Marquette

History

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, and then in 1861, Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, McPherson County was founded. In 1873, what eventually would become Marquette began on the banks of the Smoky Hill River with a flour mill. The site was surveyed and on February 9, 1874, the town was chartered. It was settled by Swedish immigrants and Civil War veterans. It was named after Marquette, Michigan. Marquette was located on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. On the night of May 8–9, 1905, an F4 tornado destroyed much of the town, killing 34 people. Many homes in town were blown away and entire families were killed. On April 14, 2012, a large EF4 tornado would pass to the west of Marquette, sweeping a home away leaving an empty foundation and a small staircase, and there were no fatalities or injuries. Damage at this location would be the most severe near or in the small community of Langley.

Geography

Marquette is located in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas. The area is highlighted by outcrops of Cretaceous-era sandstone known as the Dakota Formation. Erosion of those strata has left hills and buttes which rise sharply about the surrounding plains. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Marquette has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  407
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  354
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  309
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  288
• Red-tailed Hawk

  Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  288
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  271
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  262
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  245