108-714: Goessel is a city in Marion County , Kansas , United States. As of the 2020 census , the population of the city was 556. The city was named after Captain Kurt von Goessel (1852–1895) who went down with his ship, the Elbe , in the English Channel after it was rammed. It is located about 11 miles north of North Newton on the west side of K-15 highway. For many millennia , the Great Plains of North America
216-524: A branch line from Florence to El Dorado , in 1881 it was extended to Douglass , and later to Arkansas City . The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway . The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942. The original branch line connected Florence , Burns , De Graff , El Dorado , Augusta , Douglass , Rock , Akron , Winfield , Arkansas City . In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built
324-402: A branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City ) to Superior, Nebraska . This branch line connected Strong City , Neva , Rockland , Diamond Springs , Burdick , Lost Springs , Jacobs , Hope , Navarre , Enterprise , Abilene , Talmage , Manchester , Longford , Oak Hill , Miltonvale , Aurora , Huscher , Concordia , Kackley , Courtland , Webber , Superior . At some point,
432-445: A broad denuded area as a piedmont deposit by the rivers which issued from the mountains. Since then, it has been more or less dissected by the erosion of valleys. The central section of the plains thus presents a marked contrast to the northern section. While the northern section owes its smoothness to the removal of local gravels and sands from a formerly uneven surface by the action of degrading rivers and their inflowing tributaries,
540-602: A broad stretch of country underlain by nearly horizontal strata extending westward from the 97th meridian west to the base of the Rocky Mountains , a distance of 300 to 500 mi (480 to 800 km). It extends northward from the Mexican boundary far into Canada. Although the altitude of the plains increases gradually from 600 ft (180 m) or 1,200 ft (370 m) on the east to 4,000–5,000 ft (1,200–1,500 m) or 6,000 ft (1,800 m) near
648-682: A community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau . Marion County contained early communities that have long since been abandoned. Marion County is divided into twenty-four townships . The cities of Florence (in Doyle and Fairplay townships), Hillsboro (in Liberty and Risley townships), and Marion (in Centre township) are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from
756-412: A continuous line to the western border of the state within ten years (March 1, 1873). In 1871, the railroad pushed westward from Emporia through Florence , Horners , and Peabody towards Newton, and got title to the land in 1873. According to the original land grant , the railroad was to receive every odd numbered section for ten miles (16 km) on each side of its track, but in eastern Kansas which
864-592: A family by the name of Welsh, in which occurred the first birth in the county in August 1859. The city of Marion Centre was founded in 1860, became the county seat in 1865, and later the city name was shortened to Marion . From 1821 to 1866, the Santa Fe Trail was active across Marion County. In the spring of 1859, a trading post was established at the "Lost Spring" on the Santa Fe Trail, and in
972-603: A gradual transition, this rainfall line may be taken to divide the drier plains from the moister prairies. However, in Canada the eastern boundary of the plains is well defined by the presence of the Canadian Shield to the northeast. The plains (within the United States) may be described in northern, intermediate, central and southern sections, in relation to certain peculiar features. In Canada, no such division
1080-778: A large number of Mennonites from the Molotschna Colony emigrated en masse to the United States aboard the ships Teutonia and Cimbria. This group split into two groups. The Alexanderwohl group sailed on the Cimbria and settled around present-day Goessel, and the Hoffnungsau group sailed on the Teutonia and settled around present-day Buhler and Inman . The Alexanderwohl group split into eight communal villages . The village of Gnadenfeld (translation: Grace Field)
1188-431: A margin of error of +/- $ 17,685) and the median family income was $ 75,417 (+/- $ 16,757). Males had a median income of $ 51,204 (+/- $ 1,721) versus $ 21,985 (+/- $ 8,569) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $ 39,722 (+/- $ 11,894). Approximately, 3.0% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 5.9% of those under the age of 18 and 1.7% of those ages 65 or over. As of
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#17327799888881296-516: A small mercantile store was opened and Dr. Peter Richert moved into a building that was used as his doctor's office; later it became a post office. Dr. Richert read the story of Captain Kurt von Goessel, who went down with his steamship Elbe in the English Channel, and decided to submit the name Goessel to the U.S. Postal Department; the name was accepted on April 13, 1895. In 1910, Goessel
1404-594: A west-northwest direction in what is now Oklahoma and Texas which is now known as the De Soto Trail. The Spanish thought that the Great Plains were the location of the mythological Quivira and Cíbola , a place said to be rich in gold. People in the southwest began to acquire horses in the 16th century by trading or stealing them from Spanish colonists in New Mexico. As horse culture moved northward,
1512-654: Is a Bluebird. It offers football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, golf and track and field. Goessel Jr/Sr. High School is a member of the Wheat State League and the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA). Past Championships: Each USD 411 school has a library for student access. The city is served by the Goessel Public Library at 101 South Cedar Street. The library
