Florence, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Florence is a city in Marion County
, Kansas
, United States
. The city was named after the daughter of former Kansas Governor Samuel J. Crawford. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 465.
. In 1803, most of modern Kansas
was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase
. In 1806, Zebulon Pike
led the Pike expedition
westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through Marion County
near the current towns of Florence, Marion
, Durham
. In 1855, Marion County, Kansas
, where Florence is located, was founded.
The first settlers in Marion County
located on Doyle Creek, near the present site of Florence. They were Moses Shane, who came in 1858, and whose death the next year was the first in the county; Patrick Doyle, in 1859, for whom Doyle Creek and Township were named, and a family by the name of Welsh, in which occurred the first birth
in the county in August 1859.
The Florence Town Company was a group of men who learned of the proposed route of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
, extended from Emporia
, who decided on a town site where the railroad would cross the Cottonwood River. The Florence Town Company was formed on December 1, 1870 with Samuel J. Crawford as the president. Previously, Crawford was the 3rd Governor of Kansas
from 1865 to 1868. He named the town, Florence, in honor of his daughter.
In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
extended a main line from Emporia
through Florence to Newton
. In 1996, it merged with Burlington Northern Railroad
and renamed to the current BNSF Railway
. The Santa Fe depot building still exists, but has been closed for decades. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".
In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado
, in 1881 it was extended to Douglass
, and later to Arkansas City
. The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
. The line from Florence to El Dorado
was abandoned in 1942. The original branch line connected Florence, Burns
, De Graff, El Dorado
, Augusta
, Douglass
, Rock
, Akron, Winfield
, Arkansas City
.
As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion
held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, the Marion and McPherson Railway Company was chartered. In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson
, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons
, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood
. The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
. The line from Florence to Marion
, was abandoned in 1968. In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson
was sold to Central Kansas Railway
. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada
, Hillsboro
, Lehigh
, Canton
, Galva
, McPherson
, Conway
, Windom
, Little River
, Mitchell
, Lyons
, Chase
, Ellinwood
.
. From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir
was constructed north-west of Marion. Downstream from the Marion Reservoir, levees were built in low-lying areas of Marion
and Florence.
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land except Doyle Creek and Cottonwood River.
(NRHP).
of 2000, there were 671 people, 259 households, and 180 families residing in the city. The population density
was 871.6 people per square mile (336.5/km²). There were 301 housing units at an average density of 391.0 per square mile (150.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.68% White, 0.75% African American, 0.60% Native American, 1.49% from other races
, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.
There were 259 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,538, and the median income for a family was $28,214. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $20,208 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,672. About 11.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.
408. Florence's schools have been closed and students attend schools in Marion
. The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network between five area high schools. All students attend schools in Marion
.
passes through Florence and runs nearly parallel to U.S. Route 50.
Marion County
Kansas
Newspaper
Schools
Historical
Maps
Marion County, Kansas
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 12,660. The county seat is Marion...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The city was named after the daughter of former Kansas Governor Samuel J. Crawford. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 465.
19th century
For millennia, the land that is currently Kansas was inhabited by Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. In 1803, most of modern Kansas
History of Kansas
The history of Kansas, argued historian Carl L. Becker a century ago, reflects American ideals. He wrote: "The Kansas spirit is the American spirit double distilled. It is a new grafted product of American individualism, American idealism, American intolerance. Kansas is America in...
was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
. In 1806, Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Montgomery Pike Jr. was an American officer and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado is named. As a United States Army captain in 1806-1807, he led the Pike Expedition to explore and document the southern portion of the Louisiana Purchase and to find the headwaters of the Red River,...
led the Pike expedition
Pike expedition
The Pike Expedition was a military effort authorized by the United States government to explore the south and west of the recent Louisiana Purchase. Roughly contemporaneous with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, it was led by United States Army Captain Zebulon Pike, Jr...
westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through Marion County
Marion County, Kansas
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 12,660. The county seat is Marion...
near the current towns of Florence, Marion
Marion, Kansas
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
, Durham
Durham, Kansas
Durham is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 112. Home of Donahue Corporation.-19th century:...
