Munjor, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Munjor, Kansas
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 Munjor, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Munjor, Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Ellis |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.31 sq mi (5.97 km2) |
| • Land | 2.31 sq mi (5.97 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,942 ft (592 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 232 |
| • Density | 100.65/sq mi (38.86/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
67601
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| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-49200 |
| GNIS ID | 2629166 |
Munjor is a small community in Ellis County, Kansas, in the United States. It's called a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's an area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes, but it's not an officially incorporated town. In 2020, about 232 people lived there.
Contents
A Look at Munjor's History
How Munjor Was Founded
The Munjor community was started in 1876 by a group of people known as Volga Germans. These were German families who had moved to the Volga Region in Russia around 1767. They were invited by Catherine the Great, Russia's empress, who promised them land, freedom from military service, and religious freedom.
Why They Left Russia
By the 1870s, these special promises were at risk. The Volga Germans faced the possibility of being forced into the military and losing their religious freedom. Because of this, five men were chosen to travel to America and see if it was a good place to live.
- Peter Leiker
- Peter Stecklien
- Anton Wasinger
- Nicholas Schamme
- Jacob Ritter
These five "scouts" left Russia in 1874. They landed in New York City and traveled west to Nebraska. They liked what they saw in America, especially the farmland. They returned to Russia with good news.
The Journey to Kansas
Encouraged by the scouts' report, a group of colonists left Russia in 1875. They arrived in Baltimore on November 23, 1875. They then traveled west to Topeka, Kansas, where they spent the winter. In the spring of 1876, they moved to Ellis County to settle.
More groups followed in 1876. A large group of 108 families left Saratov, Russia, on July 8, 1876. This group included three of the original scouts: Peter Leiker, Anton Wasinger, and Peter Stecklein. They arrived in New York on August 3 and quickly headed to Topeka. From there, they moved to Herzog, Kansas, and then settled on a piece of land along Big Creek. After two months, they moved to the exact spot where Munjor, Kansas, is today. Other immigrant groups arrived in Munjor in 1876, 1877, and 1878.
The Name Munjor
The immigrants originally called their settlement Obermonjou. Because they often had trouble reading and writing English, and their German accents were strong, the name was spelled many different ways over time. Some of these spellings included Obermonchu, Over Mancha, and Monjor.
Around 1880 to 1882, the settlers agreed to use "Munjor" as a shorter, easier version of Obermonjou. The name "Monjou" actually came from two Frenchmen named Monjou who led groups of German settlers along the Volga River in Russia back in the 1760s. To avoid confusion, the northern settlement was called Obermonjou, and the southern one was called Neidermonjou.
Where Munjor Is Located
Munjor is in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains. It sits on the southwest side of Big Creek, which is a smaller stream that flows into the Smoky Hill River.
Munjor is located:
- About 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of Interstate 70
- About 3 miles (4.8 km) east of U.S. Route 183
- About 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of Hays, which is the main town and government center of Ellis County.
Munjor's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 213 | — | |
| 2020 | 232 | 8.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 United States census, 232 people lived in Munjor. There were 110 households, which are groups of people living together, and 79 families. Most of the people living in Munjor were white (89.22%). About 10.78% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The population was spread out in terms of age:
- 24.6% were under 18 years old.
- 24.1% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- 20.7% were 65 years old or older.
The average age in Munjor was 43.0 years.
Schools in Munjor
Students in Munjor attend public schools that are part of the Hays USD 489 school district.
See also
In Spanish: Munjor para niños
