St. Marys, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saint Marys, Kansas
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Downtown St. Marys (2009)
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Location within Pottawatomie County and Kansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| Counties | Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee |
| Founded | 1860s |
| Platted | 1866 |
| Incorporated | 1869 |
| Named for | St. Mary's Mission |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.18 sq mi (3.05 km2) |
| • Land | 1.18 sq mi (3.05 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,024 ft (312 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,759 |
| • Density | 2,338/sq mi (904.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
66536
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| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-62400 |
| GNIS ID | 2396507 |
St. Marys, also known as Saint Marys, is a city located in the state of Kansas, USA. It's found in both Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties. In 2020, about 2,759 people lived there. St. Marys is known for its strong Catholic community and is home to Saint Mary's Academy and College.
Contents
History of St. Marys
The community of St. Marys was first planned out in 1866. It got its name from the St. Mary's Mission, which was an important place in the area.
One of the oldest buildings still standing is the Pottawatomie Indian Pay Station. It was built in 1855. This building was used by government agents to give payments to the Pottawatomie Native Americans. The Pottawatomie people had moved to this area from the Great Lakes region. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Starting in the 1980s, many Traditionalist Catholics began moving to St. Marys. They were drawn by the presence of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) in the community. They also liked that the city felt a bit separate from the busy modern world. Over time, the number of residents connected to the SSPX grew a lot. By 2020, they made up most of the city's population.
Geography of the City
According to the United States Census Bureau, St. Marys covers a total area of about 1.18 square miles (3.05 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
The city is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Topeka. You can reach it by following U.S. Route 24.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 884 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,174 | 32.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,390 | 18.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,397 | 0.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,321 | −5.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,304 | −1.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,132 | −13.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,201 | 6.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,509 | 25.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,434 | −5.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,598 | 11.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,791 | 12.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,198 | 22.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,627 | 19.5% | |
| 2020 | 2,759 | 5.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
St. Marys is part of the Manhattan, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is well-known for having a large Catholic population.
2010 Census Information
In 2010, the city of St. Marys had 2,627 people living in it. There were 836 households and 560 families. The population density was about 2,226 people per square mile (860 people per square kilometer). There were 900 housing units in total.
The people living in St. Marys were mostly White (91.1%). There were also smaller groups of African American (1.1%), Native American (1.4%), and Asian (0.5%) residents. About 2.3% were from other races, and 3.6% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 9.0% of the population.
About 37.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (54.4%) were married couples. The average household had 3.10 people, and the average family had 4.04 people.
The average age of people in St. Marys was 26.8 years old. A large portion of residents (38.5%) were under 18. About 13.6% were 65 years or older.
Religious Communities
St. Marys has several churches. These include two Catholic churches, a Baptist church, and a Methodist church.
Catholic Churches in St. Marys
One of the Catholic churches is the Immaculate Conception Church. This church is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
The other, larger and newer Catholic church is the Immaculata church, Saint Marys, Kansas. This church belongs to the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX). The SSPX is a traditional Catholic group. The Immaculata church was officially opened and blessed on May 3, 2023. It is one of the biggest churches in Kansas. It can seat 1,580 people for services. This large size helps to welcome the growing community. The building was designed by David Heit and built by Hutton Construction and BHS Construction.
Most people in St. Marys who are Catholic are connected to the SSPX.
Education in St. Marys
The public schools in St. Marys are part of the Kaw Valley USD 321 school district. This district provides education from pre-kindergarten all the way to 12th grade in St. Marys. It also serves students in nearby areas. The high school for the district is St. Marys High School.
There is also a private school called St. Mary's Academy and College. This school offers classes from kindergarten through 12th grade. It also has a four-year college program. The Society of Saint Pius X operates this school.
See also
In Spanish: St. Marys (Kansas) para niños
