The city was founded in 1871 and named after Newton, Massachusetts, home of some of the Santa Fe stockholders.[7]
In August 1871, there was a Gunfight at Hide Park, in which a total of eight men were killed. The incident began with an argument between two local lawmen, Billy Bailey and Mike McCluskie. Because of this incident, Newton became known as "bloody and lawless—the wickedest city in the west.".[8]
In 1872, the western terminal for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and the railhead for the Chisholm Trail were established here. Shortly after incorporation of the city in 1872, the Newton city council passed an ordinance prohibiting the running at large of buffalo and other wild animals.[9]
Newton served as the Middle Division dispatching headquarters for the "Santa Fe" until the mid-1980s, when all dispatching for the Chicago to Los Angeles system was centralized in the Chicago area. In 1995, the Santa Fe merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad, and is now known as the BNSF Railway. The BNSF continues to be a large industrial taxpayer although its impact as an employer has decreased in the past decade.
21st century
On February 25, 2016, Newton was the site of the first of several related shooting incidents, which culminated in a mass shooting at an Excel Industries building in nearby Hesston that left three people dead and twelve others injured.[10][11] The shooter, identified as Excel employee Cedric Larry Ford, was then killed by a responding police officer.[12][13]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.60 square miles (32.63 km2), all of it land.[14]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Newton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[15]
Climate data for Newton, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1897–present
Newton is included in the Wichita metropolitan statistical area (MSA). It is located in Harvey County which is an agricultural and small manufacturing county with 34,361 people. Harvey County Kansas is part of a 5 county Metro Area with 650,000 people, the largest anchored in the state of Kansas. The major city in this metro area is Wichita, Kansas, 20 miles (20 minutes) to the South via I-135.
Of the 7,501 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18; 47.2% were married couples living together; 27.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 31.1% of households consisted of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20] The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0.[24] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 21.5% of the population.[25]
24.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males.[20] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 106.8 males.[20]
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $56,729 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,501) and the median family income was $66,806 (+/- $5,072).[26] Males had a median income of $41,413 (+/- $3,677) versus $29,782 (+/- $3,872) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $35,192 (+/- $2,644).[27] Approximately, 6.7% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.4% of those ages 65 or over.[28][29]
2010 census
As of the census[30] of 2010, there were 19,132 people, 7,584 households, and 5,045 families living in the city.[31] The population density was 1,518.4 inhabitants per square mile (586.3/km2). There were 8,237 housing units at an average density of 653.7 per square mile (252.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.4% White, 2.2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 4.7% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.3% of the population.
There were 7,584 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.5% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.
The median age in the city was 36.8 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
2000 census
As of the census[32] of 2000, there were 17,190 people, 6,851 households, and 4,610 families living in the city. The population density was 1,794.0 inhabitants per square mile (692.7/km2). There were 7,277 housing units at an average density of 759.5 per square mile (293.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.73% White, 2.30% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.84% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.73% of the population.
There were 6,851 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city, the population had 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,236, and the median income for a family was $45,703. Males had a median income of $32,308 versus $21,906 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,529. About 5.1% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Railroad Savings and Loan Building. Across street from rail depot. (2018)
Print media
The Newton Kansan (GateHouse Media) serves Newton and the surrounding area as the daily local newspaper. It is not published on Sundays or Mondays. The Wichita Eagle is the major newspaper for the region. Harvey County Now newspaper is also based in Newton and covers Harvey County.
BNSF Railway passes through Newton for transportation and shipping. Amtrak's Southwest Chief stops in Newton twice each day and provides passenger rail service towards Los Angeles and Chicago.[41] The Amtrak station is located at 414 N Main St.[42]
Bus service is provided daily towards Wichita and Salina by BeeLine Express (subcontractor of Greyhound Lines).[43][44] While there is no local fixed-route transit service, Harvey Interurban provides dial-a-ride transit service to the community.[45]
Newton City/County Airport, FAA:EWK,[46] is located 2 miles east of Newton. Its 7,002-foot (2,134 m) runway is one of only 11 runways in Kansas 7,000-foot (2,100 m) or longer. It has ILS and GPS approach.[47][48]
Errett Bishop (1928–1983), mathematician, college professor.
Tony Clark (born 1972), MLB first baseman and union executive
Rita Crocker Clements (1931-2018), was an American Republican Party organizer, an activist in historic preservation, and a First Lady of the State of Texas.
John Janzen (born 1937), professor of anthropology and author
Miles Johns (1994-), Mixed martial artist currently competing the UFC's bantam weight division.
Samuel Peters (1842–1910), Captain in Union Army (1861-1865), Kansas State Senate (1874-1875), Judge of 9th District (1875-1883), U.S. House of Representatives (1883-1891), editor of Newton Daily Kansas-Republican (1899), postmaster in Newton (1898-1910), lawyer in Newton and Marion.
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