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Scammon, Kansas
Scammon, circa 1900-1910
Scammon, circa 1900-1910
Location within Cherokee County and Kansas
Location within Cherokee County and Kansas
KDOT map of Cherokee County (legend)
Country United States
State Kansas
County Cherokee
Founded 1884
Platted 1884
Incorporated 1888
Named for Scammon brothers
Area
 • Total 0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2)
 • Land 0.63 sq mi (1.62 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
906 ft (276 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 376
 • Density 597/sq mi (230.7/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
66773
Area code 620
FIPS code 20-63325
GNIS ID 485650

Scammon is a small city located in Cherokee County, Kansas, in the United States. In 2020, about 376 people lived there. It's a place with a rich history, especially linked to mining.

A Look Back: Scammon's History

Scammon was first planned and laid out in 1884. It got its name from four brothers, the Scammon brothers, who started the very first mine in the area.

How Scammon Got Its Name

Before it was called Scammon, the community had a different name: Stilson. For a short time, it was even known as Scammonville. Eventually, it settled on the name Scammon. The first post office in the area opened in 1879 under the name Scammonville, but it was officially changed to Scammon in 1890.

Important People and Places

David Mackie (1836–1910) was a key person in Scammon's early days. He helped found and build the city. He also became the first President of the Scammon State Bank.

Today, a local group called Heart of the Heartlands works to preserve railroad history. They are based in Scammon and a nearby area called Carona. They have even restored the old Carona train depot, turning it into a museum for everyone to visit.

Where is Scammon?

Scammon is a small city in terms of size. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers about 0.64 square miles (1.63 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

Scammon's Population Story

The population of Scammon has changed quite a bit over the years. Here's a quick look at how many people have lived there during different census counts:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 748
1900 1,549 107.1%
1910 2,233 44.2%
1920 1,694 −24.1%
1930 1,093 −35.5%
1940 737 −32.6%
1950 561 −23.9%
1960 429 −23.5%
1970 457 6.5%
1980 501 9.6%
1990 466 −7.0%
2000 496 6.4%
2010 482 −2.8%
2020 376 −22.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

What the 2010 Census Showed

In 2010, the city of Scammon had 482 people living there. These people made up 192 households, with 128 of those being families. The city had about 753 people per square mile. There were also 219 housing units, which are places where people can live.

Most of the people living in Scammon in 2010 were White (94.8%). A small number of residents were Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 1.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Scammon in 2010 was 39.6 years old. About 27.2% of the residents were under 18 years old, while 12.9% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (48.8%) and females (51.2%).

Famous Faces from Scammon

Even though Scammon is a small city, some notable people have come from there:

  • George Barr, a professional baseball umpire.
  • Rube Ferns, a well-known boxer.
  • Fred McMullin, a professional baseball player.

See also

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

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