1620-557: Is a member of the https://lib.nckls.org/ North Central Kansas Libraries System], which provides an inter-library book loan service for its members. The library's mission is to meet the needs of the town with programming, materials, computers and free 24 hour internet access. Goessel is served by numerous radio stations of the Wichita - Hutchinson listening market area, and satellite radio . See Media in Wichita, Kansas . Goessel
1728-404: Is about 500 mi (800 km) east to west and 2,000 mi (3,200 km) north to south. Much of the region was home to American bison herds until they were hunted to near extinction during the mid/late-19th century. It has an area of approximately 500,000 sq mi (1,300,000 km ). Current thinking regarding the geographic boundaries of the Great Plains is shown by this map at
1836-526: Is extraordinarily smooth. It is very dry, except for occasional shallow and temporary water sheets after rains. Llano is separated from the plains on the north by the mature consequent valley of the Canadian River , and from the mountains on the west by the broad and probably mature valley of the Pecos River . On the east, it is strongly undercut by the retrogressive erosion of the headwaters of
1944-476: Is one mile west of Goessel. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters with very cold periods. The 2020 United States census counted 556 people, 200 households, and 135 families in Goessel. The population density was 1,467.0 per square mile (566.4/km). There were 222 housing units at an average density of 585.8 per square mile (226.2/km). The racial makeup
2052-506: Is peculiarly elaborate. Known as the Badlands , it is a minutely dissected form with a relief of a few hundred feet. This is due to several causes: The central section of the Great Plains, between latitudes 42° and 36° , occupying eastern Colorado and western Kansas , is mostly a dissected fluviatile plain. That is, this section was once smoothly covered with a gently sloping plain of gravel and sand that had been spread far forward on
2160-402: Is served by over-the-air ATSC digital TV of the Wichita - Hutchinson viewing market area, cable TV , and satellite TV . See Media in Wichita, Kansas . K-15 highway runs along the east side of the city. Marion County, Kansas Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas . Its county seat is Marion and its most populous city is Hillsboro . As of
2268-455: Is used: the climatic and vegetation regions are more impactful on human settlement than mere topography, and therefore the region is split into (from north to south), the taiga plains, boreal plains , aspen parkland , and prairie ecoregion regions. The northern section of the Great Plains, north of latitude 44° , includes eastern Montana , eastern Wyoming , most of North Dakota and South Dakota , southwestern Minnesota and portions of
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#17327799888882376-543: The 2020 census , the county population was 11,823. The county was named in honor of Francis Marion , a brigadier general of the American Revolutionary War , known as the "Swamp Fox". For millennia , the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by Native Americans . From the 16th to 18th centuries, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America . In 1762, after
2484-563: The American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americus), Salt Creek Tiger Beetle (Cinidela nevadica lincolniana), Great Plains Giant Tiger Beetle (Amblycheila chylindriformis), Microstylum morosum , Bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata), Great Plains Camel Cricket (Daihinia brevipes), and the Great plains spittlebug (Lepyronia gibbosa). Some species in the Great plains have gone extinct in
2592-593: The Arikara , Mandan , Pawnee , and Wichita . Wars with the Ojibwe and Cree peoples pushed the Lakota (Teton Sioux) west onto the Great Plains in the mid- to late-17th century. The Shoshone originated in the western Great Basin and spread north and east into present-day Idaho and Wyoming. By 1500, some Eastern Shoshone had crossed the Rocky Mountains into the Great Plains. After 1750, warfare and pressure from
2700-623: The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway . Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe". In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line from Herington to Pratt . This main line connected Herington , Ramona , Tampa , Durham , Waldeck , Canton , Galva , McPherson , Groveland , Inman , Medora , Hutchinson , Whiteside , Partridge , Arlington , Langdon , Turon , Preston , Natrona , Pratt . In 1888, this main line
2808-626: The Central United States and Western Canada , encompassing: The term "Great Plains" is used in the United States to describe a sub-section of the even more vast Interior Plains physiographic division, which covers much of the interior of North America. It also has currency as a region of human geography , referring to the Plains Indians or the Plains states . In Canada the term is rarely used; Natural Resources Canada ,
2916-690: The Commission for Environmental Cooperation , a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) agency composed of the geographical agencies of the Mexican, American, and Canadian governments, uses the "Great Plains" as an ecoregion synonymous with predominant prairies and grasslands rather than as physiographic region defined by topography. The Great Plains ecoregion includes five sub-regions: Temperate Prairies, West-Central Semi-Arid Prairies, South-Central Semi-Arid Prairies, Texas Louisiana Coastal Plains, and Tamaulipas-Texas Semi-Arid Plain, which overlap or expand upon other Great Plains designations. The region
