Jamestown, Kansas

Jamestown was founded in 1878, and was incorporated as a city in 1883.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC/page/n10 20]}} It was named for either Senator James Pomeroy,{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a3YUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA736 | title=Biographical History of Cloud County, Kansas: Biographies of Representative Citizens. Illustrated with Portraits of Prominent People, Cuts of Homes, Stock, Etc. | publisher=Wilson, Humphrey & Company | author=Hollibaugh, E. F. | year=1903 | pages=736}} or James P. Pomeroy, a railroad official.{{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/n270 163]}}{{cite web | url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=4746 | title=Profile for Jamestown, Kansas | publisher=ePodunk | accessdate=7 June 2014 | archive-date=14 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714204502/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=4746 | url-status=dead }}{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n167 168]}} A post office was opened in Alva (an extinct town) in 1871, but it was moved to Jamestown in 1878.{{cite web | url=https://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:CD | title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 | publisher=Kansas Historical Society | accessdate=6 June 2014}} The town located itself on the Missouri Pacific Railroad.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VwgtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA118 | title=A Gazetteer of Kansas | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1898 | pages=118}}

File:Jamestown KS 1908.jpg

File:Jamestown Kansas 1911 fire.jpg In 1911 the entire downtown business district was destroyed by a fire. Few records remain of that fire, but the townspeople subsequently rebuilt the downtown commercial district.{{Cite web |url=http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/huckboyd/05ksprof.htm#Hill |title=Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development |access-date=2006-12-18 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924062944/http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/huckboyd/05ksprof.htm#Hill |url-status=dead }} Three towns in the area had devastating downtown fires on the same night: Jamestown, Courtland, and Glasco. Damage was reported to amount to $500,000 at the time.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1911/11/29/archives/fire-sweeps-kansas-towns-loss-of-500000-at-jamestown-and-glasco.html|work=New York Times|date=November 29, 2011|title=FIRE SWEEPS KANSAS TOWNS.; Loss of $500,000 at Jamestown and Glasco -- Train Passengers Save Elbing.|accessdate=April 14, 2020}}

History repeated itself on January 28, 2000 when another fire consumed several buildings on Main Street and spread to the city hall. And again, history repeated itself as the town rebuilt. Mayor Judy Hill stated, "A fire like that can destroy a small town, but instead it ignited a community spirit here." In a few days, Jamestown was having town meetings to make plans for the future.{{Cite web |url=http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/huckboyd/05ksprof.htm#Hill |title=Huck Boyd, cont. |access-date=2006-12-18 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924062944/http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/huckboyd/05ksprof.htm#Hill |url-status=dead }}

The funeral home in Jamestown was selected as the temporary city office and meeting place. More than 50 people (out of a population of 307 at the time) came to town meetings there and the citizens organized into several committees to begin work.

Today, Jamestown has a new community center with daycare facilities and a thriving downtown activities center with a health clinic, public library, and several businesses.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.29|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 }}

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1880= 101

|1890= 372

|1900= 400

|1910= 462

|1920= 495

|1930= 507

|1940= 490

|1950= 494

|1960= 422

|1970= 470

|1980= 440

|1990= 325

|2000= 399

|2010= 286

|2020= 237

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

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

}}

The 2020 United States census counted 237 people, 105 households, and 72 families in Jamestown.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} The population density was 808.9 per square mile (312.3/km{{sup|2}}). There were 124 housing units at an average density of 423.2 per square mile (163.4/km{{sup|2}}).{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/geo/gazetter-file.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Census.gov}} The racial makeup was 92.41% (219) white or European American (91.56% non-Hispanic white), 0.0% (0) black or African-American, 1.27% (3) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.42% (1) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.0% (0) from other races, and 5.91% (14) from two or more races.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} Hispanic or Latino of any race was 1.69% (4) of the population.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}

Of the 105 households, 25.7% had children under the age of 18; 53.3% were married couples living together; 19.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.5% of households consisted of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.0.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 11.4% of the population.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}

