Early History of Halstead
by Frank W. Blackmar (1912)
Halstead, one of the thriving little cities of Harvey county, is located on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. and Little Arkansas river 10 miles west of Newton, the county seat. It has a bank, telegraph and express offices, and a weekly newspaper (the Independent). It is an important grain and live stock market and has all lines of mercantile establishments. All the leading denominations of churches and secret orders are represented. According to the census of 1910 the population is 1,004.
The country about Haistead was settled by Germans in 1872, and in the summer of that year an attempt was made to establish a town. A site was laid off by John Sebastian, a representative of the railroad company. In the autumn a town company was formed, with H. D. ALbright as president, and in the spring of the next year the town was laid out. A postoffice was established about the same time, with George W. Sweesy as postmaster. It was made a money order postoffice in 1877. The first religious services were held in the Sweesy house in the spring of 1873.
The first marriage was between O. Y. Hart and Mary J. Collier, in 1873, the first birth was a child of David Eckert in 1874, and the first death, which occurred the same year, was that of John Ashford, who "died with his boots on." A school house was built in the winter of 1873-74, and the first school teacher was Laura Belle Walker. The first newspaper was the Zurheimath, published in the German language, the initial number of which was issued on June 6, 1876, by the Western Publishing company, with David Goerz as editor. The first number of the Independent was issued in 1881.
Halstead was incorporated as a city of the third class in 1877 and the election for officers was held in March of that year. The officers chosen were: Mayor, H. H. McAdams; police judge, James Ryan; councilmen, C. S. Brown, O. Y. Hart, John Lehman, J. E. Ruthand and M. S. Ingalls. Those appointed were: Clerk, G. E. Terry; treasurer, W. M. Tibbot; marshal, W. C. Hinkle. In the latter '70s and in the early '80s Halstead enjoyed a substantial growth. Large mills and elevators were built, and business enterprises, including the Bank of Halstead, with a capital of $100,000, were organized on a large scale.
Geography
Halstead is located at 38°0'4N, 97°30'30W (38.001036, -97.508239). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.4 km² (1.3 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,873 people, 760 households, and 528 families residing in the city. The population density was 556.3/km² (1,438.1/mi²). There were 849 housing units at an average density of 252.2/km² (651.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.74% White, 0.21% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.19% of the population.
There were 760 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,411, and the median income for a family was $51,458. Males had a median income of $33,239 versus $22,554 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,252. About 2.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Famous Halsteaders
Jim Roper, NASCAR driver
Adolph Rupp, NCAA basketball coach
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