Walton, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walton, Kansas
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Walton City Hall at 122 E Main St (2010)
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Location within Harvey County and Kansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Harvey |
| Township | Walton |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Platted | 1871 |
| Incorporated | 1886 |
| Named for | ATSF stockholder |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.31 sq mi (0.81 km2) |
| • Land | 0.31 sq mi (0.81 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,532 ft (467 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 219 |
| • Density | 706/sq mi (270.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
67151
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| Area code | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-75200 |
| GNIS ID | 2397186 |
Walton is a small city located in Harvey County, Kansas, in the United States. It was named after an important person who owned shares in the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway back in the 1800s. In 2020, about 219 people lived in Walton.
Discovering Walton's Past
How Kansas Began
For thousands of years, the Great Plains of North America were home to nomadic Native American tribes. From the 1500s to the 1700s, France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly gave New France to Spain. This was part of the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
The 1800s: A New Beginning
In 1802, Spain returned most of this land to France. Then, in 1803, the United States bought a huge area of land from France. This was called the Louisiana Purchase. Most of what is now Kansas was part of this purchase.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was set up. Then, in 1861, Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. Harvey County, where Walton is located, was created in 1872.
In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a main train line. It went from Emporia through Walton to Newton. This line reached Walton and Newton in July of that year. In 1996, this railway merged with another company. It is now known as the BNSF Railway. However, many local people still call it the "Santa Fe."
Walton was planned as a town in December 1871 by William Mathews. He built the first home there. Soon after, a general store and a railroad building were added. It was hard to get official ownership of the land at first. So, the town didn't grow much until J.F. Watson bought it. He officially registered the town's plan in 1876.
In 1871, a Kansas one room school was built. It was 18 by 20 feet in size. Mrs. M. J. Sharron taught the first class there. A post office also opened in Walton on December 28, 1871. Mrs. E. Peck was the first Postmistress.
The 1900s: Roads and Growth
The New Santa Fe Trail road was built through Walton in the late 1910s. At first, the road entered the north side of the city on Walton Avenue. This trail later became U.S. Route 50 in the late 1930s. The new highway was built to run next to the railroad.
Walton's Location
Walton is located near the highest point in Harvey County. It is also close to the area where the Cottonwood and Arkansas River basins divide.
The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 0.36 square miles (0.93 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Fun Things to Do
- Walton Rural Life Festival: This fun event happens every October.
Places to Visit
- Kansas Historical Marker - Red Turkey Wheat: You can find this historical sign on the north side of US-50. It's near the northeast edge of the city.
People of Walton
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 162 | — | |
| 1890 | 249 | 53.7% | |
| 1900 | 174 | −30.1% | |
| 1910 | 357 | 105.2% | |
| 1920 | 228 | −36.1% | |
| 1930 | 212 | −7.0% | |
| 1940 | 217 | 2.4% | |
| 1950 | 220 | 1.4% | |
| 1960 | 225 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 211 | −6.2% | |
| 1980 | 269 | 27.5% | |
| 1990 | 226 | −16.0% | |
| 2000 | 284 | 25.7% | |
| 2010 | 235 | −17.3% | |
| 2020 | 219 | −6.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
What the 2010 Census Showed
The census in 2010 counted 235 people living in Walton. There were 93 households and 69 families. The city had about 653 people per square mile. There were 105 homes, with about 292 homes per square mile.
Most people in Walton were White (93.2%). A small number were African American (0.4%), Native American (5.1%), or Asian (0.4%). About 0.9% of people were of two or more races. About 6.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Out of the 93 households, 30.1% had children under 18 living there. Most households (58.1%) were married couples. About 10.8% had a female head of household with no husband. About 5.4% had a male head of household with no wife. And 25.8% were not families.
About 23.7% of all households were single people. About 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household had 2.53 people. The average family had 2.88 people.
The average age in Walton was 40.9 years. About 21.7% of residents were under 18. About 8.5% were between 18 and 24. About 21.7% were from 25 to 44. About 30.7% were from 45 to 64. And 17.4% were 65 years or older. The city had more males (57.0%) than females (43.0%).
Learning in Walton
Schools in the Area
The Newton USD 373 public school district serves the community. Students from Walton who are in junior high and high school go to school in Newton.
- Walton Rural Life Center: This is a special elementary school located at 500 West Main Street. It is a charter school for students from Pre-K to 4th grade.
Walton High School closed when schools were combined. The mascot for Walton High School was the Walton Wildcats.
Local Library
- Walton Community Library: You can find the library at 122 Main Street.
Walton on Film
In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education made a documentary film. It was called "Using Agriculture to Spur Achievement: The Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center." The film crew visited the Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center charter elementary school in November 2010. They also talked to farm families, teachers, students, and other community members. The video was put on their website. It showed the center as a great example of new ideas in education.
Media and News
Reading the News
- Hillsboro Free Press: This is a free newspaper for the larger Marion County area.
- The Newton Kansan: This is a regional newspaper from Newton.
- The Wichita Eagle: This is a major regional newspaper from Wichita.
Listening to the Radio
Walton can receive many radio stations. These stations are part of the Wichita-Hutchinson listening area. You can also listen to satellite radio. For more information, see Media in Wichita, Kansas.
Watching Television
Walton gets over-the-air ATSC digital TV from the Wichita-Hutchinson viewing area. People can also watch cable TV and satellite TV. For more information, see Media in Wichita, Kansas.
How Walton Works
Getting Around
A major highway, US-50, and a railroad, BNSF Railway, both pass through Walton. US-50 was originally the New Santa Fe Trail. It generally runs parallel to the BNSF Railway.
The Amtrak Southwest Chief train stops in nearby Newton. It stops twice each day. This train provides passenger service towards Los Angeles and Chicago. You can find more details at Newton (Amtrak station).
Essential Services
- Internet:
- TV:
- Satellite TV is provided by DirecTV and Dish Network.
- Local TV is available from regional digital TV stations.
- Telephone:
- Landline phone service is provided by CenturyLink.
- Cell phone service is provided by Verizon.
- Electricity:
- Electricity for the city is provided by Westar Energy.
- Electricity for rural areas is provided by Flint Hills RECA.
- Natural Gas:
- Natural gas service is provided by KMGA. The City of Walton handles the billing.
- Water:
- City water is provided by Harvey County RWD #1. The City of Walton handles the billing.
- Rural water is also provided by Harvey County RWD #1.
- Sewer:
- Sewer service is provided by the City of Walton.
- Trash:
- Trash collection is provided by Waste Connections. The City of Walton handles the billing.
Famous People from Walton
- See also List of people from Harvey County, Kansas
- Guy Hawk, a banker who served in the Kansas House of Representatives.
See also
In Spanish: Walton (Kansas) para niños
