McPherson, Kansas

{{See also|History of Kansas}}

File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 McPherson County.png]]

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, McPherson County was founded.

McPherson was founded in 1870 by the twelve members of the McPherson Town Company.{{cite web | title = First Biennial Report of the State Board of Agriculture to the Legislature of the State of Kansas, for the Years 1877-8 | publisher = Rand, McNally, and Co. | url = http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1878/mcpherson.shtml | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090210090718/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1878/mcpherson.shtml | archive-date = 2009-02-10 }} In 1887, city officials began a failed attempt to have the community named the state capital.

The first post office in McPherson was established in 1873.{{cite web | url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/page:2/county:MP | title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2 | publisher=Kansas Historical Society | access-date=14 June 2014}} McPherson was incorporated as a city in 1874.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2 | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC/page/n195 205]}}

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 and McPherson counties chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972. In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson. In 1880 it was extended to Lyons and in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIwpAAAAYAAJ|title=Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners, for the Year Ending ...|first=Kansas Board of Railroad|last=Commissioners|date=5 April 1886|publisher=Kansas Publishing House: T.D. Thacher, state printer|access-date=5 April 2018|via=Google Books}} The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion was abandoned in 1968.{{cite web|url=http://www.abandonedrails.com/Marion_to_Florence|title=Abandoned Rails: Lyons to Florence|website=www.abandonedrails.com|access-date=5 April 2018}} 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 and Ellinwood.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through McPherson to Pratt.{{cite web|url=http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm|title=Rock Island's Family Tree - Page 4|website=home.covad.net|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723055808/http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}} In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. It foreclosed in 1891 and taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

By 1888, the community was at the junction of four railroad lines. Major industries have included a large flour mill, an insurance company headquarters, and an oil refinery.

Image:Union Hotel, McPherson Kansas.JPG

The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Windom, Conway and McPherson.

In the 1930s, the local refinery sponsored the McPherson Globe Refiners basketball team (AAU). They were coached by Gene Johnson, former head coach of Wichita University (now Wichita State University). The Refiners were best known for their tall centers, Joe Fortenberry (6–8) and Willard Schmidt (6–9) and their fast-break style of play. Billed as "The Tallest Team in the World", the Refiners often held their opponents to low scores because of the centers' ability to deflect shots on the way to the basket in what today would be called goaltending.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} Coach Johnson was one of the innovators of the fast break and full-court press. The Refiners won the AAU national championship in 1936 against the Hollywood Universal team. This earned them the right to compete for the first ever USA Olympic basketball team in 1936. Hollywood Universal narrowly beat the Refiners at Madison Square Garden and the USA team was composed of both Universal and Refiners players and one college student. Coach Johnson was selected to be the assistant coach. After a long journey by boat to Europe, the team played in alternating squads at the Olympics. The Refiners' portion of the team took the court to defeat Canada 19–8 in the gold medal game on August 14, 1936, at the Summer Olympics. The Refiners' home court is now the McPherson Community Building at 121 East Marlin and can be toured by contacting the local Convention and Visitors Bureau. A mural in honor of the Refiners was completed in 2010 at the intersection of Kansas and Ash, south of their home court in preparation for the 75th anniversary celebration of their victory in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/newsnow/x684373693/Globe-Refiners-mural-dedicated|title=Globe Refiners mural dedicated - The McPherson Sentinel - November 16, 2010|website=mcphersonsentinel.com|access-date=5 April 2018}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|7.23|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.18|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{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|access-date=2012-07-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}

The community is located on U.S. Route 56, just west of Interstate 135. McPherson is part of the Little Arkansas River Watershed that ultimately empties into the Arkansas River in Wichita. Dry Turkey Creek is a wet weather stream that composes several enhanced lakes within the city limits. It feeds the Lakeside Park Lagoon before crossing under East Euclid Street and Kansas Avenue, where it then forms Wall Park Lake.

South and west of town are four units of the reclaimed McPherson Valley Wetlands, acquired and managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Ducks Unlimited, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prior to 1880, this natural wetlands was an important waterfowl and wildlife habitat second only to Cheyenne Bottoms in importance to migratory bird populations. These wetlands continue to see improvement and development.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, McPherson has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=77357&cityname=McPherson,+Kansas,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=McPherson, Kansas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=5 April 2018}}

