Neosho Falls is a city in Woodson County,

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to th ...

, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 134.

History

Neosho Falls was founded in 1857, making it the oldest town and first county seat in Woodson County. It was named from the Neosho River, on which it is situated. The first post office in Neosho Falls was established in May 1857. Neosho Falls was originally

plat In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Surveys to show the distance and bea ...

ted and extensively improved by a company led by Benjamin F. Goss and his brother N. S. Goss, who would later organize a company of cavalry in the area to fight for the Union in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. The town was largely destroyed and abandoned when the Neosho River overflowed during the

Great Flood of 1951 In mid-July 1951, heavy rains led to a great rise of water in the Kansas River, Missouri River, and other surrounding areas of the Central United States. Flooding occurred in the Kansas, Neosho, Marais Des Cygnes, and Verdigris river basins. ...

Geography

Neosho Falls is located at (38.005865, -95.556708). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

Demographics

2010 census

, there were 141 people, 59 households, and 38 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was . There were 84 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 132

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

individuals (93.6%), 8

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

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 ...

individuals (5.7%), and one Native American individual (0.7%). There were 59 households, of which 22 (37.3%) had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24 (40.7%) were married couples living together, 6 (10.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 8 (13.6%) had a male householder with no wife present, and 21 (35.6%) were non-families. 19 households (32.2%) were made up of individuals, and 8 (13.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the city was 40.2 years. 40 residents (28.4%) were under the age of 18; 10 (7.2%) were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29 (20.6%) were from 25 to 44; 36 (25.6%) were from 45 to 64; and 26 (18.4%) were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

2000 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 179 people, 76 households, and 45 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 90 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.65%

, 2.79% Native American, and 0.56% from two or more races.

of any race were 2.23% of the population. There were 76 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.13. In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.7% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $27,188, and the median income for a family was $33,000. Males had a median income of $29,250 versus $14,583 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $9,543. About 18.8% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 34.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 21.7% of those 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by Woodson USD 366 public school district.

Notable people

* Benjamin Goss, Wisconsin legislator * James Swan, Wisconsin legislator

In popular culture

The story of the town having been destroyed by the

, was fictionalized in the 1988 album '' In the Spirit of Things'' by the rock band

. According to author Dan Fitzgerald,

Rich Williams Richard John Williams (born February 1, 1950) is an American guitarist, primarily known for being one of the only consistent original members of the rock band Kansas alongside drummer Phil Ehart. Both have appeared on every Kansas album to dat ...

was inspired to create this concept album based on the true stories of the book ''Ghost Towns of Kansas, Volume II'' (1979), specifically the chapter on Neosho Falls.

References

External links

Neosho Falls - Directory of Public Officials

LegendsOfKansas.com
Neosho Falls city map
KDOT {{Authority control Cities in Kansas Cities in Woodson County, Kansas