Marysville, Kansas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marysville is a city in Marshall County, Kansas, United States. The population was 3,271 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County^GR6.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Marysville is located at 39°50′41″N, 96°38′33″W (39.844624, -96.642505)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.5 km² (3.3 mi²). 8.4 km² (3.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.31% is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 3,271 people, 1,437 households, and 865 families residing in the city. The population density was 387.4/km² (1,004.2/mi²). There were 1,614 housing units at an average density of 191.2/km² (495.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.04% White, 0.15% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.

There were 1,437 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $40,427. Males had a median income of $28,065 versus $18,063 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,196. About 5.7% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

In 1851, Francis J. (Frank) Marshall of Weston MO. arrived at the bank of the Big Blue River. He came here to establish a trading post and to operate a ferry. On November 11, 1854 Marshall opened the first civilian Post Office in the Territory of Kansas. Marshall lent his name to our county, and Marysville was named to honor his wife Mary.

Mr. Marshall charged up to $5.00 per wagon and 25 cents per head of livestock to use his rope powered ferry across the Big Blue river which operated until replaced by a bridge in 1864. He was a pro slavery candidate for governor in 1857.

Marysville was located on the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, and the route of the Pony Express, the St. Joe Road, the Overland Stage, The Military Road, and the Otoe-Missouria Trail. The old Pony Express Station still stands in downtown Marysville.

Marysville owes much of its prosperity to the Union Pacific Railroad, though the railroad itself does not cross the Blue River in Marysville. The railroad has been a major employer in the town for nearly 100 years. Over 60 trains pass through the town daily and the railroad recently completed an underpass which redirects the tracks below US-36, rather than crossing the highway and backing up traffic.

Marysville is also known as the "Black Squirrel City" due to an isolated community of all-black squirrels that makes its home in the town. The squirrels are said to be the result of escapees from a travelling circus.