Lehigh, Kansas

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 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 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 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Lehigh.[6]

The source of the Lehigh name was not well documented. One of the rumors is the city being slightly higher altitude which was "lay high" above the prairie, the other rumor that it was named by representatives of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania who came to Kansas and considered settling the area in the 1870s or 1880s.[7]

Four and one half miles north of Lehigh is the junction of the old Santa Fe Trail and Chisolm Trail, which is near the site of the municipal water well for the city. The Santa Fe Trail was active across Marion County from 1821 to 1866,[8] and the Chisholm Trail was active from 1867 to 1871.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[12] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion through Lehigh to McPherson was abandoned and removed. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood. The 1879 depot from Lehigh was moved to Walton, Kansas.[13][14]

A post office was established at Lehigh on April 23, 1880.[15]

Lehigh was platted in 1881.[16]

Lehigh was incorporated in 1901 and at the time of the 1910 census had a population of 385. At one time it boasted a bank, several mercantile businesses, and a German weekly Mennonite newspaper, Das Echo, started in 1897.[17]

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.

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 175 people, 70 households, and 49 families residing in the city. The population density was 583.3 inhabitants per square mile (225.2/km²). There were 84 housing units at an average density of 280.0 per square mile (108.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 2.9% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0% of the population.

There were 70 households, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.0% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age in the city was 32.8 years. 29.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 13.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.9% male and 49.1% female.

As of the census[20] of 2000, there were 215 people, 77 households, and 62 families residing in the city. The population density was 714.3 people per square mile (276.7/km²). There were 83 housing units at an average density of 275.7 per square mile (106.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.95% White, 4.65% Native American, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 77 households, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples living together, 2.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $38,958, and the median income for a family was $41,875. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $20,714 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,554. About 6.8% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

• Hillsboro Star-Journal, local newspaper from Hillsboro.
• Hillsboro Free Press, free newspaper for greater Marion County area.
• The Newton Kansan, regional newspaper from Newton.
• The Salina Journal, regional newspaper from Salina.

Lehigh is served by numerous radio stations of the Wichita-Hutchinson listening market area,[24] and satellite radio. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

Lehigh is served by over-the-air ATSC digital TV of the Wichita-Hutchinson viewing market area,[25] cable TV, and satellite TV. See Media in Wichita, Kansas.

U.S. Route 56 highway is 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of the city.

• Internet
  • Satellite is provided by HughesNet, StarBand, WildBlue.
• TV
  • Satellite is provided by DirecTV, Dish Network.
  • Terrestrial is provided by regional digital TV stations.
• Electricity
  • Rural is provided by Flint Hills RECA.
• Water
  • City is provided by City of Lehigh.
  • Rural is provided by Marion County RWD #4 (map).