Frontenac, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frontenac, Kansas
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Location within Crawford County and Kansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Crawford |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Incorporated | 1895 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.32 sq mi (13.78 km2) |
| • Land | 5.22 sq mi (13.53 km2) |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2) |
| Elevation | 935 ft (285 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,382 |
| • Density | 635.7/sq mi (245.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
66763
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| Area code | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-24850 |
| GNIS ID | 485577 |
Frontenac is a city in Crawford County, Kansas, United States. It is the second largest city in the county. In 2020, about 3,382 people lived there.
Contents
History of Frontenac
Frontenac started as a coal mining town in 1886. It was part of the Cherokee-Crawford Coal Fields. These fields are located in the western Ozark Plateau.
A post office opened in Frontenac in 1887. This helped the growing community.
In 1888, a sad event happened. A coal dust explosion killed 44 miners. This was the worst mining disaster in Kansas history.
Around the late 1800s and early 1900s, many immigrant families moved to Frontenac. They came mainly from eastern and southeastern Europe. Many were from Sicily, other parts of Italy, and Slavic people from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The town's population grew to almost 4,000 people. People gathered at various ethnic clubs.
Coal mining was the main job in Frontenac until World War II. After the war, the town's economy began to change. This change happened across the whole region.
Geography and Climate
Frontenac is located in an area called the Cherokee Lowlands. This is at the western edge of the Ozarks. The city covers about 5.06 square miles (13.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.
What is the climate like in Frontenac?
The weather in Frontenac has hot and humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, it is shown as "Cfa."
Population of Frontenac
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 600 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,805 | 200.8% | |
| 1910 | 3,396 | 88.1% | |
| 1920 | 3,225 | −5.0% | |
| 1930 | 2,085 | −35.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,766 | −15.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,569 | −11.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,713 | 9.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,223 | 29.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,586 | 16.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,588 | 0.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,996 | 15.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,437 | 14.7% | |
| 2020 | 3,382 | −1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
How many people live in Frontenac?
The 2020 United States census counted 3,382 people in Frontenac. There were 1,344 households. About 872 of these were families.
Most people in Frontenac are white. There are also smaller groups of Black, Native American, and Asian people. Some people are from two or more races. About 3.9% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
About 23.9% of the people were under 18 years old. About 20.8% were 65 years or older. The average age was 39.8 years.
Fun Events in Frontenac
Festa Italiana, A Taste of Nations is a yearly festival. It celebrates the city's heritage. Many cooks share family recipes. Visitors can try foods from different European cultures. This festival happens near the Frontenac Sports Complex each fall. About 3,000 people attend Festa every year.
Frontenac Town Homecoming celebrates the town's founding in 1886. It includes a big parade and food vendors. There are also children's games and contests. You can enjoy a fishing derby and pool games. A Street Dance happens in the evening.
In 2016, the Frontenac Heritage Hall opened. It is a museum with photos and items from Frontenac's past. You can find it downtown at McKay and Crawford Streets. Most events happen downtown. The fishing derby is at Frontenac City Park. Pool games are at Frontenac City Pool. These events are usually in late May or early June.
Parks and Recreation in Frontenac
Frontenac has several places for fun and sports:
- Frontenac Rotary Park is east of downtown. It has modern playground equipment. There is also a pickleball court and shelters for gatherings.
- Frontenac City Park is on the north side of town. It has several deep fishing pits.
- Frontenac Sports Complex is on the east side of town. It has a new football stadium and track. There are also baseball and softball fields. A cross-country path is available too. This complex is home to the Raiders and Lady Raiders sports teams.
- Frontenac Municipal Swimming Pool is east of Rotary Park.
- Frontenac Recreation Center is downtown. It has modern exercise machines. You can find lifting, running, and biking machines there.
- Senior Citizens Center is north of downtown Frontenac.
- A new hitting facility for baseball and softball players is near the football stadium.
Education in Frontenac
Schools in Frontenac
The public schools in Frontenac are part of the Frontenac USD 249 district. This district serves parts of Crawford County, Kansas, and Barton County, Missouri. There are three schools in Frontenac:
- Frontenac High School (Grades 9-12) is at 201 S. Crawford St.
- Frontenac Middle School (Grades 6–8) is at 201 S. Cayuga St.
- Frank Layden Elementary School (Grades Pre-K-5) is at 200 E. Lanyon St.
Frontenac High School competes in Class 3A sports. Their mascot is the Raider and Lady Raider. The school colors are black and white. It is the second largest school system in Crawford County, Kansas. About 1,000 students attend schools in the district.
Colleges and Training Centers
- Fort Scott Community College has a campus in Frontenac.
- There is a Harley Davidson Technician Training Center.
- A John Deere Technology Center is also located here.
Notable People from Frontenac
- Andy Pilney, a college football player and coach.
- Archie San Romani, a world-class distance runner. He was a U.S. Olympian in 1936.
- Joe Skubitz, a United States congressman.
- Douglas Youvan, a biophysicist and inventor.
See also
In Spanish: Frontenac (Kansas) para niños
