Potwin

History

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Butler County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Potwin. Potwin was incorporated as a town on April 8, 1885. This land, owned by Charles Potwin, whereby the town received its name, became a station for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, instigated by William I. Joseph, known as the Father of Potwin. Joseph came from West Virginia and, as more settlers arrived, became interested in a railroad to serve the area. After much diligent pursuit, the station was built and Joseph, a land agent for Charles Potwin, began development of a town site around the Potwin station. He opened a land office where the Potwin grocery now stands. It quickly grew, including some businesses and houses from nearby community of Plum Grove. During half of the twentieth century, Potwin enjoyed the prosperity of oil fields in the Mid-Continent oil province. In 1920, John (Jack) Vickers (1891–1940) built the Vickers Oil Refinery in Potwin. He got his start in oil fields in Butler County, commencing with the lease on the Parris Farm 10 miles north of Potwin, production reached 16,000 barrels a day…

Geography

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, Potwin has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,048
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  1,714
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,712
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,644
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,540
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,399
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  1,369
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,233