Neodesha, Kansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neodesha, Kansas
City
Brown Hotel in Neodesha (2017)
Location within Wilson County and Kansas
KDOT map of Wilson County (legend)
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Wilson
Incorporated	1871
Named for	Ni-o-sho-de (indian)
Area
• Total	1.46 sq mi (3.78 km2)
• Land	1.41 sq mi (3.64 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2)
Elevation	810 ft (250 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,275
• Density	1,558/sq mi (601.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66757
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-49650
GNIS ID	485067

Neodesha is a city located in Wilson County, Kansas, United States. In 2020, the city had a population of 2,275 people. The name Neodesha comes from the Osage language, Ni-o-sho-de. This name means "The-Water-Is-Smoky-With-Mud" or "meeting of the waters."

History of Neodesha

Early Settlers and Founding

The first settlers arrived in the Neodesha area in October 1867. They set up a trading post northwest of where the city is today. The Osage Native Americans allowed this trading post because the nearest one was very far away.

In September 1870, the Osage tribe signed the Drum Creek Treaty. This treaty led to the tribe moving to Indian Territory. This move opened the land for new settlers. Neodesha officially became a city on March 2, 1871.

Railroads and Oil Discovery

The first railroad line was built through Neodesha in 1879. This helped the city grow and connect with other places.

A very important event happened in Neodesha in 1892. The first successful oil well in the Mid-Continent Oil Field was drilled here. This well was called Norman No. 1 Oil Well. Today, the Norman No. 1 Museum is located near where this original well was drilled.

Neodesha During World War II

During World War II, many American men were fighting in the war. This caused a shortage of workers in the United States. To help with this problem, German and Italian prisoners of war were brought to Kansas and other Midwest states in 1943.

Large camps were set up for these prisoners. One of these was Fort Riley, which had smaller branch camps. Neodesha was one of the towns that hosted one of these smaller branch camps. The prisoners helped with labor needs during the war.

Geography and Climate

Where is Neodesha?

Neodesha is located at 37°25′25″N 95°40′52″W / 37.42361°N 95.68111°W / 37.42361; -95.68111. It is situated where the Verdigris and Fall Rivers meet. The city covers about 1.39 square miles (3.78 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

What is the Climate Like?

Neodesha has a climate with hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, it is often shown as "Cfa."

Population Information

Population in 2020

The 2020 United States census counted 2,275 people living in Neodesha. There were 971 households in the city. About 29% of these households had children under 18 years old. The median age in Neodesha was 40.2 years.

Population in 2010

In the census of 2010, Neodesha had 2,486 people. There were 1,031 households. About 34% of these households had children under 18. The median age was 39.2 years.

Education in Neodesha

The public schools in Neodesha are part of the Neodesha USD 461 school district. The sports teams at Neodesha High School are known as the Bluestreaks.

Notable People from Neodesha

Many interesting people have come from Neodesha, including:

• Dorothy DeLay, a famous violin teacher at Juilliard.
• Lyle Goodhue, a scientist who helped create aerosols.
• Maggie McIntosh, a state legislator in Maryland.
• Grimes Poznikov, a street performer in San Francisco.
• Clay Whitehead, who worked in the White House during the Nixon Administration.

See also

In Spanish: Neodesha para niños