Coffeyville, Kansas

Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States. The population was estimated to be 10,359 in the year 2005. It is the most populous city of Montgomery County.

Coffeyville is home to online retailer Amazon.com's largest distribution center, leased in 1999. It was opened in a facility previously operated by Golden Books.

History

Founded in 1869 as an Indian trading post by Col. James A. Coffey, serving the population across the Oklahoma border in what was then the Indian Territory, the town was confirmed and expanded by the arrival of the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston railroad in 1871.

Incorporated in 1872, the charter was voided, and the city was re-incorporated in March of 1873.

Coffeyville's most famous moment may have been the end of the Dalton Gang: on October 5, 1892, four of the gang were killed and the fifth wounded and imprisoned. They had been attempting to rob two banks, First National Bank and Condon Bank, at once when the citizens rose up and fought them. Four citizens, including a U.S. marshal, died in defense of the town.

Geography

Coffeyville is located at (37.037708, -95.626438). The city is situated along the west bank of the Verdigris River only a few miles up river from the lowest point in Kansas—679 feet (207 m), where the river crosses the Kansas-Oklahoma border. Located at the junction of U.S. Route 166 and U.S. Route 169, it is 75 miles north by east of Tulsa, Oklahoma along US-169. Coffeyville Municipal Airport is only a few miles northeast of the city along US-169. The city is also 15 miles southeast of Independence, the county seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.3 km² (7.1 mi²), all land.

Demographics

Coffeyville's population was estimated to be 10,359 in the year 2005, a decrease of 674, or -6.1%, over the previous five years.

As of the U.S. Census in 2000, there were 11,021 people, 4,691 households, and 2,847 families residing in the city. The population density was 602.7/km² (1,562.1/mi²). There were 5,550 housing units at an average density of 303.5/km² (786.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.76% White, 12.12% Black or African American, 4.97% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 4.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.82% of the population.

There were 4,691 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,542, and the median income for a family was $33,180. Males had a median income of $29,199 versus $17,940 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,182. About 10.9% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Coffeyville school district (USD 445), with three schools, serves almost 2,000 students. The district has consolidated its elementary schools into a single Community Elementary School with four pods.

Community Elementary School, grades PK–6
Roosevelt Middle School, grades 7–8
Field Kindley High School, grades 9–12

Notable natives

Born in Coffeyville

Christopher David Mowder (Economist and Policy Analyst)
John Robert Burris (former Editor of the Coffeyville Journal)

Famous Coffeyville Community College Alumni

Gary Busey (Actor)
Buster Douglas (Professional Boxer)

References

Bibliography

Kristine Crispel's horse farm outside Coffeyville has the distinction of being the center of the world—according to Google.

External links

Official sites

Additional information

Cities in Kansas | Montgomery County, Kansas | Dalton gang