Holcomb is a city in Finney County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,245. It is located south of Highway 50.

History

Holcomb took its name from a local hog farmer. The city was a station and shipping point on the

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often referred to as the Santa Fe or AT&SF, was one of the largest Class 1 railroads in the United States between 1859 and 1996. The Santa Fe was a pioneer in intermodal freight transport; at vario ...

. The first post office in Holcomb was established in December 1909. Holcomb was the site of the

Clutter family murders In the early morning hours of November 15, 1959, four members of the Clutter family Herb Clutter, his wife, Bonnie, and their teenage children Nancy and Kenyon were murdered in their rural home just outside the small farming community of Holc ...

in 1959. Two ex-convicts,

Richard Hickock Richard Eugene Hickock (June 6, 1931 – April 14, 1965) was one of two ex-convicts convicted of Clutter family murders, murdering four members of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas on November 15, 1959, a crime made famous by Truman Capote in ...

and Perry Edward Smith, were convicted of the killings. The murders were the basis for the book '' In Cold Blood'', the 1967 movie '' In Cold Blood'', the 1996 TV miniseries adaptation, the 2005 movie '' Capote'', and the 2006 film '' Infamous''.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

system, Holcomb has a

semi-arid climate A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of se ...

, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 2,245 people, 687 households, and 576 families in Holcomb. The population density was 1,814.9 per square mile (700.7/km). There were 722 housing units at an average density of 583.7 per square mile (225.4/km). The racial makeup was 70.02% (1,572)

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

European American European Americans are Americans of European ancestry. This term includes both people who descend from the first European settlers in the area of the present-day United States and people who descend from more recent European arrivals. Since th ...

(56.48%

non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic Whites, also referred to as White Anglo Americans or Non-Latino Whites, are White Americans who are classified by the United States census as "White" and not of Hispanic or Latino origin. According to annual estimates from the Unit ...

), 0.98% (22)

black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...

, 1.25% (28) Native American or

Alaska Native Alaska Natives (also known as Native Alaskans, Alaskan Indians, or Indigenous Alaskans) are the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples of Alaska that encompass a diverse arena of cultural and linguistic groups, including the I ...

, 0.49% (11) Asian, 0.0% (0)

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

Native Hawaiian Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians; , , , and ) are the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, Indigenous Polynesians, Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiʻi was set ...

, 10.6% (238) from other races, and 16.66% (374) from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race was 36.75% (825) of the population. Of the 687 households, 55.0% had children under the age of 18; 60.8% were married couples living together; 18.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 12.2% of households consisted of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.2 and the average family size was 3.3. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 11.4% of the population. 34.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 98.2 males. The 2016-2020 5-year

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...

estimates show that the median household income was $70,179 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,682) and the median family income was $71,633 (+/- $9,033). Males had a median income of $48,934 (+/- $6,176) versus $26,033 (+/- $8,025) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $37,031 (+/- $6,990). Approximately, 7.1% of families and 8.2% 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 ...

, including 11.0% of those under the age of 18 and 4.8% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 2,094 people, 654 households, and 521 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing 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 geog ...

was . There were 680 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 86.6%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.3%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 9.2% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 654 households, of which 56.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 20.3% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.20 and the average family size was 3.62. The median age in the city was 28.9 years. 37.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.9% were from 25 to 44; 21% were from 45 to 64; and 4.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 2,026 people, 592 households, and 515 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 608 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 80.80%

, 1.09%

, 0.89% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 13.28% from other races, and 3.65% from mixed race. There were 592 households, out of which 65.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were

living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.0% were non-families. 10.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.42 and the average family size was 3.62. In the city, the population was spread out, with 41.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 14.8% from 45 to 64, and 2.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $47,115, and the median income for a family was $48,587. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $22,652 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $14,264. About 7.6% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the

, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 26.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by Holcomb USD 363 public school district. Residents are zoned to Holcomb Elementary School (grades 3–5), Wiley Elementary School (Preschool-2), Holcomb Middle School (grades 6–8), or Holcomb High School (grades 9–12).

Notable people

* Charles Plymell, Beat poet, publisher

References

External links

City of Holcomb

Holcomb - Directory of Public Officials
{{Authority control Cities in Kansas Cities in Finney County, Kansas Kansas populated places on the Arkansas River