Luray, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Luray is a city in Russell County
, Kansas
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 194.
region of the Great Plains
approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) north of the Saline River
. Wolf Creek, a tributary of the Saline, flows east along the southern edge of the city. Coon Creek, a tributary of Wolf Creek, flows southeast along the eastern edge of the city. Located at the junction of U.S. Route 281
and Kansas Highway 18 (K-18)
in north-central Kansas, Luray is 118 miles (189.9 km) northwest of Wichita
, 218 miles (350.8 km) west of Kansas City
, and 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Russell
, the county seat
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
was 646.7 people per square mile (249.7/km²). There were 134 housing units at an average density of 446.7 per square mile (167.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.9% White
and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 94 households out of which 17.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples
living together, 1.1% had a male householder with no wife present, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06, and the average family size was 2.48.
In the city, the population was spread out with 14.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 17.5% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 29.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 100 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the city was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $35,833 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $25,644. About 3.1% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
form of government. The city council
consists of five members, and it meets on the first Wednesday of each month.
299, based in Sylvan Grove, Kansas
.
runs east-west along the northern edge of the city. U.S. Route 281
, a north-south route, approaches Luray from the west concurrently with K-18, then turns north. Bunker Hill-Luray Road, a paved north-south county road, enters the city from the south.
. It includes a parade, an art show, golf and horseshoe tournaments, free barbecue
, and homemade ice cream. Annually since 1938, a local Methodist church has held another community event, the Luray Methodist Men's Fish Fry, on the third Friday evening of each March. Men from the church prepare and serve fried fish with trimmings and cherry pie, typically attracting hundreds from the surrounding area.
constructed in Russell County, built in 1871 by settler Jonathan Van Scoyoc, has been preserved in Luray City Park on the north side of K-18.
Schools
Maps
Russell County, Kansas
Russell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 6,970 for the 2010 census...
, 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...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 194.
Geography
Luray is located at 39°6′50"N 98°41′29"W (39.114003, -98.691413) at an elevation of 1,562 feet (476 m). It lies in the Smoky HillsSmoky Hills
The Smoky Hills are an upland region of hills in the central Great Plains of North America. They are located in the central United States, encompassing north-central Kansas and a small portion of south-central Nebraska. The hills are a dissected plain covered by tallgrass and mixed-grass prairie...
region of the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) north of the Saline River
Saline River (Kansas)
The Saline River is a tributary of the Smoky Hill River in the central Great Plains of North America. The entire length of the river lies in the U.S. state of Kansas. The river takes its name from the French translation of its Native name Ne Miskua, referring to its salty content.-Geography:The...
. Wolf Creek, a tributary of the Saline, flows east along the southern edge of the city. Coon Creek, a tributary of Wolf Creek, flows southeast along the eastern edge of the city. Located at the junction of U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281 is a north–south United States highway. At 1,872 miles long it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route....
and Kansas Highway 18 (K-18)
K-18 (Kansas highway)
K-18 is a primarily east–west state highway running between US-24 and I-70 in north central Kansas.-Route description:K-18 begins near the town of Bogue in Graham County as it branches off to the south from US-24...
in north-central Kansas, Luray is 118 miles (189.9 km) northwest 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...
, 218 miles (350.8 km) west 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 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Russell
Russell, Kansas
Russell is the most populous city in and county seat of Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,506.-History:...
, the county seat
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....
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The 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...
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 194 people, 94 households, and 61 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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 646.7 people per square mile (249.7/km²). There were 134 housing units at an average density of 446.7 per square mile (167.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.9% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 94 households out of which 17.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% 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, 1.1% had a male householder with no wife present, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06, and the average family size was 2.48.
In the city, the population was spread out with 14.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 17.5% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 29.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 100 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the city was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $35,833 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 $25,644. About 3.1% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Luray is a city of the third class with a mayor-councilMayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
form of government. The city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consists of five members, and it meets on the first Wednesday of each month.
Education
Luray lies within Unified School District (USD)Unified school district
A unified school district or unit school district is a school district which includes both primary school and high school under the same district control....
299, based in Sylvan Grove, Kansas
Sylvan Grove, Kansas
Sylvan Grove is a city in Lincoln County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 279.-Geography:Sylvan Grove is located at...
.
Transportation
K-18K-18 (Kansas highway)
K-18 is a primarily east–west state highway running between US-24 and I-70 in north central Kansas.-Route description:K-18 begins near the town of Bogue in Graham County as it branches off to the south from US-24...
runs east-west along the northern edge of the city. U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281 is a north–south United States highway. At 1,872 miles long it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route....
, a north-south route, approaches Luray from the west concurrently with K-18, then turns north. Bunker Hill-Luray Road, a paved north-south county road, enters the city from the south.
Events
The city of Luray holds an annual community festival, Friendship Day, on the first Saturday after Labor DayLabor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
. It includes a parade, an art show, golf and horseshoe tournaments, free barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
, and homemade ice cream. Annually since 1938, a local Methodist church has held another community event, the Luray Methodist Men's Fish Fry, on the third Friday evening of each March. Men from the church prepare and serve fried fish with trimmings and cherry pie, typically attracting hundreds from the surrounding area.
Points of interest
The first log cabinLog cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
constructed in Russell County, built in 1871 by settler Jonathan Van Scoyoc, has been preserved in Luray City Park on the north side of K-18.
External links
CitySchools
- USD 299, local school district
Maps
- Luray City Map, KDOT
- Russell County Map, KDOT