Cathay

Cathay, name for North China used by medieval Europeans, derived from the Khitan (or Khitai), a Manchurian people who conquered S Manchuria and N China and founded the Liao dynasty (937-1125). S China was referred to as Mangi. Long after the end of the Liao, the Russians and some central Asian people continued to and still use Kitai as the name of China. The description of Cathay by Marco Polo (c.1254-c.1324) in his journal helped popularize the name in medieval Europe.

Former name for China, especially northern China. The word is derived from Khitay, the name of a seminomadic people who dominated northern China in the 10th–12th century. By the time of Genghis Khan, the Mongols had begun referring to northern China as Kitai (still the Russian word for China). The name may have been introduced to Europe by returning Franciscan friars circa 1254, but it was Marco Polo's Travels 50 years later that put Cathay's image before the European public.

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Cathay is a city in Wells County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 56 at the 2000 census. Cathay was founded in 1893. The center of population of North Dakota is located in Cathay

Geography

Cathay is located at (47.553931, -99.411403).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 56 people, 21 households, and 14 families residing in the city. The population density was 305.9 people per square mile (120.1/km²). There were 37 housing units at an average density of 202.1/sq mi (79.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.21% White, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.

There were 21 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% 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 3.43.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 75.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $37,917. Males had a median income of $21,607 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,126. There were 5.3% of families and 11.4% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 16.7% of those over 64.

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