Fort Scott, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat
of Bourbon County
, Kansas
, United States
, 88 miles (141.6 km) south of Kansas City
, on the Marmaton River
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site
and the Fort Scott National Cemetery
.
assisted with the protection of the Permanent Indian Frontier. After the army abandoned the fort in 1853, the buildings were purchased by local settlers at a government auction in 1855. The former military post became the center of one of the largest towns in Kansas Territory
.
Between 1855 and 1861, the citizens of Fort Scott experienced the violent unrest that preceded the American Civil War
on the Kansas and Missouri border. Eastern newspapers described this violence as "Bleeding Kansas
", a result of the national controversy concerning the extension of slavery into the new territories. Murder, mayhem, robbery, and arson were committed by bold free-state and pro-slavery advocates in the name of their cause. On January 29, 1861, Kansas
entered the union as a free state, but the turmoil of "Bleeding Kansas
" continued throughout the Civil War.
During the Civil War, Fort Scott was a U.S Army district Headquarters, quartermaster supply depot, training center, and recruitment station. It was strategically vital to the defense of Kansas and the Midwest. A battle over the fort occurred in August 1861 just across the Missouri line in the Battle of Dry Wood Creek
. The battle was a pro-South victory for Sterling Price
and his Missouri State Guard
. Price did not hold the fort and instead continued a northern push into Missouri in an attempt to recapture the state. James H. Lane (Senator)
was to launch a Jayhawker
offensive behind Price from Fort Scott that led to the Sacking of Osceola
. The ill will of these actions was to be the basis for the 1976 Clint Eastwood
film The Outlaw Josey Wales
.
After the Civil War, Fort Scott was a premier city of the frontier, one of the largest cities in eastern Kansas. On three different occasions, between 1870 and 1900, Fort Scott
was in competition with Kansas City
to become the largest railroad center west of the Mississippi. During the first half of the 20th century, Fort Scott became the agricultural, small industrial, and insurance center which it continues to be today.
on the south side of the Marmaton River
. Located at the intersection of U.S. Route 54
and U.S. Route 69
in southeast Kansas, Fort Scott is approximately 54 miles (86.9 km) north of Joplin, Missouri
, 92 miles (148.1 km) south of Kansas City
, and 143 miles (230.1 km) east of Wichita
.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it is land and 0.18% of it is water.
with hot, humid summers and cool winters. The average temperature in Fort Scott is 57 °F (13 °C) with temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) an average of 81 days a year and dropping below 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 97 days a year. On average, Fort Scott experiences 69.5 rainy days a year. Annual snowfall averages 16.7 inches (424 mm). Precipitation averages 44.1 inches (1,121 mm) per year. On average, January is the coolest month, July is the warmest month, and June is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Fort Scott was 120 °F (49 °C) in 1954; the coldest temperature recorded was -18 °F (-28 °C) in 1989.
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,297 people, 3,481 households, and 2,081 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,529.4 people per square mile (590.0/km2). There were 3,914 housing units at an average density of 278.3 persons/km2 (721.5 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 91.53% White, 5.15% African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. 1.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,481 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples
living together, 11.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 40.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,871, and the median income for a family was $34,531. Males had a median income of $25,919 versus $20,583 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,997. About 10.9% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
An annual town festival, the Good Ol' Days, has been held the first weekend of June since 1980. The celebration begins Friday evening with a parade and a picnic downtown. Over the rest of the weekend, a street fair, a melodrama and vaudeville-style show are among other features of the festival. The melodrama is also performed each Friday and Saturday night after Good Ol' Days until the end of July.
Gunn Park is a 100 year old park with picnic areas, playgrounds, two lakes, trout fishing, paddle boats and a flying disc golf course near the Marmaton River on the west side of town http://www.fort-scott.com/Gunn_Park.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Bourbon County
Bourbon County, Kansas
Bourbon County is a county located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 15,173...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 88 miles (141.6 km) south of Kansas City
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
, on the Marmaton River
Marmaton River
The Marmaton River is a tributary of the Little Osage River in southeastern Kansas and western Missouri in the United States...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott National Historic Site is a historical area under the control of the United States National Park Service in Bourbon County, Kansas, United States. Named after Mexican-American War General Winfield Scott, during the middle of the 19th century it served as a military base for army action...
and the Fort Scott National Cemetery
Fort Scott National Cemetery
Fort Scott National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located near Fort Scott, in Bourbon County, Kansas. It encompasses 21.8 acres, and as of the end of 2005, had 5,789 interments.- History :...
.