3024-825: The Department of the Interior . In contrast, U.S. Forest Service , an agency of the U. S. Department of Agriculture , administers the National Forests and National Grasslands, under a multiple-use concept. By law, the U.S. Forest Service must consider all resources, with no single resource emphasized to the detriment of others, including water, soil, grazing, timber harvesting, and minerals (mining and drilling), as well as recreation and conservation of fish and wildlife. Each individual state also administers state lands, typically smaller areas, for various purposes including conservation and recreation. Grasslands are among
3132-510: The French and Indian War , France secretly ceded New France to Spain , by the Treaty of Fontainebleau . In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre . In 1848, after
3240-908: The Great Plains toad ( Anaxyrus cognatus ), plains leopard frog ( Lithobates blairi ), and plains spadefoot toad ( Spea bombifrons ). Some species predominately associated with various river basins in the Great Plains include sturgeon chub ( Macrhybopsis gelida ), peppered chub ( Macrhybopsis tetranema ), prairie chub ( Macrhybopsis australis ), western silvery minnow ( Hybognathus argyritis ), plains minnow ( Hybognathus placitus ), smalleye shiner ( Notropis buccula ), Arkansas River shiner ( Notropis girardi ), Red River shiner ( Notropis bairdi ), Topeka shiner ( Notropis topeka ), plains topminnow ( Fundulus sciadicus ), plains killifish ( Fundulus zebrinus ), Red River pupfish ( Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis ), and Arkansas darter ( Etheostoma cragini ). The great plains also has many invertebrate species living here both alive and extinct such as
3348-531: The Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state . In 1855, Marion County was established. The first settlers in Marion County located on Doyle Creek, near the present site of Florence . They were Moses Shane, who came in 1858, and whose death the next year was the first in the county; Patrick Doyle, in 1859, for whom Doyle Creek and Township were named, and
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3456-694: The Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Marion County with much controversy over road damage, tax exemption, and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs). In 2022, construction of the 201 megawatt Sunflower Wind farm was started in Marion County. Warning light and spin testing started in June 2023. This wind farm is located between Peabody , Aulne, and Florence, and operated by Ørsted headquartered in Fredericia , Denmark . According to
3564-619: The Mexican–American War , the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike Expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri , of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through modern Marion County near the current cities of Florence , Marion , Durham . In 1854,
3672-477: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 954 square miles (2,470 km ), of which 944 square miles (2,440 km ) is land and 9.4 square miles (24 km ) (1.0%) is water. Marion County is located in the Great Plains , and the eastern part of the county is part of the Flint Hills . As of the census of 2000, there were 13,361 people, 5,114 households, and 3,687 families residing in
3780-468: The census of 2010, there were 539 people, 206 households, and 140 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,540.0 inhabitants per square mile (594.6/km). There were 231 housing units at an average density of 660.0 per square mile (254.8/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White , 0.2% African American , 0.4% Native American , 0.9% from other races , and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of
3888-509: The "Rock Island". In 1889, the Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad built a 4.5 mile railroad from Marion north-east to Chingawasa Springs. A hotel was built near the site of the spa at Chingawasa Springs, and a depot and eatery as well. Both Santa Fe and Rock Island offered round trip fares from Chicago and western cities to Chingawasa Springs. An economic panic in 1893 closed down the health spa and hotel, and quarry business along
3996-556: The Blackfoot, Crow, Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho pushed Eastern Shoshone south and westward. Some of them moved as far south as Texas, emerging as the Comanche by 1700. The first known contact between Europeans and Indians in the Great Plains occurred in what is now Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska from 1540 to 1542 with the arrival of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado , a Spanish conquistador. In that same period, Hernando de Soto crossed
4104-503: The Canadian provinces including southeastern Alberta , southern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba . The strata here are Cretaceous or early Tertiary , lying nearly horizontal. The surface is shown to be a plain of degradation by a gradual ascent here and there to the crest of a ragged escarpment, the escarpment-remnant of a resistant stratum. There are also the occasional lava -capped mesas and dike formed ridges, surmounting
4212-462: The Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln . This definition, however, is primarily ecological, not physiographic. The Boreal Plains of Western Canada are physiographically the same, but differentiated by their tundra and forest (rather than grassland) appearance. The term "Great Plains", for the region west of about the 96th meridian west and east of the Rocky Mountains ,
4320-557: The Comanche were among the first to commit to a fully mounted nomadic lifestyle. This occurred by the 1730s, when they had acquired enough horses to put all their people on horseback. The real beginning of the horse culture of the plains began with the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 in New Mexico and the capture of thousands of horses and other livestock. In 1683 a Spanish expedition into Texas found horses among Native people. In 1690,
