Holcomb is a city in
Finney CountyFinney County is a county located in Southwest Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was estimated to be 40,998 in the year 2008...
,
KansasKansas is a 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 tribe, who inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south wind," although this was...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,026 at the 2000 census.
Holcomb is known for the Clutter family murder and subsequent
Truman CapoteTruman Garcia Capote , born Truman Streckfus Persons, was an American writer, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel"...
novel
In Cold BloodIn Cold Blood is a 1966 book by Truman Capote.In Cold Blood may also refer to:* In Cold Blood , a 1967 film and 1996 miniseries, both based on the book* In Cold Blood , an album by Malevolent Creation...
.
Geography
Holcomb is located at (37.983934, -100.985996).
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.0 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 2,026 people, 592 households, and 515 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 1,730.1 people per square mile (668.6/km²). There were 608 housing units at an average density of 519.2/sq mi (200.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.80% White, 1.09% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 13.28% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.43% of the population.
There were 592 households out of which 65.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.0% were non-families. 10.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.42 and the average family size was 3.62.
In the city the population was spread out with 41.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 14.8% from 45 to 64, and 2.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,115, and the median income for a family was $48,587. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $22,652 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $14,264. About 7.6% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 26.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notoriety
The town of Holcomb was thrust into national headlines on November 15, 1959, when four members of the prominent Clutter family—Herbert, 48; his wife Bonnie, 45; daughter Nancy, 16; and son Kenyon, 15—were found bound and shot to death in various rooms of their River Valley Farm house on the outskirts of Holcomb.
Two ex-convicts,
Richard ("Dick") Eugene HickockRichard "Dick" Eugene Hickock was one of two ex-convicts who murdered the four members of the Herbert Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas on November 15, 1959, a crime made famous by Truman Capote in his 1966 non-fiction novel In Cold Blood...
and
Perry Edward SmithPerry Edward Smith was one of two ex-convicts who murdered four members of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, United States on November 15, 1959, a crime made famous by Truman Capote in his 1966 non-fiction novel In Cold Blood.-Family and early life:Perry Edward Smith was born in Huntington,...
, were soon arrested, questioned, confessed, then tried, and convicted of the killings. It started when both Hickock and Smith were released from prison and acting on jailhouse information by a fellow cellmate named Floyd Wells (who had once worked for Mr. Clutter), made plans to rob the Clutter household under the mistaken belief that Mr. Clutter kept thousands of dollars in cash in a safe at the residence. There was no Clutter safe, nor any substantial amount of cash in the home. Upon this discovery, and after killing the captive family to eliminate any witnesses, the pair fled with around $42, a portable radio, and one pair of binoculars. They were arrested 6 weeks later in
Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, fine dining, and entertainment. Las Vegas, which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of...
. Following their convictions and after several appeals, both Hickock and Smith were hanged for their
crimes on April 14, 1965.
The shocking murders, arrests and convictions of both Hickock and Smith were the basis for author
Truman CapoteTruman Garcia Capote , born Truman Streckfus Persons, was an American writer, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel"...
's acclaimed book,
In Cold BloodIn Cold Blood is a 1966 book by American author Truman Capote.The book details the brutal 1959 murders of Herbert Clutter, a wealthy farmer from Holcomb, Kansas, and his wife and two of their children. When Capote learned of the quadruple murder before the killers were captured, he decided to...
, which was serialized in
The New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry published by Condé Nast Publications...
magazine in 1965 and first published in book form in 1966. Capote actually began work on the book several days after he read a news article in a New York paper in 1959 about the murders.
The best-selling book, in turn, spawned several filmed versions of the compelling story: director
Richard BrooksRichard Brooks was an American screenwriter, director, novelist and occasional producer.-Early life and Career:...
' theatrical feature film
In Cold BloodIn Cold Blood is a film based on Truman Capote's book of the same name. Richard Brooks prepared the adaptation and directed the film. Some scenes were filmed on the locations of the original events, in Garden City and Holcomb, Kansas including the Clutter residence, the site of the murders...
in 1967 starring
Robert BlakeRobert Blake is an Italian-American actor who starred in the film In Cold Blood and the U.S. television series Baretta...
,
Scott WilsonScott Wilson is an American actor.-Movies:He has performed in many movies including In the Heat of the Night, In Cold Blood, The Gypsy Moths,The Great Gatsby, The Right Stuff, Dead Man Walking, The Grass Harp, Junebug, The Host and Monster...
and
John ForsytheJohn Forsythe is an American stage, television and film actor. Forsythe starred in three television series, spanning three decades, as single playboy father Bentley Gregg in the 1950s sitcom Bachelor Father ; as the unseen millionaire Charles Townsend on the 1970s crime drama Charlie's Angels ,...
, and a two-part made-for-television movie starring
Eric RobertsEric Anthony Roberts is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies , earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case...
,
Anthony EdwardsAnthony Charles Edwards is an American actor and director. He has appeared in various movies and television shows, including Top Gun, Zodiac, Revenge of the Nerds, Northern Exposure and ER.-Early life:...
and
Sam NeillNigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill, DCNZM, OBE is a New Zealand actor who was born in Northern Ireland.He has had a number of high-profile roles including: the lead in Reilly, Ace of Spies, the adult Damien in Omen III: The Final Conflict, Merlin in the miniseries Merlin, the executive officer, Capt...
that aired on network TV in 1996. Portions of the 1967 theatrical film were shot on location in and around Holcomb and nearby
Garden CityGarden City is a city in Finney County, Kansas, United States. The population was 28,451 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Finney County, and provides the campus of Garden City Community College. It is home to Lee Richardson Zoo, the largest zoological facility in western Kansas...
, including the actual Clutter house where the crimes occurred. The 2005 movie
CapoteCapote is a 2005 biographical film about Truman Capote, following the events during the writing of Capote's non-fiction book In Cold Blood. Philip Seymour Hoffman won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his critically acclaimed portrayal of the title role. The movie...
, directed by Bennett Miller, is also about the author Truman Capote, and provides great insight into Mr. Capote, his writing, and the crimes in Holcomb.
Philip Seymour HoffmanPhilip Seymour Hoffman is an American stage and film actor and director.Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year began appearing in films. His work in a diverse range of supporting films roles brought him recognition over the following decade. This recognition helped...
received an
OscarThe Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are presented annually by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is...
for Best Actor in March 2006 for his portrayal of author Truman Capote in the movie. The film
InfamousInfamous is a 2006 American drama film written and directed by Douglas McGrath. The screenplay, based on the 1997 book Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career by George Plimpton, covers the period from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s...
covers much of the same ground.
Education
The city is served by Holcomb Unified School District Number 363.
http://users.pld.com/holcomb/
Residents are zoned to either Holcomb Elementary School (grades 4-5) or Wiley Elementary School (Preschool-3).
All residents are zoned to Holcomb Middle School and Holcomb High School.
External links