Cherokee, Kansas Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Cherokee, Kansas is a small, rural town located in southeast Kansas. The town was established in 1871 and has a population of just over 500 people. The town is home to several businesses, including a grocery store, pharmacy, restaurant, and small-town charm.

The town of Cherokee was named after the Cherokee Indians who once lived in the area and is located on the banks of the Neosho River. The river is an important resource to the residents of Cherokee as it provides them with fishing opportunities as well as recreational activities such as canoeing and kayaking.

Cherokee has a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1871 when it was first settled by homesteaders from Kentucky. The town quickly grew due to its convenient location on the Neosho River which allowed for easy access to transportation via steamboats. This made it possible for farmers to get their goods to market quickly and efficiently.

Today, Cherokee is still a small agricultural community with many of its citizens relying heavily on farming for their livelihoods. There are several grain elevators located throughout the area that are used by farmers to store their crops until they can be sold at market or shipped out elsewhere.

In addition to farming, there are also several other businesses located in Cherokee including a pharmacy, restaurant, grocery store, hardware store and more. These businesses provide much-needed services to the community and help keep local residents employed with good paying jobs.

The town also hosts several annual events such as “Cherokee Days” which celebrates local culture through music and food festivals as well as craft fairs featuring handmade items from local artisans. Additionally, every summer there is an antique tractor show held on Main Street that draws visitors from all over the state who come out to admire vintage farm equipment from days gone by.

All-in-all Cherokee is an idyllic rural community with plenty of charm and character that makes it stand out among other towns in the region. With its friendly inhabitants, great schools and abundance of outdoor activities nearby it’s no wonder why so many people call this place home.

Population: 722. Estimated population in July 2024: 718 (-0.6% change)
Males: 355 (49.2%), Females: 367 (50.8%)

Crawford County

Zip code: 66724

Demographics

Median resident age: 38.4 years
Median household income: $29,083
Median house value: $29,700

Population by Race

Races in Cherokee:

  • White Non-Hispanic (95.0%)
  • American Indian (3.7%)
  • Two or more races (3.2%)

Ancestries: German (16.6%), Irish (12.6%), Italian (12.6%), English (11.5%), United States (7.1%), Dutch (6.4%).

Elevation: 949 feet

Land area: 0.7 square miles

Map of Cherokee, KS

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Cherokee

  • High school or higher: 86.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.3%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 1.9%
  • Unemployed: 8.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 23.3 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Cherokee city

  • Never married: 18.3%
  • Now married: 52.0%
  • Separated: 2.2%
  • Widowed: 8.0%
  • Divorced: 19.5%

0.3% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +72 (+11.1%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Cherokee:

  • MT CARMEL MEDICAL CENTER (about 10 miles; PITTSBURG, KS)
  • HOSPITAL DISTRICT 1 CRAWFORD COUNTY (about 12 miles; GIRARD, KS)
  • ST JOHNS MAUDE NORTON MEMORIAL HOSP (about 13 miles; COLUMBUS, KS)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Cherokee:

  • JOPLIN REGIONAL (about 28 miles; JOPLIN, MO; Abbreviation: JLN)
  • NORTHWEST ARKANSAS RGNL (about 83 miles; FAYETTEVILLE/SPRINGDALE/, AR; Abbreviation: XNA)
  • SPRINGFIELD-BRANSON REGIONAL (about 100 miles; SPRINGFIELD, MO; Abbreviation: SGF)

Other public-use airports nearest to Cherokee:

  • ATKINSON MUNI (about 10 miles; PITTSBURG, KS; Abbreviation: PTS)
  • OSWEGO MUNI (about 20 miles; OSWEGO, KS; Abbreviation: K67)
  • FORT SCOTT MUNI (about 31 miles; FORT SCOTT, KS; Abbreviation: FSK)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Cherokee:

  • PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY (about 10 miles; PITTSBURG, KS; Full-time enrollment: 5,566)
  • MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE COLLEGE (about 29 miles; JOPLIN, MO; Full-time enrollment: 4,569)
  • NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 79 miles; BENTONVILLE, AR; Full-time enrollment: 2,197)
  • NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 99 miles; TAHLEQUAH, OK; Full-time enrollment: 6,610)
  • SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY (about 101 miles; BOLIVAR, MO; Full-time enrollment: 2,612)
  • UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS MAIN CAMPUS (about 102 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, AR; Full-time enrollment: 13,324)
  • OZARKS TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 103 miles; SPRINGFIELD, MO; Full-time enrollment: 3,756)

Schools

Public high school in Cherokee:

  • SOUTH EAST HIGH (Students: 278; Location: 126 W 400 HWY; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Cherokee:

  • CHEROKEE ELEM (Students: 278; Location: 206 W MAGNOLIA; Grades: KG – 08)