4428-551: The Great Plains and into the valleys and lower elevations of the eastern Rocky Mountains and portions of the American southwest . Other snakes include the plains hog-nosed snake ( Heterodon nasicus ), western milksnake ( Lampropeltis gentilis ), great plains ratsnake ( Pantherophis emoryi ), bullsnake ( Pituophis catenifer sayi ), plains black-headed snake ( Tantilla nigriceps ), plains gartersnake ( Thamnophis radix ), and lined snake ( Tropidoclonion lineatum ). Reptile diversity increases significantly in southern regions of
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4536-629: The Great Plains and that included trade networks west to the Rocky Mountains. Mississippians settled the Great Plains at sites now in Oklahoma and South Dakota . Siouan language speakers may have originated in the lower Mississippi River region. They were agriculturalists and may have been part of the Mound Builder civilization during the 9th–12th centuries. Pressure from other Indian tribes, themselves driven west and south by
4644-588: The Great Plains include National Parks and National Monuments, administers by the National Park Service with the responsibility of preserving ecological and historical places and making them available to the public. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manages the National Wildlife Refuges, with the primary responsibility of conserving and protecting fish, wildlife, plants, and habitat in the public trust. Both are agencies of
4752-476: The Great Plains include the swift fox ( Vulpes velox ) and the endangered black-footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes ). The lesser prairie chicken ( Tympanuchus pallidicinctus ) is endemic to the Great Plains and the distribution of the greater prairie chicken ( Tympanuchus cupido ) predominantly occurs in the region, although the latter historically ranged further eastward. The Harris's sparrow ( Zonotrichia querula ) spends winter months in southern areas of
4860-512: The Great Plains is the most tornado active area in the world and is sometimes referred to as Tornado Alley . The Great Plains are part of the floristic North American Prairies province , which extends from the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians . Although the American bison ( Bison bison ) historically ranged throughout much of North America (from New York to Oregon and Canada to northern Mexico), they are strongly associated with
4968-751: The Great Plains where they once roamed in immense herds. Pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana ) range into western areas of the region. The black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) is another iconic species among several rodents that are linked to the region including the thirteen-lined ground squirrel ( Ictidomys tridecemlineatus ), spotted ground squirrel ( Xerospermophilus spilosoma ), Franklin's ground squirrel ( Poliocitellus franklinii ), plains pocket gopher ( Geomys bursarius ), hispid pocket mouse ( Chaetodipus hispidus ), olive-backed pocket mouse ( Perognathus fasciatus ), plains pocket mouse ( Perognathus flavescens ), and plains harvest mouse ( Reithrodontomys montanus ), Two carnivores associated with
5076-488: The Great Plains. The ornate box turtle ( Terrapene ornata ) and great plains skink ( Plestiodon obsoletus ) occur in southern areas. Although few salamanders are strongly associated with region, the western tiger salamander ( Ambystoma mavortium ) ranges through much of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, as does the Rocky Mountain toad ( Anaxyrus w. woodhousi ). Other anurans related to region include
5184-503: The High Plains) is periodically subjected to extended periods of drought ; high winds in the region may then generate devastating dust storms . The eastern Great Plains near the eastern boundary falls in the humid subtropical climate zone in the southern areas, and the northern and central areas fall in the humid continental climate . Many thunderstorms occur in the plains in the spring through summer. The southeastern portion of
5292-650: The Red, Brazos, and Colorado rivers of Texas and presents a ragged escarpment approximately 500 to 800 ft (150 to 240 m) high, overlooking the central denuded area of that state. There, between the Brazos and Colorado rivers, occurs a series of isolated outliers capped by limestone that underlies both the Llano Uplift on the west and the Grand Prairies escarpment on the east. The southern and narrow part of
5400-451: The United States from France as part of the 828,000-square-mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre . The Kansas Territory was organized in 1854, and Kansas became the 34th U.S. state in 1861. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory and included present-day Goessel. The year 1874 saw the first wave of an immigration of Plautdietsch -speaking Russian Mennonites to south-central Kansas. The move
5508-425: The age of 18 living in them; 63.1% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. Individuals made up 27.6% of all households, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 people, and the average family size was 2.98 people. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under
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#17327799888885616-428: The age of 18 living with them, 63.80% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% 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 2.94. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under
