McPherson

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, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, McPherson County was founded. McPherson was founded in 1870 by the twelve members of the McPherson Town Company. In 1887, city officials began a failed attempt to have the community named the state capital. The first post office in McPherson was established in 1873. McPherson was incorporated as a city in 1874. As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion and McPherson counties chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company. In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson. In 1880 it was extended to Lyons and in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood. The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion was abandoned in 1968. In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase and Ellinwood. In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through McPherson to Pratt. In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. It foreclosed in 1891 and taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The community is located on U.S. Route 56, just west of Interstate 135. McPherson is part of the Little Arkansas River Watershed that ultimately empties into the Arkansas River in Wichita. Dry Turkey Creek is a wet weather stream that composes several enhanced lakes within the city limits. It feeds the Lakeside Park Lagoon before crossing under East Euclid Street and Kansas Avenue, where it then forms Wall Park Lake. South and west of town are four units of the reclaimed McPherson Valley Wetlands, acquired and managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Ducks Unlimited, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prior to 1880, this natural wetlands was an important waterfowl and wildlife habitat second only to Cheyenne Bottoms in importance to migratory bird populations. These wetlands continue to see improvement and development. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, McPherson has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  730
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  698
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  658
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  627
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  564
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  535
• Killdeer

  Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  487
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  482

Largest nearby schools

• McPherson High
  High · McPherson · 709 students · 13.9:1 ratio
• McPherson Middle School
  Middle · McPherson · 492 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• Washington Elem
  Elementary · McPherson · 285 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• Roosevelt Elem
  Elementary · McPherson · 266 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• Eisenhower Elementary
  Elementary · McPherson · 265 students · 13.3:1 ratio
• Lincoln Elem
  Elementary · McPherson · 253 students · 12:1 ratio
• Canton-Galva Elementary
  Elementary · Galva · 204 students · 13.6:1 ratio