History
Established and garrisoned by the U.S. Army from 1842–1853, soldiers at Fort ScottFort Scott
General Winfield Scott, former General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army, was the namesake for five places named Fort Scott:*Fort Scott, Kansas, a city that grew up around a military fort of the same name**Fort Scott National Historic Site...
assisted with the protection of the Permanent Indian Frontier. After the army abandoned the fort in 1853, the buildings were purchased by local settlers at a government auction in 1855. The former military post became the center of one of the largest towns in Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
.
Between 1855 and 1861, the citizens of Fort Scott experienced the violent unrest that preceded the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
on the Kansas and Missouri border. Eastern newspapers described this violence as "Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas, Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a series of violent events, involving anti-slavery Free-Staters and pro-slavery "Border Ruffian" elements, that took place in the Kansas Territory and the western frontier towns of the U.S. state of Missouri roughly between 1854 and 1858...
", a result of the national controversy concerning the extension of slavery into the new territories. Murder, mayhem, robbery, and arson were committed by bold free-state and pro-slavery advocates in the name of their cause. On January 29, 1861, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
entered the union as a free state, but the turmoil of "Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas, Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a series of violent events, involving anti-slavery Free-Staters and pro-slavery "Border Ruffian" elements, that took place in the Kansas Territory and the western frontier towns of the U.S. state of Missouri roughly between 1854 and 1858...
" continued throughout the Civil War.
During the Civil War, Fort Scott was a U.S Army district Headquarters, quartermaster supply depot, training center, and recruitment station. It was strategically vital to the defense of Kansas and the Midwest. A battle over the fort occurred in August 1861 just across the Missouri line in the Battle of Dry Wood Creek
Battle of Dry Wood Creek
The Battle of Dry Wood Creek was fought on September 2, 1861 in Vernon County, Missouri during the American Civil War...
. The battle was a pro-South victory for Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
and his Missouri State Guard
Missouri State Guard
The Missouri State Guard was a state militia organized in the state of Missouri during the early days of the American Civil War. While not initially a formal part of the Confederate States Army, the State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at times, under regular Confederate...
. Price did not hold the fort and instead continued a northern push into Missouri in an attempt to recapture the state. James H. Lane (Senator)
James H. Lane (Senator)
James Henry Lane also known as Jim Lane was a partisan during the Bleeding Kansas period that immediately preceded the American Civil War. During the war, Lane served as a United States Senator and as a general who fought for the Union...
was to launch a Jayhawker
Jayhawker
Jayhawkers is a term that came to prominence just before the American Civil War in Bleeding Kansas, where it was adopted by militant bands affiliated with the free-state cause. These bands, known as "Jayhawkers", were guerrilla fighters who often clashed with pro-slavery groups from Missouri known...
offensive behind Price from Fort Scott that led to the Sacking of Osceola
Sacking of Osceola
The Sacking of Osceola was a Union Jayhawker initiative on September 23, 1861, to push out pro-Southern elements at Osceola, Missouri. It was not authorized by Union military authorities but was the work of an informal group of Kansas pro-Union "Jayhawkers"...
. The ill will of these actions was to be the basis for the 1976 Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
film The Outlaw Josey Wales
The Outlaw Josey Wales
The Outlaw Josey Wales is a 1976 American revisionist Western film set during and after the end of the American Civil War. It was directed by and starred Clint Eastwood , with Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Sam Bottoms, and Geraldine Keams.The film was adapted by Sonia Chernus and Philip Kaufman...
.
After the Civil War, Fort Scott was a premier city of the frontier, one of the largest cities in eastern Kansas. On three different occasions, between 1870 and 1900, Fort Scott
Fort Scott
General Winfield Scott, former General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army, was the namesake for five places named Fort Scott:*Fort Scott, Kansas, a city that grew up around a military fort of the same name**Fort Scott National Historic Site...
was in competition with Kansas City
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
to become the largest railroad center west of the Mississippi. During the first half of the 20th century, Fort Scott became the agricultural, small industrial, and insurance center which it continues to be today.
Downtown fire
On March 11, 2005, a fire destroyed several historic buildings in Fort Scott's downtown. The Victorian-era buildings were among many that are a symbol of the town.Geography
Fort Scott is located at 37°50′7"N 94°42′7"W (37.835180, -94.702015) at an elevation of 846 feet (258 m). It lies on the Osage PlainsOsage Plains
The Osage Plains are a physiographic section of the larger Central Lowland province, which in turn is part of the larger Interior Plains physiographic division. The area is sometimes called the Lower Plains, North Central Plains, and the Rolling Plains...
on the south side of the Marmaton River
Marmaton River
The Marmaton River is a tributary of the Little Osage River in southeastern Kansas and western Missouri in the United States...
. Located at the intersection of U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54 is an east–west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 1,197 miles from western Illinois to El Paso, Texas. It enters and leaves Texas twice...
and U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69 is a north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus is in Port Arthur, Texas at an intersection with State Highway 87...
in southeast Kansas, Fort Scott is approximately 54 miles (86.9 km) north of Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
, 92 miles (148.1 km) south of Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, and 143 miles (230.1 km) east of Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it is land and 0.18% of it is water.
