ZIP Code 66503

Manhattan is a city and county seat of Riley County, Kansas, although the city extends into Pottawatomie County. It is located in northeastern Kansas at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. The city was founded by settlers from the New England Emigrant Aid Company as a Free-State town in the 1850s, during the Bleeding Kansas era. Manhattan is the home of Kansas State University and has a distinct college town atmosphere. Before settlement by European-Americans, the land around Manhattan was home to Native American tribes, also known as the Kansa. The Kaw tribe ceded ownership of this land in a treaty signed at the Shawnee Methodist Mission on January 14, 1846. It was named Blue Earth Village (Manyinkatuhuudje), named after the river which the tribe had named the Great Blue Earth River, which intersected with the Kansas river by their village. In 1854, George S. Park founded the first Euro-American settlement within the borders of the current Manhattan, named Polistra (some histories refer to it as Poliska or Poleska) later that year, Samuel D. Houston and three other pioneers founded Canton, a neighboring community near the mouth of the Big Blue river. Neither Canton nor PolistRA ever grew beyond their original founders. Manhattan was incorporated on May 30, 1857, and was named after New York City's "Big Apple" in 1855. In 1863, the first public college in Kansas was created under the nation's land-grant system.

History

Before European-Americans in the 1850s, the land around Manhattan was home to Native American tribes. The Kaw tribe ceded ownership of this land in a treaty signed at the Shawnee Methodist Mission on January 14, 1846. The KansasNebraska Act opened the territory to settlement by U.S. citizens in 1854. In 2011, Forbes magazine rated Manhattan as one of the best places in America to retire. The town received the All-America Award in 1952, and was the first in Kansas to receive the award in the 21st century. The city's first newspaper, The Kansas Express, began publishing on May 21, 1859. In 1861, when the State of Kansas entered the Union, Isaac Goodnow, who had been a teacher in Rhode Island, began lobbying the legislature to convert Manhattan's Blue Mont Central College into the state university. When the college began its first session on September 2, 1863, it was only the second public institution of higher learning to admit women and men equally in the United States. By the time the Kansas Pacific Railroad laid its tracks through Manhattan in 1866, the 11-year-old settlement was permanently ensconced in the tallgrass prairie. Manhattan was staunchly Free-State, and it elected the only two Free- state legislators to the first Territorial Legislature, commonly called the "Bogus Legislature" The town's population has grown every decade since its founding, and in the 20th century it was the No. 1 place to retire for young people.

Geography

Manhattan is in the Flint Hills region of Kansas, which consists of rolling hills covered in tall grasses. The city has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), typically experiencing hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. On average, Manhattan receives 35.7 inches (907 mm) of precipitation annually, a majority of which occurs from May to August, and records 102 days of measurable precipitation. The 1867 Manhattan earthquake was the strongest earthquake to originate in Kansas, at an intensity of VII (Very strong) on the Mercalli intensity scale, and felt across roughly 193,051 square miles (500,000 km²) It caused largely minor damage, reports of which were confined to Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri. The most destructive tornado in Manhattan's history was the No. 11 tornado on June 8, 1966, which caused $5.5 million in damage at Kansas State University's Erosion Laboratory's garage and damaged a number of university buildings. The state of Kansas falls within an area sometimes called Tornado Alley, which is sometimes called Manhattan's Tornado Alley. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city's population at 2,715. The population of Manhattan in 2010 was 2,816. The United States Geological Survey estimates Manhattan's population in 2010 at 1,716. Manhattan is located at coordinates 39.1836082, -96.5716694, about 50 miles (80 km) west of Topeka on the Kansas River.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 52,281 people, 20,008 households, and 9,466 families residing in the city. The population was spread out, with 15.3% of residents under the age of 18; 39.1% between the ages of 18 and 24; 24% from 25 to 44; 14.2% from 45 to 64; and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median income for a household was $30,463, and the median Income for a family was $48,289. Manhattan is the principal city of the Manhattan-Junction City, Kansas Combined Statistical Area which, as of 2014, had an estimated population of 134,804, making it the fourth largest urban area in Kansas. The city is home to the University of Kansas, which has one of the largest student populations in the state. Manhattan has a population of 98,091, and is the largest city in the Kansas City metropolitan area, with a population in excess of 100,000. It is the only city in Kansas with a large percentage of college students, as well as a large number of high school students. Manhattan's population is expected to grow over the next few years, with the city expected to become a major college destination in the coming years. It has a high percentage of students with bachelor's and master's degrees, and a high proportion of college grads. It also has a large population of young adults, with more than a third of the population aged 18 to 24 years old.

