Olpe is a city in Lyon County,

Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...

, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 519.

History and etymology

Olpe got its start in the year 1879 following construction of the railroad through that territory. It had formerly been known as Eagle Creek Station before the name had been changed to Bitlertown after the owner of the townsite, Gilbert Bitler. A large share of the early settlers being natives of

Olpe, Germany Olpe is a town situated in the foothills of the Ebbegebirge in North Rhine-Westphalia, roughly 60 km east of Cologne and 20 km northwest of Siegen. It is part of the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Arnsberg and is the seat of the district of ...

, caused the name to be selected. Olpe was incorporated as a city in 1905.

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 , of which is land and is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. 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, Olpe has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

Olpe is part of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area.

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 519 people, 205 households, and 140 families in Olpe. The population density was 739.3 per square mile (285.5/km). There were 230 housing units at an average density of 327.6 per square mile (126.5/km). The racial makeup was 93.83% (487)

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 ...

(93.06%

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 ...

), 0.39% (2)

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. ...

, 0.39% (2) 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 ...

, 0.39% (2) Asian, 0.0% (0)

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, 0.77% (4) from other races, and 4.24% (22) from

two or more races Multiracial Americans, also known as mixed-race Americans, are Americans who have mixed ancestry of two or more races. The term may also include Americans of mixed-race ancestry who self-identify with just one group culturally and socially (cf. t ...

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or Latino of any race was 2.7% (14) of the population. Of the 205 households, 36.1% had children under the age of 18; 56.6% were married couples living together; 21.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.8% of households consisted of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.4. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 13.5% of the population. 28.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 101.6 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 $66,875 (with a margin of error of +/- $17,467) and the median family income was $79,464 (+/- $9,813). Males had a median income of $51,250 (+/- $8,106) versus $18,750 (+/- $8,086) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $34,306 (+/- $11,303). Approximately, 0.0% of families and 4.1% 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 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.3% 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 546 people, 220 households, and 151 families residing 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 239 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.7%

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 ...

, 0.2%

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 ...

, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 220 households, of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% 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, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% 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 3.00. The median age in the city was 39 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 504 people, 196 households, and 137 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 215 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.81%

, 0.40%

, 0.60% Native American, and 0.20% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 2.58% of the population. There were 196 households, out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were

living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20. In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,643, and the median income for a family was $37,813. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $18,542 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 $13,623. About 5.8% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the

, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over. Olpe Chicken House

Attractions

The ''Chicken House'' is a restaurant that has been in operation since 1958, with roots to 1934. The restaurant has acted as a

town hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or municipal hall (in the Philippines) is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses the city o ...

, playing host to governors and state representatives and was named by

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as one of ''50 Great Plates From 50 Great States'' in 2000. The restaurant has raised notice as far away as New Jersey.

Education

The community is served by Southern Lyon County USD 252 public school district.

Olpe High School

Olpe Elementary School

Before Olpe Elementary was a school, the school was called Harmony Hill, that started as a one-room school house and had later additions. It was located in the countryside, approximately three miles north of Olpe. In December 1991, Olpe Elementary School was completed. The elementary wing of the building adjoins the cafeteria to the west of the high school. In 1997, two additional classrooms and a library were added to the elementary school.Olpe High School history

St. Joseph's Catholic School

Prior to the 1950s there was no public high school in Olpe; area students attended St. Joseph's Catholic School. Olpe High School was built in the early 1950s. The first class graduated from Olpe Rural High School in 1952; however, the new building was then incomplete. That first year, the old St. Joseph's High School building was rented and classes were held there. Students began attending the newly constructed building the next year. Since then, it has housed kindergarten through sixth grade classes. After the 2012–2013 school year, Saint Joseph's Catholic School closed, due to the economy.

References

External links

City of Olpe

Olpe - Directory of Public Officials

Olpe city map
KDOT {{Authority control Cities in Kansas Cities in Lyon County, Kansas Emporia, Kansas micropolitan area Populated places established in 1879 1879 establishments in Kansas