Downs, Kansas

Downs, Kansas
City
Downs Carnegie Library (2014)
Downs Carnegie Library (2014)
Location within Osborne County and Kansas
Location within Osborne County and Kansas
KDOT map of Osborne County (legend)
KDOT map of Osborne County (legend)
Coordinates: 39°30′12″N 98°32′37″W / 39.50333°N 98.54361°W / 39.50333; -98.54361
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyOsborne
Founded1879
Incorporated1879
Named forWilliam Downs
Area
 • Total1.12 sq mi (2.90 km2)
 • Land1.12 sq mi (2.90 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,483 ft (452 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total800
 • Density710/sq mi (280/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67437
Area code785
FIPS code20-18500
GNIS ID2394559
Websitedownsks.net

Downs is a city in Osborne County, Kansas, United States. In 2020, 800 people lived there.

History

Downs started in the year 1879 when the Central Branch Railroad was extended to that point. It was named after William F. Downs, a railroad employee from Atchison, Kansas. Downs became an incorporated town in December of 1879. In 1910, 1,427 people lived there. There were two newspapers, a public library, flour mills, grain elevators, and an opera house.

Geography

Downs is at 39°30′12″N 98°32′37″W / 39.50333°N 98.54361°W / 39.50333; -98.54361 (39.503305, -98.543500). The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 1.12 square miles (2.90 km2). All of it is land.

People

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880465—
1890938101.7%
19009380.0%
19101,42752.1%
19201,5085.7%
19301,383−8.3%
19401,219−11.9%
19501,2210.2%
19601,206−1.2%
19701,2685.1%
19801,3244.4%
19901,119−15.5%
20001,038−7.2%
2010900−13.3%
2020800−11.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

In 2020, there were 800 people, 384 households, and 202 families living in Downs. The population density was 714.3 inhabitants per square mile (275.8/km2). 92.8% of the people were White, 1.1% were Native American, 0.4% were Asian, 1.4% were from other races, and 4.4% were from two or more races. 2.4% of the people were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010 census

In 2010, there were 900 people, 424 households, and 239 families living in Downs. The population density was 900.0 inhabitants per square mile (347.5/km2). 97.6% of the people were White, 0.1% were African American, 1.1% were Native American, 0.6% were Asian, and 0.7% were from two or more races. 0.9% of the people were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

In 2000, there were 1,038 people, 474 households, and 273 families living in Downs. The population density was 941.4 people per square mile (364.3/km²). 98.75% of the people were White, 0.67% were Native American, 0.29% were Asian, 0.10% were from other races, and 0.19% were from two or more races. 0.48% of the people were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Education

Downs is a part of USD 272 Waconda. The district elementary school is Lakeside Elementary School in Cawker City. The district high school is Lakeside High School in Downs; the mascot is Knights.

School unification combined Downs and Waconda East schools into USD 272 in 2003. The combined high school became Lakeside Jr./Sr. High School in Downs.

Downs High School was closed because of school unification. The Downs High School mascot was Dragons. The Downs Dragons won the following Kansas State High School championships:

Downs Elementary School and Downs Junior High School was in Downs.

Famous people

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Downs, Kansas
  2. 1 2 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 541.
  5. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 109.
  6. ↑ Heim, Michael (2007). Exploring Kansas Highways. p. 77. ISBN 9780974435886.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ↑ "P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ "Waconda USD 272". USD 272. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "Downs Dragons Hit Hard By Loss Of Veterans", The Salina Journal, 6 September 1951, p.14.
  13. 1 2 "KSHSAA Basketball". KSHSAA. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  14. ↑ "KSHSAA Cross Country". KSHSAA. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  15. ↑ Home. Waconda USD 272. April 9, 2002. Retrieved on February 25, 2017.

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