Economy

Manhattan's economy is heavily based on the public sector. Kansas State University is the largest employer in town. The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) is scheduled to open in 2022. The former Dickinson Theatres chain began in Manhattan in 1920, and grew to operate in seven states before it was purchased in 2014. The Steel & Pipe Supply Co. began inhattan in 1933, with corporate headquarters in the city. Tallgrass Brewing Co was the largest brewery in Kansas until it ceased operations in 2018. Manufacturing and commercial businesses include: GTM Sportswear, Florence Corporation, Manko Windows, Parker Hannifin, the McCall Pattern Company, Ultra Electronics-ICE, and Farrar Corporation. The NBAF will be a federal lab to research biological threats involving human, zoonotic (i.e., transmitted from animals to humans) and foreign animal diseases. It is expected to employ between 250 and 350 people, including researchers, technical support and operations specialists. The city's largest employer is the city school district, followed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, which has 150 employees in a new office building in Manhattan, next to the NBAF. Large private sector employers in Manhattan include the Ascension Via Christi Hospitals, CivicPlus, and Farm Bureau. Manhattan also features a small industrial base, with a number of manufacturing and commercial companies based in the area. The city has a population of approximately 2,000,000.

Government

Manhattan is governed under a council-manager system, with a five-member City Commission. The highest vote winner in a general election is established to serve as mayor on the third year of a four-year term. The Mayor presides over Commission meetings, but has the same voting rights as other Commissioners and no veto power. Most of Manhattan falls within two districts for the Kansas House of Representatives. Manhattan is the Kansas Senate District 22, and the state senator is Democrat Tom Hawk. A majority of voters in Riley County never supported a Democratic candidate for president, until Joe Biden won the county in the 2020 election. Manhattan was moved from the 2nd District to the 1st District during redistricting in 2012. Manhattan had been placed originally in the 1th District when the state was subdivided in 1874. John Alexander Anderson of Manhattan served as the district's second Congressional representative, from 1879 to 1885. Manhattan is located in Kansas's 1st congressional district, which is represented by Republican Tracey Mann. Small portions of Manhattan extend into other districts to the south and north. The city is located inside several state district boundaries, including District 66 and District 67, which includes portions of south, west, and northern Riley County. As of 2022, Linda Morse serves as the city's mayor and will serve until the end of her current term in 2022. The city has a population of around 2,000 people, with the majority of the population living in the central part of the city.

Education

Kansas State University is the largest employer and educational institution in the city of Manhattan. Manhattan is home to Manhattan Christian College, Manhattan Area Technical College, and the American Institute of Baking. Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 public school district has one public high school with two campuses. Manhattan Catholic School contains two buildings, the grade school building (K-5)and the Luckey Jr. High building (68) The school's mascot is "Luckey the Cardinal". The city also has two private school systems: Flint Hills Christian School (Preschool 12th grade) and the Manhattan Catholic Schools. The city has eight elementary schools (Amanda Arnold, Frank V. Bergman, Bluemont, Lee, Marlatt, Northview, Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson) and two middle schools (Susan B. Anthony and Dwight D. Eisenhower), and two private schools (Flint Hills Christian and Manhattan Catholic). Manhattan also has a high school (Manhattan High School) and a middle school (Marlatt High School). The city's high school has two campuses, one of which is dedicated to Monsignor Luckey, the former headmaster of Manhattan Catholic. The high school is located on the former site of the former Luckey High School in Manhattan, Kansas. The school is now a part of the University of Kansas, which has a campus on the other side of the street. Manhattan has a number of colleges and universities, including Kansas State University and the Kansas Building Science Institute. It has a population of nearly 24,000 people.