{{Weather box

|location = McPherson, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 79

|Feb record high F = 83

|Mar record high F = 94

|Apr record high F = 99

|May record high F = 106

|Jun record high F = 114

|Jul record high F = 117

|Aug record high F = 117

|Sep record high F = 109

|Oct record high F = 98

|Nov record high F = 89

|Dec record high F = 81

|Jan avg record high F = 64.7

|Feb avg record high F = 69.7

|Mar avg record high F = 79.6

|Apr avg record high F = 85.9

|May avg record high F = 92.5

|Jun avg record high F = 98.0

|Jul avg record high F = 103.3

|Aug avg record high F = 101.7

|Sep avg record high F = 97.2

|Oct avg record high F = 88.8

|Nov avg record high F = 75.2

|Dec avg record high F = 64.2

|year avg record high F = 104.6

|Jan high F = 42.4

|Feb high F = 47.2

|Mar high F = 57.6

|Apr high F = 67.1

|May high F = 77.0

|Jun high F = 87.9

|Jul high F = 92.8

|Aug high F = 90.7

|Sep high F = 83.3

|Oct high F = 70.6

|Nov high F = 56.3

|Dec high F = 44.3

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 30.7

|Feb mean F = 34.6

|Mar mean F = 44.4

|Apr mean F = 53.9

|May mean F = 64.7

|Jun mean F = 75.6

|Jul mean F = 80.6

|Aug mean F = 78.5

|Sep mean F = 70.4

|Oct mean F = 57.5

|Nov mean F = 43.8

|Dec mean F = 33.3

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 19.0

|Feb low F = 22.0

|Mar low F = 31.3

|Apr low F = 40.6

|May low F = 52.3

|Jun low F = 63.4

|Jul low F = 68.3

|Aug low F = 66.3

|Sep low F = 57.6

|Oct low F = 44.4

|Nov low F = 31.4

|Dec low F = 22.2

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 2.5

|Feb avg record low F = 5.8

|Mar avg record low F = 15.1

|Apr avg record low F = 26.4

|May avg record low F = 37.6

|Jun avg record low F = 52.4

|Jul avg record low F = 58.4

|Aug avg record low F = 56.0

|Sep avg record low F = 43.0

|Oct avg record low F = 27.2

|Nov avg record low F = 15.7

|Dec avg record low F = 7.0

|year avg record low F = -3.0

|Jan record low F = -22

|Feb record low F = -22

|Mar record low F = -11

|Apr record low F = 9

|May record low F = 22

|Jun record low F = 32

|Jul record low F = 47

|Aug record low F = 43

|Sep record low F = 27

|Oct record low F = 12

|Nov record low F = -3

|Dec record low F = -21

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.90

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.22

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.35

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.98

|May precipitation inch = 5.42

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.75

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.19

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.51

|Sep precipitation inch = 2.97

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.44

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.56

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.29

|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 4.2

|Feb precipitation days = 4.7

|Mar precipitation days = 7.0

|Apr precipitation days = 8.7

|May precipitation days = 10.9

|Jun precipitation days = 9.4

|Jul precipitation days = 8.9

|Aug precipitation days = 8.4

|Sep precipitation days = 6.9

|Oct precipitation days = 6.7

|Nov precipitation days = 4.8

|Dec precipitation days = 4.9

|Jan snow inch = 4.1

|Feb snow inch = 3.3

|Mar snow inch = 2.6

|Apr snow inch = 0.6

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.1

|Nov snow inch = 0.6

|Dec snow inch = 2.9

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 2.6

|Feb snow days = 2.0

|Mar snow days = 1.0

|Apr snow days = 0.2

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 0.3

|Dec snow days = 2.0

|Jan snow depth inch =

|Feb snow depth inch =

|Mar snow depth inch =

|Apr snow depth inch =

|May snow depth inch =

|Jun snow depth inch =

|Jul snow depth inch =

|Aug snow depth inch =

|Sep snow depth inch =

|Oct snow depth inch =

|Nov snow depth inch =

|Dec snow depth inch =

|year snow depth inch =

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00145152&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: McPherson, KS

|access-date = November 26, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ict

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Wichita

|access-date = November 26, 2023

}}

}}

{{US Census population

| align =

| 1880 = 1590

| 1890 = 3172

| 1900 = 2996

| 1910 = 3546

| 1920 = 4595

| 1930 = 6147

| 1940 = 7194

| 1950 = 8689

| 1960 = 9996

| 1970 = 10851

| 1980 = 11753

| 1990 = 12422

| 2000 = 13770

| 2010 = 13155

| 2020 = 14082

| estyear = 2023

| estimate = 13906

| estref = {{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

| align-fn = center

| footnote = [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
2010-2020

}}

Image:McPherson Opera House.jpg

The 2020 United States census counted 14,082 people, 5,645 households, and 3,495 families in McPherson.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=McPherson%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} The population density was {{convert|1,891.7|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 6,221 housing units at an average density of {{convert|835.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=McPherson%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}{{Cite web |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 85.0% (11,970) white or European American (83.11% non-Hispanic white), 2.29% (322) black or African-American, 0.82% (116) Native American or Alaska Native, 1.29% (182) Asian, 0.06% (8) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 3.19% (449) from other races, and 7.35% (1,035) from two or more races.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=McPherson%20city,%20Kansas%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} Hispanic or Latino of any race was 7.48% (1,053) 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=McPherson%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}

Of the 5,645 households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18; 47.9% were married couples living together; 26.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 32.5% of households consisted of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.6.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=McPherson%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 18.4% of the population.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=McPherson%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}

22.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 100.8 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $57,931 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,181) and the median family income was $69,846 (+/- $6,510).{{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=McPherson%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} Males had a median income of $38,465 (+/- $4,682) versus $26,149 (+/- $1,423) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $32,004 (+/- $2,858).{{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=McPherson%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} Approximately, 4.8% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under the age of 18 and 9.3% 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=McPherson%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=McPherson%20city,%20Kansas%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}

• Scottish Festival & Highland Games were held on the fourth weekend of September of each year. They are discontinued as of 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/news/20170128/festival-of-cultures-discontinued|title=Festival of Cultures discontinued|first=Josh|last=Arnett|website=mcphersonsentinel.com|access-date=5 April 2018}}

McPherson College and Central Christian College are located in McPherson.

