Louisburg, Kansas

Prior to the American Civil War, the land of what is now called Louisburg was part of an area reserved for members of various tribes of Native Americans who were ceding their lands in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.[7] Settling there were the Peoria, Wea, Piankeshaw, and Kaskaskia tribes [8] which together eventually became the Confederated Tribe of Peoria.[7] Traders and missionaries often visited the area, and by 1854 Euro-American farmers began moving nearby, establishing homes.[8] Upon the organization of the state of Kansas in 1861, the Confederated Tribes were being charged with taxes, and the new state laws conflicted with their own. By 1866, following the Civil War, the government moved the Confederated Tribe of Peoria to Oklahoma,[7] and the land they once occupied was sold to settlers.[8] A community of homes resulted by 1867, and was called St. Louis. Soon, it was often referred to as New St. Louis or Little St. Louis in an effort to distinguish it from St. Louis.

From 1868 to 1870, the settlement of Little St. Louis grew to include businesses and churches, and a railroad depot was to be completed. Because the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad (MKT Railroad) would be coming to serve the community, and to avoid additional confusion, Little St. Louis was renamed Louisburg in 1870. The railroad depot was completed by 1871, and Louisburg's first school opened the same year.[9] The community had some disorder during this time. As a town near the border, there remained conflicts between Kansas Jayhawkers and Missouri Raiders. In addition, the railroad tracks running through the community divided it into north and south areas. Circa 1875, many businesses and homes were moved from north of the railroad to the south, and formed what was to become downtown Louisburg.[10]

Louisburg was incorporated as a city of the third class November 3, 1882, and held its first city election two weeks later on November 17, 1882. The population was listed as 400, and 141 of those residents voted in the first election.[9]

In the early 1900s, Louisburg's downtown had a variety of businesses such as retail stores, supply stores, livery stables, a hotel,[10] and large nurseries. By 1910 the population was 603, and Louisburg was known as a good supply town for agricultural districts.[9] By the 1920s, the town also had a gas station, an automobile ownership and traffic through town had increased. By the late 1950s the MKT Railroad ended its service to Louisburg, but because K-68 went through town and US Highway 69 and K-68 intersected near town, growth continued.[8]

In October 1912, an unsolved murder in the community took place as the town's postmaster at the time, George McElheny, was shot twice by a 12-gauge shotgun at his home. Several people were accused of the murder, including his wife, after she admitted an affair with one of the accused, but after intense trials and no hard evidence the case was dropped, and no one ever admitted to the murder. In later years, the murder was almost forgotten until Joe Towne, one of the community leaders, grew interested in the subject and studied it and interviewed those who remembered the tragic situation and wrote true crime novel, "Tongues on Fire".[11]

The Little Round House was originally an addition to a front porch for a Victorian-style house in the nearby town of Paola, and was called such because it was indeed round in shape. Because of increased truck traffic from Missouri on K-68 through town, Louisburg was contacted by the State of Kansas about needing an inspection station. As a solution, the Little Round House was moved to Louisburg in the 1930s to serve as a border checkpoint office. As years passed, the Little Round House became a home to a variety of small businesses, and had been used as temporary housing during World War II.[8] The shape and size aided in it becoming a landmark to Louisburg.[9] In 2005, The Little Round House was moved from its original location to the Louisburg City Lake, and has been restored by the community due to its historical value to the town.[8]

Along the west side of Louisburg and close to U.S. Route 69 runs part of the Frontier Military Scenic Byway, a 168-mile (270 km)-long route from near Leavenworth, Kansas to the border of Oklahoma. The byway closely follows a road originally built between 1838 and 1844 that was used to transport soldiers and supplies from Fort Leavenworth in Kansas to Fort Scott in Kansas and to Fort Gibson in Oklahoma.[14]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 4,315 people, 1,583 households, and 1,148 families residing in the city. The population density was 774.7 inhabitants per square mile (299.1/km²). There were 1,718 housing units at an average density of 308.4 per square mile (119.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 1,583 households, of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.5% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.19.

The median age in the city was 33.9 years. 30.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.4% were from 25 to 44; 20.9% were from 45 to 64; and 11.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,576 people, 946 households, and 687 families residing in the city. The population density was 775.1 people per square mile (299.6/km²). There were 1,026 housing units at an average density of 308.7 per square mile (119.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.21% White, 0.31% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 946 households, out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,500, and the median income for a family was $51,729. Males had a median income of $33,783 versus $29,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,560. About 2.8% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.