20.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 98.9 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $63,611 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,377) and the median family income was $66,250 (+/- $15,670).{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1903?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} Males had a median income of $27,500 (+/- $12,267) versus $31,667 (+/- $19,980) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $30,500 (+/- $10,596).{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S2001?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} Approximately, 12.5% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.3% of those ages 65 or over.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1702?q=Jamestown%20city,%20Kansas%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}

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 286 people, 126 households, and 84 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|986.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 148 housing units at an average density of {{convert|510.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.6% White, 0.7% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 126 households, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.71.

The median age in the city was 40.6 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% 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 399 people, 139 households, and 92 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,391.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 169 housing units at an average density of {{convert|589.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.24% White, 0.25% Asian, and 2.51% from two or more races.

There were 139 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 3.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,167, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $25,313 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,641. About 9.2% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

File:Jamestown Post Office.jpg, in 2011]]

Jamestown is mostly a small agricultural community. There is a local bank that services accounts through the area. Through local efforts and federal funding, a community center, activities center, and public library have been added to the downtown area. A large number of residents complete their shopping in nearby Concordia, Kansas.

The opening day of hunting season brings an influx of people who enjoy small bird game hunting. Also, the nearby Jamestown Wildlife Area (commonly called "Jamestown Lake") provides fishing for local anglers seeking small fish such as perch, crappie, and bass.

A weekly newspaper called the Jamestown Settler was published from 1977 until 1983.{{cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83040956/|title=About The Jamestown settler. (Jamestown, Kan.) 1977-1983|publisher=National Endowment for the Humanities|access-date=May 29, 2018}} Other papers were published from time to time, including The Kansas Optimist from 1904 until 1965{{cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83040997/|publisher=National Endowment for the Humanities|access-date=May 29, 2018|title=About The Kansas optimist (Jamestown, Kan.) 1904-1965}} and The Quill from 1888–1890.{{cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83040963/|title=About The quill. (Jamestown, Kan.) 1888-1890|access-date=May 29, 2018|publisher=National Endowment for the Humanities}}

The community is served by Concordia USD 333 public school district.

In 1911, local residents of Jamestown transferred some property to School District 32 to create the Jamestown Schools. Kansas public schools underwent reorganization and in 1962, the "old" school district 32 entered a Quit Claim Deed and transferred the property to Unified School District 333. The Jamestown School provided classes for grades 1-12 in one building and also maintained a second building for industrial arts classes. The school also kept a playground and athletic field.

Jamestown maintained a public school until the junior high school and high school was closed in 1980. The elementary school was closed in 1983. The student population was always considered small compared to many other area public schools, and in the later years the enrollment fell to an average of between only six and eight students per grade level. Jamestown residents are currently served by Concordia USD 333 public school district.

Records from October 1984 show a Resolution to Transfer the property from USD 333 back to the City of Jamestown. The main building has been demolished and only the gym stands today.

Jamestown High School athletic teams were known as the Jamestown Jayhawks and competed in the Pike Trail League, primarily made up of small local schools in the area. Students participated in 8-man football, volleyball, basketball, and track & field.[http://www.usd333.com/ Unified School District #333]

• Martha Peterson (1916–2006), former president of Barnard College and Beloit College{{Cite news |last=Hevesi |first=Dennis |date=2006-07-20 |title=Martha Peterson, 90, Barnard President in Vietnam War Era, Dies |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/20/nyregion/20peterson.html |access-date=2022-07-22 |issn=0362-4331}}

{{Reflist}}

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

{{Commons category|Jamestown, Kansas}}

• [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260790 Jamestown - Directory of Public Officials]
• [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/jamestown.pdf Jamestown city map], KDOT

{{Cloud County, Kansas}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Kansas

Category:Cities in Cloud County, Kansas

Category:1878 establishments in Kansas

Category:Populated places established in 1878