. In 1855, Marion County, Kansas
Marion County, Kansas
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 12,660. The county seat is Marion...
, where Florence is located, was founded.
The first settlers in Marion County
Marion County, Kansas
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 12,660. The county seat is Marion...
located on Doyle Creek, near the present site of Florence. They were Moses Shane, who came in 1858, and whose death the next year was the first in the county; Patrick Doyle, in 1859, for whom Doyle Creek and Township were named, and a family by the name of Welsh, in which occurred the first birth
First white child
The birth of the first white child was a celebrated occasion across many parts of the New World. Such births are a matter of pride for many townships, and they are commemorated with plaques and monuments at the location of the event. The birth was seen as such an honor that it was at times...
in the county in August 1859.
The Florence Town Company was a group of men who learned of the proposed route of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
, extended from Emporia
Emporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
, who decided on a town site where the railroad would cross the Cottonwood River. The Florence Town Company was formed on December 1, 1870 with Samuel J. Crawford as the president. Previously, Crawford was the 3rd Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
from 1865 to 1868. He named the town, Florence, in honor of his daughter.
In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
extended a main line from Emporia
Emporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
through Florence to Newton
Newton, Kansas
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Harvey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 19,132. Newton is located north of Wichita and is included in the Wichita metropolitan statistical area...
. In 1996, it merged with Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
and renamed to the current BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
. The Santa Fe depot building still exists, but has been closed for decades. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".
In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado
El Dorado, Kansas
El Dorado is a city situated along the Walnut River in the central part of Butler County, located in south-central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Butler County...
, in 1881 it was extended to Douglass
Douglass, Kansas
Douglass is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,700.-19th century:In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado, in 1881 it was extended to Douglass, and later to...
, and later to Arkansas City
Arkansas City, Kansas
Arkansas City is a city situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers in the southwestern part of Cowley County, located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,415....
. The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
. The line from Florence to El Dorado
El Dorado, Kansas
El Dorado is a city situated along the Walnut River in the central part of Butler County, located in south-central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Butler County...
was abandoned in 1942. The original branch line connected Florence, Burns
Burns, Kansas
Burns is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. The city name came from a nearby train station, which was named prior to the city being incorporated. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 228.-History:-19th century:...
, De Graff, El Dorado
El Dorado, Kansas
El Dorado is a city situated along the Walnut River in the central part of Butler County, located in south-central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Butler County...
, Augusta
Augusta, Kansas
Augusta is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,274.-19th century:The confluence of the Whitewater River and the Walnut River was originally inhabited by Native Americans , who found the land ideal for hunting and fishing. In 1868 C. N...
, Douglass
Douglass, Kansas
Douglass is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,700.-19th century:In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado, in 1881 it was extended to Douglass, and later to...
, Rock
Rock, Kansas
Rock is an unincorporated community in Cowley County, Kansas, United States.-19th century:The post office was established August 12, 1870. The nearby Bucher Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places....
, Akron, Winfield
Winfield, Kansas
Winfield is a city situated along the Walnut River in the west-central part of Cowley County, located in South Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,301...
, Arkansas City
Arkansas City, Kansas
Arkansas City is a city situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers in the southwestern part of Cowley County, located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,415....
.
As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion
Marion, Kansas
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, the Marion and McPherson Railway Company was chartered. In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson
McPherson, Kansas
McPherson is a city in and the county seat of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,155. The city is named after Union General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War general...
, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons
Lyons, Kansas
Lyons is a city in and the county seat of Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,739.-History:Although Coronado's exact route across the plains is uncertain and has been widely disputed, he and his men are thought to have camped near the present...
, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood
Ellinwood, Kansas
Ellinwood is a city in the southeast corner of Barton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,131.-History:...
. The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
. The line from Florence to Marion
Marion, Kansas
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
, was abandoned in 1968. In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson
McPherson, Kansas
McPherson is a city in and the county seat of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,155. The city is named after Union General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War general...
was sold to Central Kansas Railway
Central Kansas Railway
The Central Kansas Railway was a short-line railroad operating of trackage in the U.S. state of Kansas and west to Towner, Colorado, most all of which were former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway lines...
. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada
Canada, Kansas
Canada is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Kansas, United States. It is named for many Canadian immigrants coming to the area.-19th century:...
, Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Kansas
Hillsboro is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. Hillsboro was named after John Gillespie Hill, who homesteaded in the area in 1871. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,993. Hillsboro is home of Tabor College, which has approximately 550 students.-19th century:For...
, Lehigh
Lehigh, Kansas
Lehigh is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 175.-19th century:For millennia, the land that is currently Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana...
, Canton
Canton, Kansas
Canton is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 748.-19th century:As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion...
, Galva
Galva, Kansas
Galva is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 870.-19th century:As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from...
, McPherson
McPherson, Kansas
McPherson is a city in and the county seat of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,155. The city is named after Union General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War general...
, Conway
Conway, Kansas
Conway is an unincorporated community in southwestern Jackson Township, McPherson County, Kansas, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 56 and a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line, west of the city of McPherson, the county seat of McPherson County...
, Windom
Windom, Kansas
Windom is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 130.-19th century:In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company...
, Little River
Little River, Kansas
Little River is a city in Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 557.-History:In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company...
, Mitchell
Mitchell, Kansas
Mitchell is an unincorporated community in Mitchell Township, Rice County, Kansas, United States. Located about east-northeast of the city of Lyons, the county seat, it lies along local roads a fraction of a mile north of U.S...
, Lyons
Lyons, Kansas
Lyons is a city in and the county seat of Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,739.-History:Although Coronado's exact route across the plains is uncertain and has been widely disputed, he and his men are thought to have camped near the present...
, Chase
Chase, Kansas
Chase is a city in Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 477.The city should not be confused with Chase County.-History:...
, Ellinwood
Ellinwood, Kansas
Ellinwood is a city in the southeast corner of Barton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,131.-History:...
.
20th century
There has been numerous floods during the early history of Florence. In June and July 1951, due to heavy rains, rivers and streams flooded numerous cities in Kansas, including Florence. Many reservoirs and levees were built in Kansas as part of a response to the Great Flood of 1951Great Flood of 1951
In mid-July 1951, heavy rains led to a great rise of water in the Kansas River and other surrounding areas. Flooding resulted in the Kansas, Neosho, Marais Des Cygnes, and Verdigris river basins. The damage in June and July 1951 exceeded $935 million dollars in an area covering eastern Kansas and...
. From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir
Marion Reservoir
Marion Reservoir is a reservoir on the Cottonwood River and north-west of Marion, on the western edge of the Flint Hills region of Kansas. It was completed in 1968 and is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of flood control...
was constructed north-west of Marion. Downstream from the Marion Reservoir, levees were built in low-lying areas of Marion
Marion, Kansas
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
and Florence.
Geography
Florence is located at 38°14′34"N 96°55′46"W (38.242853, -96.929412), in the scenic Flint HillsFlint Hills
The Flint Hills, historically known as Bluestem Pastures or Blue Stem Hills, are a band of hills in eastern Kansas stretching into north-central Oklahoma, extending from Marshall County, Kansas and Washington County, Kansas in the north to Cowley County, Kansas and Osage County, Oklahoma in the south...
. According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land except Doyle Creek and Cottonwood River.
Area events
- Florence Labor Day Celebration, 73rd annual in 2010.
- Florence High School Alumni Banquet, annual banquet and dance on Memorial Day Weekend
- Tour de Florence, mountain bike tour of the Flint Hills area around Florence.
- Harvey House Picnic
- Florence Spring Fling
- Florence Farmers Market, at Santa Fe Park, every Tuesday eveing 5PM to 9PM, occurs while produce is available.
Area attractions
Florence has five buildings listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP).
- 1876 Harvey HouseHarvey House (Florence, Kansas)Harvey House of Florence, Kansas, also known under the older name of Clifton Hotel, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.-History:...
(NRHPNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
), 221 North Marion Street. Part of the first Fred Harvey House, of the Fred Harvey CompanyFred Harvey CompanyThe origin of the Fred Harvey Company can be traced to the 1875 opening of two railroad eating houses located at Wallace, Kansas and Hugo, Colorado on the Kansas Pacific Railway. These cafés were opened by Fred Harvey, then a freight agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad...
, which stood south of the Santa Fe railroad tracks until the eartly 1900's. The existing structure was the original part of the Clifton Hotel that was erected to serve passengers of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayThe Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
as a permanent eating station and hotel for passengers. It was the first Harvey House to provide sleeping facilities. - 1881 Doyle Place (NRHPNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
), 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) south of railroad track on Main Street. The house is a fine example of Italian Villa style and built from local quarried stone. The original owner, Patrick Doyle, was the source of the Doyle creek and township names. Not open to public. - 1896 Bichet School (NRHPNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
), 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east on US-50 then 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) north on Bluestem Road. The school has a vernacular architecture built from local quarried stone. It was built to school French speaking immigrant children from a French settlement east of Florence that was settled from 1857 to 1885 by more than 60 families. Not open to public. - 190x Florence Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Depot (closed). Located at 38°14′20.1"N 96°55′39.5"W, which is north of the railroad tracks and south of the flood controlFlood controlIn communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
dike. Not open to public. - 1887 Florence Water Tower (NRHPNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
), 525 West 5th Street. Unique example of late 19th-century water towerWater towerA water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
constructed of local materials. - 1949 Florence City Springs Pump House, 1.25 miles (2 km) north. Not open to public.
- Florence Opera House (NRHPNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
). Southwest corner of 5th and Main Streets.
Films and TV
- Feasting on AsphaltFeasting on AsphaltFeasting on Asphalt is a television series starring Alton Brown of the Food Network programs Good Eats and Iron Chef America.Brown's third series, Feasting on Asphalt explores "road food" in the historical and present-day United States, with an emphasis on unique restaurants and regional cuisine...
, on season 1 episode 3, visited Florence. - Music Video, 2002, five day shoot around the Bichet School.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 671 people, 259 households, and 180 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 871.6 people per square mile (336.5/km²). There were 301 housing units at an average density of 391.0 per square mile (150.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.68% White, 0.75% African American, 0.60% Native American, 1.49% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.
There were 259 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,538, and the median income for a family was $28,214. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $20,208 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,672. About 11.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The Florence government consists of a mayor and four council members. The council meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM.- City Hall and Police Department, 511 N Main St.
- Fire Department.
- U.S. Post Office, 302 N Main St.
Primary and secondary education
Florence is part of Unified School DistrictUnified school district
A unified school district or unit school district is a school district which includes both primary school and high school under the same district control....
408. Florence's schools have been closed and students attend schools in Marion
Marion, Kansas
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
. The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network between five area high schools. All students attend schools in Marion
Marion, Kansas
Marion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
.
- Marion High SchoolMarion High School (Kansas)Marion High School is a public secondary school in Marion, Kansas, USA. It is one of three schools operated by Unified School District 408, and is the sole high school in the district.-Academics:...
, located in MarionMarion, KansasMarion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
. - Marion Middle School, located in MarionMarion, KansasMarion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
. - Marion Elementary School, located in MarionMarion, KansasMarion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
.
Library
The city is served by the Florence Public Library at 324 North Main Street. The library is a member of the North Central Kansas Libraries System, which provides an inter-library book loan service between its members.Infrastructure
Transportation
Two highways cross through Florence: U.S. Routes 50 and 77. The BNSF RailwayBNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
passes through Florence and runs nearly parallel to U.S. Route 50.
Utilities
- Internet
- Satellite is provided by HughesNet, StarBandStarBandStarBand is a two-way satellite broadband Internet service available in the U.S.. StarBand Communications Inc. was initially a joint venture between Gilat Satellite Networks, EchoStar and Microsoft, and the StarBand service was launched in 2000. StarBand Communications filed for Chapter 11...
, WildBlue.