Sites of interest

Manhattan's Sunset Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Colbert Hills Golf Course, which is annually ranked by Golf Digest among the best in the state, is home to the Earl Woods National Youth Golf Academy and a host site for The First Tee program. Manhattan is the birthplace of Damon Runyon, the "Inventor of Broadway", and his Manhattan house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The first capitol of the Kansas Territory is preserved nearby, on Fort Riley grounds. The Fort Riley military base covers 100,656 acres (407.34 km²) between Manhattan and Junction City, KS. Since 2006 it has, once again, becomeHome to the Big Red One, the 1st Infantry Division of the United States. The Flint Hills Discovery Center, a heritage and science center dedicated to the education and preservation of the Flint Hills and the remaining tall grass prairie, is based in Manhattan. The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art and the Kansas State University Gardens are on the campus ofKansas State University. Next to the campus is Aggieville with shopping and bars. The buildings for The Flint Hill Job Corps Training Center west of the city were once used as a nursing home and orphanage operated by the Fraternal Order of Odd Fellows. The city is the largest municipality in the Flint Hill region. It is also home to a number of museums, including the Kansas Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History.

Culture

Aggieville is a center of shopping and nightlife with many stores, bars, and live bands. Kansas State University's school sessions greatly impact Manhattan culture. Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art hosts the university's permanent art collection and traveling art exhibits. Manhattan was rated by CNN Money as one of the top ten places to retire young. The Manhattan Town Center Mall is an anchor for shopping, art, fine dining, and entertainment in eastern Manhattan. It is located in the heart of Manhattan's downtown area, near the University of Kansas campus and the Kansas City Royals stadium. It also has a large number of bars, restaurants, and other nightlife venues. It was named one of CNN Money's top ten cities to retire in in the United States in 2010. The city is home to the Kansas State Wildcats football team and the Manhattan High School football team, which has a history of winning several state championships. It has also been known to host national events such as the Super Bowl and the Superbowl XLVIII halftime show, as well as other major sporting events like the Women's Basketball Championship and the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. It's also home to a number of museums and galleries, including the New York City Museum of Modern Art and the New Jersey Museum of Contemporary Art, which hosts traveling exhibits and permanent art collections. The New Jersey Turnpike is a major thoroughfare for the Manhattan area, with many shopping and dining options, including a large shopping mall and a variety of restaurants.

Transportation

Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK) is the second busiest commercial airport in Kansas. Passenger rail service to Manhattan began on August 20, 1866, on the Kansas Pacific Railroad line. I-70 / US-40 runs about 9 miles (14 km) south of Manhattan. US-24 comes in from Clay Center, runs north of the city, and travels south into the city as Tuttle Creek Boulevard until an intersection with East Poyntz Avenue, and then turns northeast towards Wamego. K-113 (Seth Child Road) runs from K-18 in southern Manhattan toUS-24, passing through the western areas of the City. The city operated a streetcar system from 1909 to 1928. The trolley tracks were torn up and replaced by bus service in 1928, which was later also discontinued. In 2009, the Manhattan, Kansas, metropolitan statistical area (MSA) ranked as the fifth highest in the United States for percentage of commuters who walked to work (8.5 percent) The nearest larger commercial airports are in Kansas City (MCI) and Wichita, Kansas (ICT). With the creation of Route 40 in 1935, the highway diverged west into "40N" routes; the two routes met again in the 1950s. In 1956 it was designated as Interstate 70 and became a more direct line between Topeka and Junction City, and in 2009 it was rerouted nine miles south. The former railroad right-of-way was converted to Manhattan's main southern east-west arterial road, Fort Riley Boulevard.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas = 85. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 40. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 90. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Manhattan = 4.4 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 55,045 individuals with a median age of 30.8 age the population grows by 10.60% in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,700 residents per square mile of area (1,000/km²). There are average 2.46 people per household in the 1,470 households with an average household income of $48,829 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 2.40% of the available work force and has growths 14.53% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 66.56%. The number of physicians in Manhattan per 100,000 population = 201.7.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Manhattan = 33.3 inches and the annual snowfall = 18.4 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 88. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 221. 92 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 18 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 28, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas which are owned by the occupant = 71.89%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 22 years with median home cost = $85,240 and home appreciation of -0.66%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $13.07 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $6,031 per student. There are 10.3 students for each teacher in the school, 245 students for each Librarian and 555 students for each Counselor. 7.42% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 19.44% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 13.94% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).