Baldwin City, Kansas

Baldwin City is a city in Douglas County, Kansas, south of Lawrence. The population was 3,400 at the 2000 census. The city, which is intersected by US Highway 56, has many quaint, tree-lined streets, some of which are still paved with bricks. The city is home to Baker University, the oldest university in the state. The mascot of the local high school is the Bulldogs.

Attractions

Midland Railway

Midland Railway is a non-profit organization chartered in 1982. Midland purchased the rail line from Baldwin City to Ottawa, Kansas from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1987, and began running excursion trains on part of the line later that year. Total length of the railroad is 11 miles.

Midland operates a demonstration historic railroad. The base of operations for the Midland Railway is the depot built in 1906 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway at 1515 High St. in Baldwin City. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Starting in 2004, excursion trains are run all the way from Baldwin City to Ottawa.

The regular operating season runs from Memorial Day to October 31. Special events and fairs are held at various times through the year. Weekend Boy Scout camps are held in the spring and fall. Midland's Scout program is one of the few in the country to offer a railroading merit badge.

Maple Leaf Festival

The Maple Leaf Festival is an event held every year during the third full weekend in October. It was started in 1956 as a way to celebrate a successful harvest, and to view Baldwin City’s fall foliage, especially that of the numerous maple trees. Today, it is the largest fall family event in the area. Included in the festivities are a parade, arts and craft show, quilt show, theatrical performances, history tours of the area, and train rides on the Midland Railway.

Education

Baldwin City is home to Baker University a liberal arts university founded in Baldwin City, Kansas by United Methodist ministers.

Battle of Black Jack

About three miles east of town near US 56 is the site of the Battle of Black Jack – the first skirmish between opposing armed groups that preceded the Civil War. This event took place on June 2, 1856, when Abolitionist John Brown and his men attacked Pro-slavery advocate Henry Clay Pate and his men. Eventually, Pate’s group surrendered to Brown’s group.

Adjacent to the site are an old log cabin, and wagon wheel swales left from the Santa Fe Trail – the route of westward migration from Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Geography

Baldwin City is located at (38.777597, -95.187418).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²), all land.

Baldwin City is the only town with its name in the United States.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,400 people, 1,077 households, and 774 families residing in the city. The population density was 605.0/km² (1,565.1/mi²). There were 1,165 housing units at an average density of 207.3/km² (536.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.62% White, 1.12% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.

There were 1,077 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 21.8% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,269, and the median income for a family was $51,667. Males had a median income of $37,111 versus $25,850 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,698. About 5.6% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

External links

Cities in Kansas | Douglas County, Kansas

Baldwin City (Kansas) | Baldwin City, Kansas

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