Leoti, pronounced "Lee-OH-Tuh." is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,475.

History

Leoti was founded in 1885 by a company of men from Garden City, Kansas. Two years later, in 1887, it was involved in the bloodiest county seat fight in the history of the

American West The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...

. The shoot-out was on February 27, 1887, when men—some would say hired gunmen—from Leoti, went to the neighboring, rival town of

Coronado Coronado may refer to: People * Coronado (surname) * Francisco Vázquez de Coronado (1510–1554), Spanish explorer often referred to simply as "Coronado" * Coronado Chávez (1807–1881), President of Honduras from 1845 to 1847 Places United ...

and left several people dead and wounded. A small town called Farmer City which was located between Coronado and Leoti, was hoped by some to become the county seat—which would end the fighting. Leoti later won the right to become the county seat and now the two other towns consist mainly of farmland. The origin of the name Leoti is disputed: one tradition says the name is an Indian term for "prairie flower"; another says the community was named for settler Leoti Kibbee; a third says it was named for Leoti Gray, the daughter of a town founder.

Geography

Leoti is located at (38.484073, -101.357639). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Leoti has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Demographics

Wichita County courthouse in Leoti (2015)

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,534 people, 607 households, and 419 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 708 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 85.8% White, 0.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.1%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 10.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 31.6% of the population. There were 607 households, of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age in the city was 37.4 years. 29.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,598 people, 634 households, and 452 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 726 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 81.35% White, 0.06% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.06%

, 15.33% from other races, and 2.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or

of any race were 26.03% of the population. There were 634 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were

living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02. In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $32,596, and the median income for a family was $41,484. Males had a median income of $27,235 versus $17,986 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,550. About 8.8% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Leoti is home to USD 467 Wichita County Schools. The Wichita County High School mascot is Wichita County Indians. Prior to school unification, Leoti High School also used the Indians mascot."Leoti 46 Lacrosse 44", Great Bend Tribune, 4 December 1966, p.5.

Notable people

Ben Diggins Benjamin Howard Diggins (born June 13, 1979) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers. Amateur career Diggins was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round ...

, baseball player. *

Steve Tasker Steven Jay Tasker (born April 10, 1962) is an American sports reporter, locally in Western New York on the MSG Western New York cable TV station, and on WGR Radio and formerly for CBS Sports. He is a former football player who was a wide receive ...

, football player (retired), sportscaster. *

Marion Charles Bonner Marion Charles Bonner (1911–1992), based for most of his life in Leoti, Kansas, was an American field paleontologist who discovered and collected hundreds of fossils, primarily from the Niobrara Cretaceous Smoky Hill chalk outcroppings in Logan, ...

, paleontologist, fossil collector.

References

External links

City of Leoti

Leoti - Directory of Public Officials

Wichita County

Wichita County Museum

USD 467 school district

Leoti City Map
KDOT {{Authority control Cities in Kansas County seats in Kansas Cities in Wichita County, Kansas 1885 establishments in Kansas Populated places established in 1885