5724-471: The age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 32.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 73.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.0 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $ 33,250, and the median income for a family was $ 42,727. Males had a median income of $ 30,313 versus $ 18,750 for females. The per capita income for
5832-467: The age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 34,500, and the median income for a family was $ 41,386. Males had a median income of $ 30,236 versus $ 21,119 for females. The per capita income for
5940-422: The age of 18; 58.5% were married couples living together; 23.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 31.5% of households consisted of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.1. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 19.2% of the population. 27.2% of
6048-716: The area of the ancient Great Plains for thousands to millions of years. The vast majority of these animals became extinct in North America at the end of the Pleistocene (around 13,000 years ago). A number of significant fossil sites are located in the Great Plains including Agate Fossil Beds National Monument ( Nebraska ), Ashfall Fossil Beds ( Nebraska ), Clayton Lake State Park ( New Mexico ), Dinosaur Valley State Park ( Texas ), Hudson-Meng Bison Kill (Nebraska), Makoshika State Park (Montana), and The Mammoth Site ( South Dakota ). Public and protected lands in
6156-744: The autumn of the same year, the Moore brothers established a ranch near the present site of Durham , and the first post office was established at this place. Later in the same year, a post office was established at "Lost Spring" near the current city of Lost Springs . Previously the nearest post office was Emporia . From 1867 to 1871, the Chisholm Trail was routed along the western edge of Marion County. The trail started in Texas and ended in Abilene, Kansas , where cattle were shipped eastward by rail. As
6264-486: The census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size. Great Plains The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flatland in North America . The region is located just to the east of the Rocky Mountains , much of it covered in prairie , steppe , and grassland . They are
6372-471: The central section, it is for the most part a dissected fluviatile plain. However, the lower lands which surround it on all sides place it in such strong relief that it stands up as a table-land, known from the time of Mexican occupation as the Llano Estacado . It measures roughly 150 mi (240 km) east-west and 400 mi (640 km) north-south. It is of very irregular outline, narrowing to
6480-406: The city was $ 14,106. About 2.2% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 39.4% of those age 65 or over. The Goessel government consists of a mayor and five council members. The council meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 8PM. The community is served by Goessel USD 411 public school district. The Goessel High School mascot
6588-435: The city. The population density was 1,870.3 inhabitants per square mile (722.1/km). There were 221 housing units at an average density of 731.6 per square mile (282.5/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.70% White , 0.18% Native American , 0.18% from other races , and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population. There were 203 households, of which 28.6% had children under
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#17327799888886696-714: The county was $ 16,100. About 4.80% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over. Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry" , county until 2004, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement. The following public unified school districts are headquartered in Marion County. List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Marion County. † means
6804-524: The county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km ). There were 5,882 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 97.06% White , 0.47% Black or African American , 0.59% Native American , 0.19% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.55% from other races , and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 5,114 households, out of which 30.50% had children under
6912-531: The encroachment of European settlers as well as economic incentives such as the fur trade, alongside the arrival of the horse and firearms from Europe pushed multiple tribes onto the Great Plains. Among those to have lived on the Great Plains were the Blackfoot , Crow , Sioux , Cheyenne , Arapaho , Comanche , and others. Eastern portions of the Great Plains were inhabited by tribes who lived at Etzanoa and in semi-permanent villages of earth lodges, such as
7020-469: The first floor was used as a school. A high wall for a place of refuge and defense in the event of an Indian attack surrounded it, but it was never needed for that purpose. An addition was completed in 1879 and part of the original structure was remodeled in 1881. The present three-story native limestone structure was completed in 1907. The state of Kansas granted the Atchison and Topeka Railroad three million acres (12,000 km ) of land if it would build
7128-433: The general level by 500 ft (150 m) or more and manifestly demonstrating the widespread erosion of the surrounding plains. All these reliefs are more plentiful towards the mountains in central Montana. The peneplain is no longer in the cycle of erosion that witnessed its production. It appears to have suffered a regional uplift or increase in elevation, for the upper Missouri River and its branches no longer flow on
7236-650: The government department responsible for official mapping, treats the Interior Plains as one unit consisting of several related plateaus and plains. There is no region referred to as the "Great Plains" in the Atlas of Canada . In terms of human geography, the term prairie is more commonly used in Canada, and the region is known as the Canadian Prairies , prairie provinces or simply "the prairies". The North American Environmental Atlas , produced by
