Soldier, Kansas

The first settlement was made at Soldier in 1877, and the town was laid out in the same year.{{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/n694 712]}} Soldier took its name from Soldier Creek.{{cite web | url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5037 | title=Profile for Soldier, Kansas | publisher=ePodunk | accessdate=11 June 2014}} The city was incorporated in 1896.

A tornado in 1883 destroyed 18 buildings and killed four people.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jXNNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA77 | title=Business directory and history of Jackson County | author=Barr, Elizabeth N. | year=1907 | pages=77}} Soldier was affected by the June 2008 tornado outbreak sequence: a man was found dead outside the city on the morning of June 11, 2008, killed by a tornado estimated at {{convert|1/2|mi|km}} wide.{{cite web

| title = 2 Killed In Kansas Storms, Tornadoes

| publisher =KCTV

| date = June 12, 2008

| url = http://www.kctv5.com/weather/16583098/detail.html?rss=kan&psp=news

| accessdate =June 12, 2008

}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.15|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it 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|access-date=2012-07-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=July 2, 2012|df=mdy-all}}

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Soldier has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=855741&cityname=Soldier%2C+Kansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Soldier, Kansas]

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1880= 98

|1890= 193

|1900= 302

|1910= 358

|1920= 346

|1930= 274

|1940= 247

|1950= 193

|1960= 171

|1970= 173

|1980= 165

|1990= 135

|2000= 122

|2010= 136

|2020= 102

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

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

}}

Soldier is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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 136 people, 48 households, and 33 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|906.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 56 housing units at an average density of {{convert|373.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.4% White, 3.7% Native American, 0.7% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 48 households, of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.3% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.52.

The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 39% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 55.1% male and 44.9% 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 122 people, 45 households, and 31 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|800.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 58 housing units at an average density of {{convert|380.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 81.15% White, 15.57% Native American, and 3.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.56% of the population.

There were 45 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $18,750, and the median income for a family was $46,000. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,768. There were 11.5% of families and 21.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including 23.1% of under eighteens and 42.9% of those over 64.

One church is located in Soldier: Soldier Christian Church

Beside its post office, only one business is located in the city: the Soldier Grill, a restaurant. Another business, the Red Rock Ranch, lies {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} outside of the city limits.

The community is served by Jackson Heights USD 335 public school district.

Soldier High School won the Kansas State High School boys class BB Indoor Track & Field championship in 1964.{{cite web | title = Track & Field | publisher = KSHSAA | url = http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Track/HistoryBoys.cfm | accessdate = 6 January 2017}}

{{Reflist}}

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

• A History of Soldier, Kansas; Robert Markham; 85 pages; 1985; ASIN: B0006ELRJ8.

• [https://www.lkm.org/members/Default.asp?id=41261041 Soldier – Directory of Public Officials]
• [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/soldier.pdf Soldier city map], KDOT

{{Jackson County, Kansas}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Kansas

Category:Cities in Jackson County, Kansas

Category:Topeka metropolitan area, Kansas