Freeport, Kansas

Before officially being established as a city, Freeport was preceded by a settlement called Midlothian, which was located a few miles from Freeport's current location. Midlothian is the Scottish word for Midland.{{Cite web |last=hsotr |date=2018-02-13 |title=Freeport, Formerly the Smallest Incorporated City in Kansas |url=https://homesteadontherange.com/2018/02/13/freeport-formerly-the-smallest-incorporated-city-in-kansas/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Homestead on the Range |language=en}}

Midlothian had a few amenities including a post office established in 1879, as well as a local school and church.

Freeport was founded in 1885.{{cite web | url=https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tourism/photos/12-us-places-where-your-visit-could-double-the-population/freeport-kan | title=12 U.S. places where your visit could double the population | publisher=Mother Nature Network | accessdate=2 May 2014}} It was located on the Missouri Pacific Railway.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ | title=Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society | publisher=Kansas State Printing Plant | author=Kansas State Historical Society | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ/page/n309 202]}}

In the late 19th century Freeport was a growing town. Freeport boasted three lumberyards, two grain elevators, nine grocery stores, five dry goods stores, two meat markets, two hardware stores, three drug stores, four blacksmiths, one bank and two hotels. In 1892, the population of Freeport reached its peak at 700.

The Midlothian post office was renamed after the founding of Freeport. The post office was in operation at Freeport since 1885.{{cite web |url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:HP |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived) |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |accessdate=11 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009132135/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county%3AHP |archivedate=October 9, 2013 }} The community has a grain elevator and a church.{{cite web | url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/502234/smallest-town-each-50-states | title=The Smallest Town in Each of the 50 States | work=Mental Floss | date=25 August 2017 | accessdate=25 June 2018 | author=Rivero, Nicolas}}

Until November 2017, when the population had risen to eight, it was the smallest incorporated city in the state of Kansas.[https://eu.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2017/12/05/freeport-kansas-how-states-smallest-city-decided-its-time-was-up/16874554007/ "Freeport, Kansas, how the state's smallest city decided its time was up"] by Amy Bickel, The Hutchinson News The city was dissolved by a vote of 4–0 in the November 2017 election.{{cite web|title=Freeport to dissolve; Frederick remains a city|url=https://eu.hutchnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2017/11/13/freeport-to-dissolve-frederick-remains-city/17065687007/ |website=Hutchison News|accessdate=1 May 2023}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of {{convert|0.20|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=2012-07-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-07-02 }}

Freeport is surrounded by plains and farmland on all sides. There are no bodies of water and little tree coverage.{{Cite web |title=Google Earth |url=https://earth.google.com/web/search/Freeport,+KS/@37.19541452,-97.85840352,409.67035916a,11412.18266435d,35y,4.33994287h,3.38884841t,0r/data=CncaTRJHCiUweDg3YTU1MjA5M2FmYjYxZmQ6MHgzYzI1NWNjNWJmNzQwYjUyGRu2LcpsmUJAIR-JTRrZdljAKgxGcmVlcG9ydCwgS1MYASABIiYKJAmvPfMEJ9NEQBEPERwXC2NBQBmHa3x1iG1WwCGI6ovab7tawA |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=earth.google.com}}

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1890= 138

|1900= 83

|1910= 161

|1920= 56

|1930= 105

|1940= 67

|1950= 30

|1960= 31

|1970= 21

|1980= 12

|1990= 8

|2000= 6

|2010= 5

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

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

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2012-07-06}} of 2010, there were 5 people, 3 households, and 2 families residing in the community. The population density was {{convert|25.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the community was 80.0% White and 20.0% Native American.

There were 3 households, of which 66.7% were married couples living together and 33.3% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 1.67 and the average family size was 2.00.

The median age in the community was 66.5 years. 0.0% of residents were under the age of 18; 20% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 0.0% were from 25 to 44; 20% were from 45 to 64; and 60% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the community was 60.0% male and 40.0% female.

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 6 people, 3 households, and 3 families residing in the community. The population density was {{convert|31.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5 housing units at an average density of {{convert|26.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the community was 100.00% White.

There were 3 households, out of which none had persons under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, and 33.3% had a female householder with no husband present. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.00.

In the community, the population was spread out, with 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 66.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 66 years. For every 100 females, there were 100 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $31,250. The per capita income for the community was $14,590. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.

The community is served by Chaparral USD 361 public school district.{{cite web | title = Anthony-Harper| publisher = USD 361| url = https://www.usd361.org/| accessdate = 10 January 2017}}

{{Reflist}}

{{See also|Harper County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Harper County, Kansas}}

• [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/freeport.pdf Freeport Map], KDOT
• Harper County maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/harper.PDF Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT

{{Harper County, Kansas}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Unincorporated communities in Kansas

Category:Unincorporated communities in Harper County, Kansas

Category:Populated places disestablished in 2017