7344-760: The great plains like the Rocky Mountain Locust (Melanoplus spretus). During the Cretaceous Period (145–66 million years ago), the Great Plains were covered by a shallow inland sea called the Western Interior Seaway . However, during the Late Cretaceous to the Paleocene (65–55 million years ago), the seaway had begun to recede, leaving behind thick marine deposits and a relatively flat terrain which
7452-449: The greatest change upon the community in the shortest time. More than 100 residences were constructed in October and November 1919. From 1918 to 1919, the population increased by 75% or more, but later decreased as oil booms in other Kansas areas needed the workers. From 1935 to 1937, the Marion County Lake was constructed southeast of Marion . From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir was constructed northwest of Marion . In 2010,
7560-501: The largest group. They rise like a large island from the sea, occupying an oval area of about 100 mi (160 km) north-south by 50 mi (80 km) east-west. At Black Elk Peak , they reach an altitude of 7,216 ft (2,199 m) and have an effective relief over the plains of 2,000 or 3,000 ft (610 or 910 m) This mountain mass is of flat-arched, dome-like structure, now well dissected by radiating consequent streams. The weaker uppermost strata have been eroded down to
7668-468: The least protected biomes. Humans have converted much of the prairies for agricultural purposes or to create pastures. Several of the protected lands in the region are centered around aberrant and uncharacteristic features of the region, such as mountains, outcrops, and canyons (e.g. Devil's Tower National Monument , Wind Cave National Park , Scotts Bluff National Monument ), and as splendid and worthy as they are, they are not primarily focused on conserving
7776-426: The level of the plains where their upturned edges are evenly truncated. The next following harder strata have been sufficiently eroded to disclose the core of underlying igneous and metamorphic crystalline rocks in about half of the domed area. In the intermediate section of the plains, between latitudes 44° and 42° , including southern South Dakota and northern Nebraska , the erosion of certain large districts
7884-500: The line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". The railway is connected via a switch to allow north-bound "Rock Island" traffic to connect onto the north-west-bound "Santa Fe" tracks. This is the only way for the Santa Fe traffic to travel north-west after removing
7992-484: The line that divides the Great Plains into an area that receives 20 in (510 mm) or more of rainfall per year and an area that receives less than 20 in (510 mm). In this context, the High Plains, as well as Southern Alberta , south-western Saskatchewan and Eastern Montana are mainly semi arid steppe land and are generally characterised by rangeland or marginal farmland . The region (especially
8100-760: The more common "prairie". The Great Plains are the westernmost portion of the vast North American Interior Plains , which extend east to the Appalachian Plateau . The United States Geological Survey divides the Great Plains in the United States into ten physiographic subdivisions: Further to this can be added Canadian physiographic sub-regions such as the Alberta Plain, Cypress Hills , Manitoba Escarpment (eastward), Manitoba Plain, Missouri Coteau (shared), Rocky Mountain Foothills (eastward), and Saskatchewan Plain. The Great Plains consist of
8208-442: The mountains, the local relief is generally small. The semi-arid climate excludes tree growth and opens far-reaching views. The plains are by no means a simple unit. They are of diverse structure and of various stages of erosional development. They are occasionally interrupted by buttes and escarpments . They are frequently broken by valleys. Yet on the whole, a broadly extended surface of moderate relief so often prevails that
8316-436: The name, Great Plains, for the region as a whole is well-deserved. The western boundary of the plains is usually well-defined by the abrupt ascent of the mountains. The eastern boundary of the plains (in the United States) is more climatic than topographic . The line of 20 in (510 mm) of annual rainfall trends a little east of northward near the 97th meridian. If a boundary must be drawn where nature presents only
8424-434: The plains and prairies. United States: Canada: the Great Plains biome is found to be at the brink of collapse due to woody plant encroachment , with 62% of Northern American grassland lost to date. The first Peoples ( Paleo-Indians ) arrived on the Great Plains thousands of years ago. The introduction of corn around 800 CE allowed the development of the mound-building Mississippian culture along rivers that crossed
8532-406: The population was under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 109.8 males. The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $ 53,750 (with
8640-437: The population. There were 206 households, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.0% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
8748-471: The railroads were built westward and southward, the trail was truncated from going further north. Originally, Marion County covered more than a third of the area of Kansas, including all the territory in the state south and west of the present northern and eastern lines of the county. The original location of the county was fixed by legislative act in 1860. It comprised less than the present area. The original boundaries were altered by an increase of territory on