Climate
Fort Scott has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa)Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
with hot, humid summers and cool winters. The average temperature in Fort Scott is 57 °F (13 °C) with temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) an average of 81 days a year and dropping below 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 97 days a year. On average, Fort Scott experiences 69.5 rainy days a year. Annual snowfall averages 16.7 inches (424 mm). Precipitation averages 44.1 inches (1,121 mm) per year. On average, January is the coolest month, July is the warmest month, and June is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Fort Scott was 120 °F (49 °C) in 1954; the coldest temperature recorded was -18 °F (-28 °C) in 1989.
Demographics
Fort Scott's population was estimated to be in the year , .As of the census of 2000, there were 8,297 people, 3,481 households, and 2,081 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,529.4 people per square mile (590.0/km2). There were 3,914 housing units at an average density of 278.3 persons/km2 (721.5 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 91.53% White, 5.15% African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. 1.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,481 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 40.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,871, and the median income for a family was $34,531. Males had a median income of $25,919 versus $20,583 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,997. About 10.9% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
Colleges
Fort Scott Community College, founded in 1919, is the oldest community college in the state of Kansas.Schools
The Fort Scott Public Schools USD 234 includes two public elementary schools (Eugene Ware Elementary and Winfield Scott Elementary), one public middle school (Fort Scott Middle School) and one high school (Fort Scott High School). There is also a Catholic school for grades K-5, Fort Scott Christian Heights for K-12 and a few other small private schools for students from grades K-12.Tourist attractions
In addition to the restored Civil War-era fort noted above, trolley tours of the historical part of Fort Scott are offered, showing visitors historic buildings and other attractions throughout Fort Scott.An annual town festival, the Good Ol' Days, has been held the first weekend of June since 1980. The celebration begins Friday evening with a parade and a picnic downtown. Over the rest of the weekend, a street fair, a melodrama and vaudeville-style show are among other features of the festival. The melodrama is also performed each Friday and Saturday night after Good Ol' Days until the end of July.
Gunn Park is a 100 year old park with picnic areas, playgrounds, two lakes, trout fishing, paddle boats and a flying disc golf course near the Marmaton River on the west side of town http://www.fort-scott.com/Gunn_Park.
Notable people
- Richard ChristyRichard ChristyThomas Richard Christy is an American musician and radio personality who currently works on The Howard Stern Show. Christy began to work on the show after winning the "Get John's Job" contest on July 1, 2004. He is known for his prank calls, song parodies, personality, and stunts performed on the...
- drummer, member of the Howard Stern Radio Show - Clark M. Clifford - former United States Secretary of DefenseUnited States Secretary of DefenseThe Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
- Jerry ElliottJerry ElliottJerry G. Elliott was a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals. Elliot served on this court from 1987 until his death.-Biography:...
- jurist - Charles HatfieldCharles HatfieldCharles Mallory Hatfield was an American "rainmaker". He was born in Fort Scott, Kansas in 1875 or 1876. His family moved to southern California in the 1880s. As an adult, he became a salesman for the New Home Sewing Machine Company...
- "Rain maker" - Mark HartMark HartMark Hart , is a multi-instrumentalist best known for his participation as a member of Supertramp and Crowded House....
- musician, song writer, producer - William D. HawkinsWilliam D. HawkinsWilliam Deane Hawkins was a United States Marine Corps officer who was posthumously awarded the United States' highest military honor — the Medal of Honor — for heroic actions and sacrifice of life during the World War II Battle of Tarawa.-Early years:Hawkins was born on April 18, 1914...
, U.S. Marine awarded the Medal Of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
posthumously during World War II. - Adam LaRocheAdam LaRocheDavid Adam LaRoche , is a Major League Baseball first baseman. In 2011, the Washington Nationals signed him to a two-year deal...
- first baseman for the Washington NationalsWashington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium... - Andy LaRocheAndy LaRocheAndrew Christian LaRoche is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent....
- third baseman for the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. - David Perley LoweDavid Perley LoweDavid Perley Lowe was a Representative from Kansas.He graduated from the Cincinnati Law College in 1851 and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. He moved to Mound City, Kansas in 1861 and continued the practice of law...
- KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
Judge - Elmer Verner McCollum - biochemist, discoverer of vitamin AVitamin AVitamin A is a vitamin that is needed by the retina of the eye in the form of a specific metabolite, the light-absorbing molecule retinal, that is necessary for both low-light and color vision...
- Gordon ParksGordon ParksGordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks was a groundbreaking American photographer, musician, poet, novelist, journalist, activist and film director...
, photographer, author, filmmaker and composer