Florence, Kansas

For millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. These tribes considered native included: the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, Pawnee, and Wichita.[6] 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.

1881 Patrick Doyle House, 0.3 miles south of Florence (2022)

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 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike Expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through Marion County near the current cities of Florence, Marion, Durham.[7]

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 Florence.[8]

The first settlers in Marion County located on Doyle Creek, near the present site of Florence. They were Moses Shane, who came in 1858, and whose death the next year was the first in the county; Patrick Doyle, in 1859, for whom Doyle Creek and Township were named, and a family by the name of Welsh, in which occurred the first birth in the county in August 1859.[9] A post office existed in Doyle from November 26, 1866 to March 13, 1871.[10]

The Florence Town Company was a group of men who learned of the proposed route of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, extended from Emporia, who decided on a town site where the railroad would cross the Cottonwood River. On September 23, 1870, there was announcement in The Emporia News about a new town named "Florence" at the mouth of Doyle Creek.[11] The Florence Town Company was formed on December 1, 1870 with Samuel J. Crawford as the president.[12] Previously, Crawford was the 3rd Governor of Kansas from 1865 to 1868. He named the town, Florence, in honor of his daughter, Miss Florence Crawford of Topeka.[5][13][14] The post office moved from Doyle to Florence on March 13, 1871.[10]

1915 Railroad Map of Marion County

In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a main line from Emporia through Florence to Newton.[15] In 1996, it merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. The Santa Fe depot building still exists, but has been closed for decades. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado, in 1881 it was extended to Douglass, and later to Arkansas City.[16] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942.[17] The original branch line connected Florence, Burns, De Graff, El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rock, Akron, Winfield, Arkansas City.

As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, the Marion and McPherson Railway Company was chartered.[16] 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.[18] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[19] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

In 1877, Fred Harvey, an entrepreneur who is credited with establishing the first restaurant chain in the United States, bought the Clifton Hotel near the Florence railroad station for $5,370. Harvey redecorated the hotel and early in 1878, the second Harvey House Restaurant opened in Florence - the first Harvey House to offer sleeping rooms in addition to a restaurant.[20]

There have been numerous floods during the early history of Florence. In June and July 1951, due to heavy rains, rivers and streams flooded numerous cities in Kansas, including Florence. Many reservoirs and levees were built in Kansas as part of a response to the Great Flood of 1951. From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir was constructed north-west of Marion. Downstream from the Marion Reservoir, levees were built in low-lying areas of Marion and Florence.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Florence has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[22]

As of the census[34] of 2010, there were 465 people, 216 households, and 118 families residing in the city. The population density was 603.9 inhabitants per square mile (233.2/km²). There were 279 housing units at an average density of 362.3 per square mile (139.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 0.6% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 216 households, of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.4% were non-families. 39.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 46.1 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 32.2% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

As of the census[35] of 2000, there were 671 people, 259 households, and 180 families residing in the city. The population density was 871.6 inhabitants per square mile (336.5/km²). There were 301 housing units at an average density of 391.0 per square mile (151.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.68% White, 0.75% African American, 0.60% Native American, 1.49% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.

There were 259 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 27.0% 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 2.37 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $26,538, and the median income for a family was $28,214. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $20,208 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,672. About 11.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

The community is served by Marion–Florence USD 408 public school district. Florence's schools have been closed and students attend schools in Marion. The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network between five area high schools.[37] All students attend schools in Marion.

• Marion High School
• Marion Middle School.
• Marion Elementary School

Florence schools were closed through school unification. The Florence High School mascot was Florence Wildcats.[38]

The city is served by the Florence Public Library at 324 North Main Street. The library is a member of the North Central Kansas Libraries System.

• Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, local newspaper for Burns, Florence, Peabody.
• Marion County Record, local newspaper for Marion.

Two highways cross through Florence: U.S. Routes 50 and 77. The intersection of these two highways had been known for numerous accidents in the past. In July 2003, two teen-agers died when they started crossing U.S. 50 and were struck by a semi-truck. By fall 2003, the Florence intersection was converted to a four-way stop with beacons and rumble strips. This solution lowered cross-traffic accidents, but increase rear-end collisions. To make the intersection safer, the Kansas Department of Transportation converted it into a 205-feet diameter roundabout, and completed it in September 2006.[39][40][41]

The BNSF Railway passes through Florence and runs nearly parallel to U.S. Route 50.

• Internet
  • Cable is provided by Vyve.
  • Wireless is provided by KwiKom.[42]
  • Satellite is provided by HughesNet, StarBand, WildBlue.
• TV
  • Cable is provided by Vyve.[43]
  • Satellite is provided by DirecTV, Dish Network.
  • Terrestrial is provided by regional digital TV stations.
• Electricity
  • Rural is provided by Flint Hills RECA.[44]
• Water
  • Service is provided by City of Florence.
• Sewer
  • Service is provided by City of Florence.
• Trash
  • Service is provided by City of Florence.