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Gypsum, Kansas facts for kids

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Gypsum, Kansas
Location within Saline County and Kansas
Location within Saline County and Kansas
KDOT map of Saline County (legend)
Country United States
State Kansas
County Saline
Founded 1800s
Incorporated 1887
Named for Gypsum Creek
Government
 • Type Mayor–Council
Area
 • Total 0.37 sq mi (0.97 km2)
 • Land 0.37 sq mi (0.97 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,227 ft (374 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 400
 • Density 1,080/sq mi (410/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67448
Area code 785
FIPS code 20-29250
GNIS ID 476963

Gypsum is a city in Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 400.

History

Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Saline County
1915 Railroad Map of Saline County

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1860, Saline County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Gypsum.

The community was founded as a Templer community called Tempelfeld. Gypsum was named after Gypsum Creek. The Gypsum post office has operated under that name since 1886.

Geography

Gypsum is located at 38°42′18″N 97°25′37″W / 38.70500°N 97.42694°W / 38.70500; -97.42694 (38.705118, -97.426876). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.36 square miles (0.93 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 530
1900 552 4.2%
1910 623 12.9%
1920 732 17.5%
1930 638 −12.8%
1940 615 −3.6%
1950 523 −15.0%
1960 593 13.4%
1970 391 −34.1%
1980 423 8.2%
1990 365 −13.7%
2000 414 13.4%
2010 405 −2.2%
2020 400 −1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

It is part of the Salina Micropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 405 people, 162 households, and 111 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,125.0 inhabitants per square mile (434.4/km2). There were 187 housing units at an average density of 519.4 per square mile (200.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.6% White, 0.5% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 162 households, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 39.9 years. 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

Education

The community is served by Southeast of Saline USD 306 public school district. The Southeast of Saline High School mascot is the Trojans.

Gypsum schools were closed through school unification. The Gypsum High School mascot was Pirates.

Notable people

  • Steve Fritz (b1967), 4th place in 1996 Olympic decathlon, assistant coach for the Kansas State University track and field team for 21 years.
  • Bill Wheatley (1909-1992), basketball player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics with the American basketball team that won a gold medal.
  • Frank Wilkeson (1848-1913), New York Times journalist and Washington explorer who owned a large ranch in Gypsum for nearly forty years.
  • JD Andrew (b1973) sound engineer and musician; member of The Boxmasters with Billy Bob Thornton.

See also

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

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