8856-647: The region. Other species migrate from the south in the spring and spend their breeding season on the plains, including the white-faced ibis ( Plegadis chihi ), mountain plover ( Charadrius montanus ), marbled godwit ( Limosa fedoa ), Sprague's pipit ( Anthus spragueii ), Cassin's sparrow ( Peucaea cassinii ), Baird's sparrow ( Centronyx bairdii ), lark bunting ( Calamospiza melanocorys ), chestnut-collared longspur ( Calcarius ornatus ), thick-billed longspur or McCown's longspur ( Rhynchophanes mccownii ), and dickcissel ( Spiza americana ). The prairie rattlesnake ( Crotalus viridis ) ranges throughout much of
8964-474: The river from a better graded preglacial valley by the Pleistocene ice sheet . Here, the ice sheet overspread the plains from the moderately elevated Canadian highlands far on the north-east, instead of from the much higher mountains nearby on the west. The present altitude of the plains near the mountain base is 4,000 ft (1,200 m). The northern plains are interrupted by several small mountain areas. The Black Hills, chiefly in western South Dakota, are
9072-565: The seaway had once occupied. During the Cenozoic era , specifically about 25 million years ago during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, the continental climate became favorable to the evolution of grasslands. Existing forest biomes declined and grasslands became much more widespread. The grasslands provided a new niche for mammals, including many ungulates and glires , that switched from browsing diets to grazing diets. Traditionally,
9180-405: The south. Its altitude is 5,500 ft (1,700 m) at the highest western point, nearest the mountains whence its gravels were supplied. From there, it slopes southeastward at a decreasing rate, first about 12 ft (3.7 m), then about 7 ft/mi (1.3 m/km), to its eastern and southern borders, where it is 2,000 ft (610 m) in altitude. Like the High Plains farther north, it
9288-459: The southern section owes its smoothness to the deposition of imported gravels and sands upon a previously uneven surface by the action of aggrading rivers and their outgoing distributaries. The two sections are also alike in that residual eminences still here and there surmount the peneplain of the northern section, while the fluviatile plain of the central section completely buried the pre-existent relief. An exception to this statement must be made for
9396-416: The southwest, close to the mountains in southern Colorado, where some lava-capped mesas ( Mesa de Maya , Raton Mesa ) stand several thousand feet above the general plain level, and thus testify to the widespread erosion of this region before it was aggraded. The southern section of the Great Plains, between latitudes 35.5° and 25.5°, lies in western Texas , eastern New Mexico , and western Oklahoma . Like
9504-588: The spread of grasslands and the development of grazers have been strongly linked. However, an examination of mammalian teeth suggests that it is the open, gritty habitat and not the grass itself which is linked to diet changes in mammals, giving rise to the " grit, not grass " hypothesis. Paleontological finds in the area have yielded bones of mammoths , saber-toothed cats and other ancient animals, as well as dozens of other megafauna (large animals over 100 lb [45 kg]) – such as giant sloths , horses , mastodons , and American lion – that dominated
9612-602: The subdued forms of the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma , the westernmost member of the Ouachita system. The term "Western Plains" is used to describe the ecoregion of the Great Plains, or alternatively the western portion of the Great Plains. In general, the Great Plains have a wide range of weather, with very cold and harsh winters and very hot and humid summers. Wind speeds are often very high, especially in winter. The 100th meridian roughly corresponds with
9720-464: The surface of the plain, but in well graded, maturely opened valleys, several hundred feet below the general level. A significant exception to the rule of mature valleys occurs, however, in the case of the Missouri, the largest river, which is broken by several falls on hard sandstones about 50 mi (80 km) east of the mountains. This peculiar feature is explained as the result of displacement of
9828-590: The table-land, called the Edwards Plateau , is more dissected than the rest, and falls off to the south in a frayed-out fault scarp. This scarp overlooks the coastal plain of the Rio Grande embayment . The central denuded area, east of the Llano, resembles the east-central section of the plains in exposing older rocks. Between these two similar areas, in the space limited by the Canadian and Red Rivers, rise
9936-584: The tracks never developed sufficiently. In 1893, the railroad ceased operations, and tracks were removed in 1910. The National Old Trails Road , also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Lehigh , Hillsboro , Marion , Lost Springs . Peabody, and nearby Watchorn , experienced an oil boom from 1918 to 1920. The influence of the petroleum industry remained strong in Peabody, and resulted in
10044-490: The tracks to Neva. As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence . In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company . In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson , in 1880 it was extended to Lyons , in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood . The line
10152-463: The trial, so a section one mile wide and eighteen miles long was ceded to Chase County to ensure the murder had occurred there. The one mile strip of land remains in Chase County to this day. The present county boundary lines were decided upon in 1872 and contain twenty-four townships . The first two-story courthouse of stone was built in 1867. The upper floor was used for county court and