The community is served by McPherson USD 418 public school district. USD 418 has an Early Childhood center, four elementary schools (Eisenhower, Lincoln, Rosevelt, Washington), McPherson Middle School and McPherson High School. McPherson's mascot is the Bullpups.{{cite web|url=http://www.mcpherson.com/418|title=USD 418|website=mcpherson.com|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103051027/http://www.mcpherson.com/418/|archive-date=3 January 2016|url-status=dead}}[http://www3.ksde.org/eddir/usd_map.pdf Kansas School District Boundary Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721071446/http://www3.ksde.org/eddir/usd_map.pdf |date=2011-07-21 }} Additionally, private school options are available at St. Joseph Catholic Church & School, serving students through sixth grade.[https://stjosephmcpherson.com/school St. Joseph Catholic School McPherson, Kansas]

McPherson was located on the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, that was established in 1912.

Bus service is provided daily towards Wichita and Salina by BeeLine Express (subcontractor of Greyhound Lines).{{cite web|url=http://www.beeline-express.com/|title=Beeline Express|website=beeline-express.com|access-date=5 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.greyhound.com/|title=Home|website=greyhound.com|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906232014/https://www.greyhound.com/|archive-date=6 September 2019|url-status=dead}}

McPherson has a daily newspaper, The McPherson Sentinel.{{cite web | title = About this Newspaper: The McPherson sentinel | work = Chronicling America | publisher = Library of Congress | url = http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85031128/ | access-date = 2009-10-05}} and a weekly newspaper, The McPherson Weekly News,{{Cite web |title=McPherson Weekly News – CherryRoad Media |url=http://www.mcphersonweeklynews.com |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=www.mcphersonweeklynews.com |language=en-US}}

The following radio stations are licensed to McPherson:

• 1540 KNGL: Talk radio
• 96.7 KMPK: Adult contemporary

{{See also|McPherson_College#Notable_alumni_and_faculty||l1=List of McPherson College people}}

• V. John Krehbiel, Ambassador to Finland
• Anna Larkin, folk sculptor, lived in McPherson for many years until her death.{{cite web|url=http://www.grassrootsart.net/Art/KansasArtEnvironments/Larkin_Anna.html|title=Anna Larkin|access-date=5 February 2017}}
• George Magerkurth, Major League Baseball umpire, born in McPherson.
• Sue Raney, jazz singer
• Brad Underwood, basketball coach at University of Illinois, McPherson native.

{{Portal|Kansas}}

• List of people from McPherson County, Kansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in McPherson County, Kansas
• Santa Fe Trail
• National Old Trails Road
• Threshing Stone
• List of oil pipelines
• List of oil refineries

{{Reflist}}

{{Kansas books}}

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

{{See also|Santa Fe Trail#Further reading|l1=List of books about Santa Fe Trail}}

• McPherson, Kansas: Past and Present, Progress and Prosperity; Freeman Publishing Co.
• McPherson at Fifty - A Kansas Community in 1920s; Raymond L. Flory; McPherson College; 1970.
• Diamond Jubilee McPherson, 1872-1947: Pioneer Days in McPherson; Jessie Hill Rowland; 1947.
• [https://archive.org/details/historyofchurcho00crai A History of the Church of the Brethren in Kansas] (includes McPherson College history); Elmer LeRoy Craik; McPherson Daily; Republican Press; 397 pages; 1922.
• Major General James B. McPherson Monument Unveiling; Alex S. Hendry; 1917.
• Our Railroad; McPherson Independent; September 25, 1879.

{{Commons category|McPherson, Kansas}}

• {{Official website|https://www.mcphersonks.org/|McPherson - Official}}
• [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260878 McPherson - Directory of Public Officials], League of Kansas Municipalities
• [http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/kw/towns.asp?town=McPherson&county=McPherson Historic Images of McPherson], Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library
• {{YouTube|D5LFSrcRTrM|All Schools Day - A McPherson Tradition}}, from Hatteberg's People on KAKE TV news

{{McPherson County, Kansas}}

{{Kansas}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcpherson, Kansas}}

Category:Cities in Kansas

Category:County seats in Kansas

Category:Cities in McPherson County, Kansas

Category:Micropolitan areas of Kansas

Category:Populated places established in 1872

Category:1872 establishments in Kansas