sidewalk-sale

Parsons, Kansas

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Parsons is a city in the northern part of Labette County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was 11,514 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be in the year . It is the most populous city of Labette County, and it is the second most populous city in the southeastern region of Kansas.

On June 5, 2006 the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Parsons a 2006 Great American Main Street Award winner for its successful efforts in revitalizing its downtown area through historic preservation. The award was presented during the 2006 National Main Streets Conference in New Orleans. Parsons was one of only five cities receiving the 2006 award.

History

Parsons was named after Levi Parsons, president of the Missouri - Kansas - Texas (Katy) Railroad. The town was founded in 1870 and incorporated the following year. During World War II it was home to the Kansas Ordnance Plant, which later operated for some years as the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. In Spring of 2005, the munitions plant was placed on the BRAC list for closure. The community has rallied behind the current plant operator, Day and Zimmerman, to keep the company on the grounds after closure and to keep those jobs and more in the Parsons area. (See link to "Great Plains Industrial Park" in "External Links", below) Parsons is also home to the Parsons State Hospital & Training Center, which has been in operation since 1903 when it was opened as the Kansas State Hospital for Epileptics.

In 1957 the Hospital was renamed Parsons State Hospital and Training Center. At that time it began providing programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Hospital occupies 43 buildings on 163 acres. The hospital also includes residential services, the University Center on Developmental Disabilities and the Parsons Research Center for the University of Kansas, the Special Purpose School of the Southeast Regional Education Service Center. The Southeast Kansas Agricultural Research Center of Kansas State University is also located on the grounds.

The first library in Parsons began as a subscription library in 1904 and was located in the city hall. Parsons Public Library, a Carnegie library, officially opened on May 18, 1909. A new library building was opened on April 18, 1977, and the old library building has since been renovated to become a visual and performing arts center.

The sale of Katy Industries to Union Pacific, in 1988, eventually saw the loss of scores of railroad jobs and, in effect, severed a major part of Parsons' city history which stretched back to its 1871 incorporation. While, in return, the city received a million dollars to help it recover (and so that it would not file lengthy paperwork opposing the sale and thus delaying it), that money was soon spent and the only reminder of the Katy Railroad is now found in the local historical society's museum and of course the tracks, over which trains now speed through Parsons. The Kansas Kansas Army Ammunition Plant also was down scaled in the 1980s. Local authorities seemed powerless to halt the economic decline.

On April 19, 2000, an F3 tornado cut a devastating path of destruction through the center of Parsons. Eight hundred homes, one hundred twenty businesses, hundreds of vehicles were destroyed or damaged.

In June 2008, new ownership of the daily newspaper, The Parsons Sun, began monthly charges for access to its internet site, making it one of the very few online newspapers to do so.

Parsons is the home of Dwayne's Photo, which is the last processor of K-14 Kodachrome film in the United States, and one of only 2 left in the world as of September 2008.

Geography

Parsons is located at (37.339070, -95.269747). The city is at the junction of U.S. Route 59 and U.S. Route 400. Along US-59, the city of Erie (the county seat of Neosho County) is 17 miles to the north and Oswego (the county seat of Labette County) is 20 miles south and east. Big Hill Lake is several miles to the west of the city.

The Kansas Army Ammunition Plant (KSAAP) is located southeast of the city. The facility was completed in 1942 to support World War II operations and consists of 21 separate facilities over 13,727 acres. The installation is actively used as a munitions loading, assembly, and packing facility.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.4 square miles (26.8 km²), all land.

Culture

City events:

Katy Days

Held every year over the Memorial Day weekend.
See link to official website under "External links" below.

Art Show
Christmas Parade

Over 100 entries.

St. Patrick's Day Parade
Osage Prairie Bicycle Tour

15, 40, and 70 mile rides

Concerts and Performances

Held throughout the year at Parsons Municipal Auditoruim.

Farmer's Market

Mid April through October at Forest Park. Every Tues. 4-7pm & Sat. 7-11am

Dawg Daze

Sidewalk sale and car show.

4th of July

Large fireworks display.

Demographics

Parsons's population was estimated to be in the year , .

As of the U.S. Census in 2000, there were 11,514 people, 4,738 households, and 2,909 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,111.2 people per square mile (429.1/km²). There were 5,359 housing units at an average density of 517.2/sq mi (199.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.54% White, 8.17% Black or African American, 1.12% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 2.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.64% of the population.

There were 4,738 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,345, and the median income for a family was $36,557. Males had a median income of $28,667 versus $21,558 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,763. About 9.9% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.