10260-466: The west and a decrease on the south. In 1863, the legislature by special act fixed the boundaries to include all of southwestern Kansas. In June of that year, on petition of the citizens of the county, the governor restored the previous boundaries and ordered a separate organization of the county. The south-eastern border one mile "notch" with Chase County was established under unusual circumstances. A murder had occurred and Marion County didn't want to have
10368-655: The western part of the Interior Plains , which include the mixed grass prairie , the tallgrass prairie between the Great Lakes and Appalachian Plateau , and the Taiga Plains and Boreal Plains ecozones in Northern Canada . "Great Plains", or Western Plains , is also the ecoregion of the Great Plains or alternatively the western portion of the Great Plains. The Great Plains lie across both
10476-431: Was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age in the city was 48.6 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 30.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.8% male and 54.2% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 565 people, 203 households, and 142 families residing in
10584-424: Was 93.71% (521) white or European American (93.17% non-Hispanic white ), 0.18% (1) black or African-American , 0.0% (0) Native American or Alaska Native , 0.0% (0) Asian , 0.18% (1) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian , 1.08% (6) from other races , and 4.86% (27) from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race was 1.8% (10) of the population. Of the 200 households, 32.5% had children under
10692-625: Was among the strongest ever documented at that time. Goessel is home to the Mennonite Heritage Museum, a complex of eight buildings that preserve artifacts from early Mennonite households, farms, schools, and churches and the Bethesda Mennonite Hospital. Goessel is located in the Great Plains of the state of Kansas . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 0.35 square miles (0.91 km), all land. The county line
10800-671: Was an attempt to preserve religious heritage and freedom after exclusion from military service was rescinded. In 1873 twelve Mennonite delegates from the Russian Empire toured Manitoba and Kansas, with the four conservative Mennonite delegates selecting the East Reserve in Manitoba and the eight liberal delegates selecting immigration to Kansas. In the next decade, one-third of Mennonites in Russia moved to North America. In 1874
10908-512: Was extended to Liberal . Later, this line was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico , and El Paso, Texas . This line is called the "Golden State Limited". In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington to Caldwell . This branch line connected Herington , Lost Springs , Lincolnville , Antelope , Marion , Aulne , Peabody , Elbing , Whitewater , Furley , Kechi , Wichita , Peck , Corbin , Wellington , Caldwell . By 1893, this branch line
11016-577: Was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas . This line is called the "OKT". The "Rock Island" has switches in Peabody and Lost Springs to allow connections to the crossing "Santa Fe" railroad in each city. The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway , which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad , merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad , and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad . Most locals still refer to this railroad as
11124-413: Was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans . From the 16th century to the 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America . In 1762, after the French and Indian War , France secretly ceded New France to Spain per the Treaty of Fontainebleau . In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for present-day Kansas was acquired by
11232-524: Was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway . The line from Florence to Marion , was abandoned in 1968. In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway . In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence , Oursler , Marion, Canada , Hillsboro , Lehigh , Canton , Galva , McPherson , Conway , Windom , Little River , Mitchell , Lyons , Chase , Ellinwood . In 1996,
11340-472: Was located where Goessel now stands. The village lasted for several years as a communal village, and then families moved onto their own larger parcels of land nearby. Several years passed before a trading center developed. The first public structure erected in Goessel was the Mennonite Brethren church in 1890, and one of the first businesses was a creamery station established that same year. In 1891
11448-577: Was not generally used before the early 20th century. Nevin Fenneman's 1916 study Physiographic Subdivision of the United States brought the term Great Plains into more widespread usage. Before that the region was almost invariably called the High Plains, in contrast to the lower Prairie Plains of the Midwestern states . Today the term " High Plains " is used for a subregion of the Great Plains. The term still remains little-used in Canada compared to
11556-479: Was platted and had a population of 100 people. In 1952, Goessel was incorporated and had a population of 260. In 2010, the United States Census reported 248 households and a population of 539. On March 13, 1990, Goessel was damaged by an "extreme F5" tornado during a tornado outbreak . The severity of the damage left behind by this tornado led some meteorologists to believe that the Goessel tornado
11664-486: Was pretty well settled, much of this land wasn't available. The law therefore gave the railroad what was called "in lieu" lands further west. Eventually this worked out to be half the land on a strip twenty miles (32 km) on each side of its track from Emporia nearly out to Kinsley , which meant that most of Marion County fell in this strip. In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built
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