Elkhart

History

Elkhart was founded in 1913, and was named after Elkhart, Indiana. Elkhart grew up along the tracks of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which came in from Dodge City. Elkhart was also the starting point of the Elkhart and Santa Fe Railway. The latter line, both leased to and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Santa Fe railway, was built in 1925 to Felt, Oklahoma, and extended into New Mexico in 1932; but, was abandoned in 1942. In 1961, the county seat was moved from Richfield to Elkhart.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Elkhart has a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) characterized by generally dry winters with extreme temperature variations, and hot summers with occasional heavy precipitation from thunder showers or storms. During winter, because western Kansas lies both on the edge of the subtropical anticyclones and in the rain shadow of westerly winds crossing the Rocky Mountains, the region is generally dry: no measurable precipitation fell in Elkhart between 25 December 1903 and 2 April 1904, while monthly precipitation above has never been recorded during January and is observed fewer than one year in ten during November, December or February. Temperatures can vary greatly during this season: strong chinook winds can drive temperatures above even in the depth of winter, with reached on average during six days between December and February, seven during November and eight during March. Nevertheless, cold outbreaks from Canada drive temperatures to or below on an average of 3.6 nights per winter. The coldest temperature recorded in Elkhart has been on January 19, 1984, while the hottest winter temperature has been on February 1, 1963. Snowfall is generally light due to dryness; however in the extremely wet and cold February 1903, fell, being the major factor behind a record seasonal snowfall of between July 1902 and June 1903. In contrast, only a trace of snow was recorded between July 1949 and January 1950. In the summer, the climate is generally very hot with relief from thunderstorms that provide most of the of precipitation expected during one year. When an upper level anticyclone moves poleward, the atmosphere can become very stable and produce sustained extreme heat: in the…

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Kansas Connections Academy
  Other · Elkhart · 1,251 students · 33.8:1 ratio
• Elkhart Elem
  Elementary · Elkhart · 155 students · 11.1:1 ratio
• Elkhart Middle School
  Middle · Elkhart · 120 students · 13.3:1 ratio
• Elkhart High
  High · Elkhart · 112 students · 14:1 ratio
• Point Rock Alternative
  High · Elkhart · 30 students