:Detroit, Kansas

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Dickinson County, Kansas}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Detroit, Kansas

|settlement_type = CDP

|image_skyline = Detroit,_Kansas_School_House.JPG

|image_caption = Old Detroit school house (2013)

|image_map =

|map_caption =

|image_map1 = Map of Dickinson Co, Ks, USA.png

|map_caption1 = KDOT map of Dickinson County (legend)

|pushpin_map = Kansas#USA

|pushpin_label = Detroit

|pushpin_label_position = left

|coordinates_footnotes =

|coordinates = {{coord|38|56|10|N|97|07|36|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_name1 = Kansas

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 = Dickinson

|subdivision_type3 = Township

|subdivision_name3 =

|established_title = Founded

|established_date =

|established_title1 = Platted

|established_date1 =

|named_for = Detroit

|area_footnotes =

|area_total_sq_mi =

|area_land_sq_mi =

|area_water_sq_mi =

|area_total_km2 = 0.89

|area_land_km2 = 0.89

|area_water_km2 = 0.0

|unit_pref = Imperial

|elevation_footnotes =

|elevation_ft = 1194

|population_footnotes =

|population_as_of = 2020

|population_total = 102

|pop_est_footnotes =

|pop_est_as_of =

|population_est =

|population_density_sq_mi = auto

|population_density_km2 = auto

|timezone = CST

|utc_offset = -6

|timezone_DST = CDT

|utc_offset_DST = -5

|postal_code_type = ZIP code

|postal_code =

|area_code_type = Area code

|area_code = 785

|blank_name = FIPS code

|blank_info = {{FIPS|20|17875}}

|blank1_name = GNIS ID

|blank1_info = 2583498{{GNIS|2583498}}

|website =

}}

Detroit is a census-designated place (CDP) in Dickinson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 102.{{cite web |title=Profile of Detroit, Kansas (CDP) in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2017875 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113183502/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2017875 |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |url-status=live}}

History

The community was named after Detroit, Michigan.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ODXKhgH3e6AC&pg=PA39 | title=Exploring Kansas Highways | author=Heim, Michael | year=2007 | pages=39| isbn=9780974435886 }} In the early years of the county, Detroit was once strongly considered to be the county seat because Abilene was considered to be "too wild" of a town to serve as a center of government. However, Abilene became the county seat and Detroit ceased to grow from that point forward.{{cite web|url=http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/dickinson/dickinson-co-p2.html#EARLY_HISTORY|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030331012645/http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/dickinson/dickinson-co-p2.html#EARLY_HISTORY|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2003|title=Dickinson County Early History|accessdate=March 16, 2012|first=William|last=Cutler|publisher=Kansas Collection of Books}}

A post office was opened in Detroit in 1866, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1961.{{cite web |url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:DK |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived) |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |accessdate=8 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909023757/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county%3ADK |archive-date=September 9, 2013 }}

Detroit was a station on the Union Pacific Railroad.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C/page/n512 516]}}

Geography

Detroit is located halfway between Abilene and Chapman, {{convert|2|mi|0}} north of Enterprise. The town is at an elevation of {{convert|1147|ft}} above sea level.{{Cite web |url=http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/DK/ |title=Blue Skyways |access-date=2008-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324002859/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/DK/ |archive-date=2008-03-24 |url-status=dead }}

Detroit is a "square" town, two blocks long and two blocks wide. The three north-south streets are Main, Middle, and School. The three east-west streets are First, Second, and Third. There are no more streets in Detroit. All six streets are unpaved.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|align= left

|2010= 114

|2020= 102

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]

}}

Economics

At one time Detroit maintained an active store and grocery, a train depot, a nightclub, a school and a church. In recent years most buildings have collapsed or been renovated for use as a dwelling. The one exception is the pub. Although it has changed ownership and its official business name, locals have simply referred to it as "The Midway" or "The Beer Joint". Because of its proximity to the intersection of county roads, it has become a local landmark.

In 1898, a newspaper titled The Detroit Free Press attempted to build circulation. Records are not found past the first year of 1898.{{cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84029460/|publisher=National Endowment for the Humanities|title=About Detroit free press. (Detroit, Kan.) 1898-1898|access-date=May 28, 2018}} It does not appear to have any connection to the Detroit Free Press published in Detroit, Michigan.{{cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016622/|publisher=National Endowment for the Humanities|title=About The Weekly Detroit free press. (Detroit, Mich.) 18??-1895|access-date=May 28, 2018}}

Agriculture and agriculture-related businesses are the primary economic industries.

The United States Post Office operated a branch in Detroit that opened on April 6, 1866, and ceased operation on June 23, 1961.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/postoffices.php?county=DK |title=Kansas State Historical Society |access-date=2008-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622023804/http://kshs.org/genealogists/places/postoffices.php?county=DK |archive-date=2010-06-22 |url-status=dead }}

Education

The community is served by Chapman USD 473 public school district.

Gallery

Image:Detroit , Kansas.jpg|Detroit from the south, viewed from State Highway K-43

Image:The_Beer_Joint_(Detroit,_Kansas).JPG|"The Beer Joint" or "The Midway"