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Pretty Prairie, Kansas facts for kids

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Pretty Prairie, Kansas
Location within Reno County and Kansas
Location within Reno County and Kansas
KDOT map of Reno County (legend)
Country United States
State Kansas
County Reno
Founded 1870s
Platted 1889
Incorporated 1906
Named for Prairie
Area
 • Total 0.58 sq mi (1.49 km2)
 • Land 0.58 sq mi (1.49 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,568 ft (478 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 660
 • Density 1,138/sq mi (443/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67570
Area code 620 Exchange 459
FIPS code 20-57700
GNIS ID 2396275

Pretty Prairie is a city in Reno County, Kansas, United States. It's a small community located in the central part of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 660 people. The city is named for the beautiful prairie lands that surround it.

History of Pretty Prairie

The first post office in Pretty Prairie opened in 1874. This was an important step for the growing community.

The town was officially planned out in 1889. It was named because of its lovely setting on the open prairie. Pretty Prairie officially became a city in 1907.

City Water Supply Improvements

For many years, Pretty Prairie got its water from a single well. This well was about 100 feet deep. Over time, the water in the well started to have higher levels of certain natural substances.

To make sure everyone had safe drinking water, the city provided bottled water to some families. In 2017, the city council made a plan to improve the water system. They decided to build a water tower and an underground storage tank. They also planned to add a special water treatment system called reverse osmosis. This system helps to clean the water even more.

Geography and Climate

Pretty Prairie is a small city in terms of size. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers about 0.61 square miles (1.58 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.

Understanding the Climate

The weather in Pretty Prairie has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, this is often shown as "Cfa." This means the area gets plenty of rain throughout the year.

Population and People

The population of Pretty Prairie has changed over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the city during different census counts:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 327
1920 432 32.1%
1930 429 −0.7%
1940 452 5.4%
1950 484 7.1%
1960 525 8.5%
1970 561 6.9%
1980 655 16.8%
1990 601 −8.2%
2000 615 2.3%
2010 680 10.6%
2020 660 −2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

Pretty Prairie in 2020

The 2020 United States census counted 660 people living in Pretty Prairie. There were 246 households and 163 families. The city had about 1,145 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Pretty Prairie were White. About 3% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

About 30% of households had children under 18 living there. Many households were married couples living together. The average household had 2.4 people. The average family had 3.1 people.

The median age in the city was 42.5 years old. About 26% of the population was under 18. About 24% of residents were 65 years or older.

Pretty Prairie in 2010

In the census of 2010, there were 680 people living in Pretty Prairie. There were 272 households and 190 families. The population density was about 1,214 people per square mile.

Most of the people were White (96%). About 3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 32% of households had children under 18. Many households (56%) were married couples living together. The average household size was 2.36 people.

The median age in the city was 42.4 years. About 25% of residents were under 18. About 24% were 65 years or older.

Education

The public schools in Pretty Prairie are part of the Pretty Prairie USD 311 school district. The district has three schools that serve the community.

Notable People from Pretty Prairie

Pretty Prairie has been home to several interesting people:

  • Brian Bergkamp – A member of the Kansas House of Representatives.
  • Jon Gnagy – An artist and television art instructor.
  • Walter Huxman – A former governor of Kansas and a judge. He was born in Pretty Prairie.
  • Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer – An actor famous for playing Alfalfa in the Little Rascals/Our Gang series. He lived in the town for a short time in 1954.
  • Jack Unruh – A well-known artist and illustrator.

See also

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

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