Windom, 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.

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 was extended to Ellinwood.[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIwpAAAAYAAJ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Marion_to_Florence Railway Abandonment 1968] 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.

Some hold that Windom was named in honor of William Windom, while others believe its namesake is Windham County, Connecticut.{{cite web | url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5131 | title=Profile for Windom, Kansas | publisher=ePodunk | accessdate=14 June 2014}}

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.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.25|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}}

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Windom has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=594398&cityname=Windom%2C+Kansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Windom, Kansas]

{{US Census population

|align=right

|1890= 165

|1900= 146

|1910= 176

|1920= 248

|1930= 197

|1940= 196

|1950= 193

|1960= 168

|1970= 183

|1980= 160

|1990= 136

|2000= 137

|2010= 130

|2020= 85

|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 130 people, 53 households, and 28 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|520.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 65 housing units at an average density of {{convert|260.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.5% White, 0.8% African American, 0.8% Asian, 4.6% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.2% of the population.

There were 53 households, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.2% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.57.

The median age in the city was 41 years. 30% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% 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 137 people, 62 households, and 39 families residing in the city. The population density was 220.4/km{{sup|2}} (562.8/sq. mi.). There were 74 housing units at an average density of 119.0/km{{sup|2}} (304.0/sq. mi.). The racial makeup of the city was 95.62% White, 1.46% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races.[https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-3-18.pdf U.S. Census Bureau - 2000 Census, Population and Housing Unit Counts for Kansas][https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-18.pdf U.S. Census Bureau - 1990 Census, Population and Housing Unit Counts for Kansas]

There were 62 households, out of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was US$35,833, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,240. There were 7.1% of families and 11.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including 19.4% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

The community is served by Little River–Windom USD 444 public school district and Little River High School.[http://lrw.usd444.com USD 444][http://www3.ksde.org/eddir/usd_map.pdf Kansas School District Boundary Map]

The Little River Redskins won the Kansas State High School 1A football championship in 1981.{{cite web |title= Football |publisher= KSHSAA |url= http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/PDF/Champs/Football%20History.pdf |accessdate= March 18, 2020}}

Windom High School was closed through school unification. The Windom High School mascot was Windom Tigers."Little River Outlasts Late Windom Rally", Great Bend Tribune, 16 December 1964, p.23.

• List of people from McPherson County, Kansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in McPherson County, Kansas

{{Reflist}}

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

• Crossroads of the Windom Community; Windom Booster Club; Bell Books; 1997.

{{Commons category|Windom, Kansas}}

• {{Official website|https://cityofwindomks.wixsite.com/mysite|Windom - Official}}
• [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41261124 Windom - Directory of Public Officials], League of Kansas Municipalities
• [http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/kw/towns.asp?town=Windom&county=McPherson Historic Images of Windom], Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library

{{McPherson County, Kansas}}

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Category:Cities in Kansas

Category:Cities in McPherson County, Kansas

Category:1885 establishments in Kansas

Category:Populated places established in 1885