- Satellite is provided by HughesNet, StarBand
- TV
- Cable is provided by Eagle Communications.
- Satellite is provided by DirecTVDirecTVDirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
, Dish NetworkDish NetworkDish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
. - Terrestrial is provided by regional digital TVDigital televisionDigital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
stations.
- Electricity
- Rural is provided by Flint Hills RECA.
- Water is provided by City of Florence.
- Sewer is provided by City of Florence.
- Trash is provied by City of Florence.
Notable people
- J. Ware Butterfield, (1838-1xxx), Kansas House of RepresentativesKansas House of RepresentativesThe Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. State of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on...
, Lawyer - Charles O. Fuller, (1825–1879), Kansas House of RepresentativesKansas House of RepresentativesThe Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. State of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on...
, Businessman, Farmer - J. K. McLean, (18xx-1xxx), Kansas House of RepresentativesKansas House of RepresentativesThe Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. State of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on...
Famous visitors
- William Howard TaftWilliam Howard TaftWilliam Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
, 27th President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
gave a campaign speech from his train, prior to 1908 election.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, KansasNational Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, KansasThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Kansas.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Marion County, Kansas, United States...
- Harvey HouseHarvey House (Florence, Kansas)Harvey House of Florence, Kansas, also known under the older name of Clifton Hotel, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.-History:...
- Harvey House
- Historical Maps of Marion County, KansasMarion County, KansasMarion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 12,660. The county seat is Marion...
- Miss KansasMiss KansasThe Miss Kansas competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kansas in the Miss America pageant. Kansas has won the Miss America crown on three occasions.- Winners :- External links :*...
, 1964 - Great Flood of 1951Great Flood of 1951In mid-July 1951, heavy rains led to a great rise of water in the Kansas River and other surrounding areas. Flooding resulted in the Kansas, Neosho, Marais Des Cygnes, and Verdigris river basins. The damage in June and July 1951 exceeded $935 million dollars in an area covering eastern Kansas and...
- Threshing stoneThreshing stoneA threshing stone is a roller-like tool used for the threshing of wheat. Similar to the use of threshing boards, the stone was pulled by horses over a circular pile of harvested wheat on a hardened dirt surface , and the rolling stone knocked the grain from the head of wheat. The straw was removed...
Further reading
Florence- 1872-1972 Century Of Pride - Florence Centennial - Florence, Kansas; 1972.
- Appetite for America - How Visionary Businessman Fred Harvey Built a Railroad Hospitality Empire That Civilized the Wild West; Stephen Fried; Bantam Books; ISBN 978-0553804379; 544 pages; March 23, 2010.
Marion County
- Marion County Kansas - Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House in Hillsboro, KS; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
- Standard Atlas of Marion County, Kansas; Geo A. Ogle & Co; 1902.
- World War Roll of Honor, Marion County Kansas, 1917-1920; Mrs Alexander and Mrs Dean of Marion, Kansas; 221 pages; 1920.
- The Early Schools Of Marion County, Kansas; Wilma Stewart Stallwitz; Located at Peabody Township Library; 33 pages; November 11, 1960.
Kansas
- Kansas: A Cyclopedia Of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 1912.
- History Of The State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883.
External links
CityNewspaper
- Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, local newspaper
Schools
- USD 408, school district for MarionMarion, KansasMarion is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,927....
, Florence, EastshoreEastshore, KansasEastshore is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Kansas, United States. The community name comes from it being near the east shore of the Marion Reservoir.-History:From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir was constructed...
, CanadaCanada, KansasCanada is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Kansas, United States. It is named for many Canadian immigrants coming to the area.-19th century:...
, AulneAulne, KansasAulne is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Kansas, United States. The Aulne name was suggested by officials of the railroad when it was built through Aulne.-19th century:...
, nearby rural areas of Marion CountyMarion County, KansasMarion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 12,660. The county seat is Marion...
Historical
- Historic Images of Florence, Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library.
- Marion County cemetery list
Maps
- Florence City Map, KDOT
- Marion County Map, KDOT
- Topo Map of Florence and south area, USGS
- Topo Map of Marion to Florence area, USGS