to the Elbing Town Company.
The railroad wanted to name the new town "Regier." But Mr. Regier suggested three other names from his home region in Prussia: Elbing, Danzig, and Marienburg. The name Elbing was chosen. The town was officially founded on May 18, 1887. Soon, people started building homes and businesses. Within a few months, trains were stopping in Elbing, bringing mail twice a day.
A post office, which was first in a nearby town called Worth, moved to Elbing on November 2, 1887.
Growing Up
Elbing's first school district was started in 1887. It had a wooden building, which was replaced by a brick one in 1919. Today, that brick building is empty, and students go to schools in nearby cities.
The first church in Elbing, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was built in 1905 but closed in 1937. The Missionary Church was built in 1910 but its members moved to Newton in the 1960s. The Zion Mennonite Church, built in 1924, is the only church still in Elbing.
Elbing grew slowly at first. By 1895, it had a few businesses and 50 people. By 1910, the population reached 100. The town had many businesses like a general store, a bank, a blacksmith shop, and even a doctor. Electricity came to Elbing in 1929. The city got its own water system in 1967 and a sewer system in 1972.
In 1919, oil was discovered near Elbing, causing the town to grow quickly for a short time. However, the oil boom didn't last. A big fire in 1933 destroyed much of downtown Elbing. Even though new homes were built, many businesses did not return. For a long time, downtown Elbing only had a grocery/hardware store, a gas station, a post office, and a grain elevator. Today, only the garage and grain elevator are still open downtown.
In 1946, Berean Academy, a private school, was founded at the south end of Elbing. It started with 15 students in grades nine and ten. It quickly grew to include grades nine through twelve. By the 1970s, it had 300 students. Today, Berean Academy teaches students from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. This school has helped Elbing stay active and grow. Many families live in Elbing because they work at or want their children to attend Berean Academy.
Today, Elbing has about 350 residents. It still has three main streets that run north and south. The land around Elbing is mostly used for farming, especially for wheat and sorghum grain. Farmers also raise some cattle and hogs. Many new houses have been built in Elbing over the last 30 years. The town still has a small Post Office and is building its first fire station. For now, volunteer firefighters and services from Newton help keep the town safe.
In 1961, Frederic Remington High School was built north of Brainerd. Several local schools, including those from Whitewater, Potwin, Brainerd, Elbing, Furley, Countryside, and Golden Gate, joined together to form the Remington USD 206 public school district. People debated where to build the new high school, and eventually, voters chose a spot near Brainerd.
Geography
Elbing is a small city. The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 0.19 square miles (0.49 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Climate
The weather in Elbing has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 230 | — | |
| 1930 | 110 | −52.2% | |
| 1940 | 101 | −8.2% | |
| 1950 | 98 | −3.0% | |
| 1960 | 105 | 7.1% | |
| 1970 | 128 | 21.9% | |
| 1980 | 175 | 36.7% | |
| 1990 | 184 | 5.1% | |
| 2000 | 218 | 18.5% | |
| 2010 | 229 | 5.0% | |
| 2020 | 226 | −1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Demographics is the study of people in a place, like their age, race, and how many live there.
2020 Census
The 2020 United States census counted 226 people living in Elbing. There were 77 households (groups of people living together) and 62 families. Most of the people (about 93.8%) were white. A small number were Asian or from two or more races. About 0.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 29.6% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in Elbing was 34.7 years.
2010 Census
In the census of 2010, there were 229 people in Elbing. Most people (99.6%) were White. About 36.2% of the residents were under 18 years old. The average age was 30.8 years.
Education
Schools in the Area
The public schools in Elbing are part of the Remington USD 206 school district. The mascot for Remington High School is a Bronco.
- Frederic Remington High School is located north of Brainerd.
- Remington Middle School is in Whitewater.
- Remington Elementary School is in Potwin.
Elbing also has a private school:
- Berean Academy, located at 201 South Elbing Road in Elbing.
Media
News and Entertainment
People in Elbing can read local news from:
Elbing also gets many radio stations and TV channels from the Wichita-Hutchinson area.
Infrastructure
Getting Around
The Oklahoma Kansas Texas (OKT) railroad line, which is part of the Union Pacific Railroad, runs through the east side of Elbing. Elbing used to have a train station, but it was removed in the 1970s.
See also
In Spanish: Elbing (Kansas) para niños
