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Independence, Kansas Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Independence, Kansas is a small city located in the southeastern part of the state. It sits at an elevation of 1,293 feet above sea level and has a population of about 3,800 people. The average temperature for the area is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and 25 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.

The history of Independence began in 1869 when it was founded as a trading post for buffalo hunters. In 1873 it became an official town and was incorporated in 1876. It quickly grew to become one of the most important towns on the Santa Fe Trail, with several trading posts and other businesses springing up around it. During its heyday, Independence was known for its many saloons and gambling halls that attracted cowboys from all over the region.

Politically, Independence leans strongly to the right with most residents voting Republican in recent elections. The economy of Independence is largely based on agriculture, with corn being one of its main crops. There are also some small manufacturing businesses located around town as well as some retail stores and restaurants.

The school district consists of three schools: an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. All three schools offer quality education to their students and have various extracurricular activities such as sports teams and clubs available to them.

Some notable landmarks around Independence include historic buildings such as the courthouse built in 1884 which houses many artifacts from Independence’s past; Fort Scott National Historic Site which commemorates Fort Scott’s role during America’s westward expansion; Santa Fe Trail Historic Site which preserves many artifacts from this iconic trail; and Little House on the Prairie Museum which houses artifacts from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic book series about pioneer life on America’s western frontier.

Population: 9,846. Estimated population in July 2024: 9,284 (-5.7% change)
Males: 4,661 (47.3%), Females: 5,185 (52.7%)

Montgomery County

Zip code: 67301

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.4 years
Median household income: $29,574
Median house value: $49,000

Population by Race

Races in Independence:

  • White Non-Hispanic (84.9%)
  • Black (7.2%)
  • Hispanic (3.8%)
  • Two or more races (2.9%)
  • American Indian (2.8%)
  • Other race (1.1%)

Ancestries: German (18.6%), Irish (13.5%), English (12.4%), United States (10.8%), French (3.8%), Scottish (3.1%).

Elevation: 826 feet

Land area: 5.0 square miles

Map of Independence, KS

Population by Education

Independence, Kansas is a small town of about 3,500 people located in Montgomery County. The city is home to a diverse population, with the majority of residents being white (77.7%), followed by African American (13.1%), Hispanic (4.9%), Asian (2.2%) and other races/ethnicities making up the remaining 2%. The median age in this town is 41 years old, with 19.3% of the population under 18 and 15% over 65 years old. The median household income for Independence is $44,732 per year, which is slightly lower than the national average of $55,322 per year. In terms of education attainment, 32% of adults over 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher while 11% have less than a high school diploma. The top industries for employment are healthcare and social assistance (17%), retail trade (14%), manufacturing (13%) and educational services (10%). Finally, the cost of living in Independence is around 10 percent lower than the national average due to its rural setting and low housing costs compared to other cities in Kansas.

For population 25 years and over in Independence

  • High school or higher: 82.8%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.0%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 6.9%
  • Unemployed: 4.7%
  • Mean travel time to work: 12.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Independence city

  • Never married: 21.2%
  • Now married: 54.9%
  • Separated: 1.6%
  • Widowed: 9.0%
  • Divorced: 13.3%

0.8% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -236 (-2.3%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Independence:

  • MERCY HOSPITAL INDEPENDENCE (800 W MYRTLE ST)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Independence:

  • WILSON COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 14 miles; NEODESHA, KS)
  • COFFEYVILLE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 15 miles; COFFEYVILLE, KS)
  • FREDONIA REGIONAL HOSPITAL (about 24 miles; FREDONIA, KS)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Independence:

  • TULSA INTL (about 73 miles; TULSA, OK; Abbreviation: TUL)
  • JOPLIN REGIONAL (about 86 miles; JOPLIN, MO; Abbreviation: JLN)
  • MC CONNELL AFB (about 111 miles; WICHITA, KS; Abbreviation: IAB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Independence:

  • INDEPENDENCE MUNI (about 7 miles; INDEPENDENCE, KS; Abbreviation: IDP)
  • COFFEYVILLE MUNI (about 15 miles; COFFEYVILLE, KS; Abbreviation: CFV)
  • NEODESHA MUNI (about 16 miles; NEODESHA, KS; Abbreviation: 2K7)

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Independence:

  • INDEPENDENCE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 700; Location: BROOKSIDE DR AND COL AVE; Public; Website: www.indy.cc.ks.us)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Independence:

  • PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY (about 71 miles; PITTSBURG, KS; Full-time enrollment: 5,566)
  • UNIVERSITY OF TULSA (about 77 miles; TULSA, OK; Full-time enrollment: 3,760)
  • TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 79 miles; TULSA, OK; Full-time enrollment: 8,727)
  • ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY (about 83 miles; TULSA, OK; Full-time enrollment: 3,309)
  • MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE COLLEGE (about 85 miles; JOPLIN, MO; Full-time enrollment: 4,569)
  • EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 88 miles; EMPORIA, KS; Full-time enrollment: 4,528)
  • BUTLER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 89 miles; EL DORADO, KS; Full-time enrollment: 4,250)

Schools

Public high school in Independence:

  • INDEPENDENCE SR HIGH (Students: 699; Location: 1301 N 10TH; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Independence:

  • INDEPENDENCE BIBLE SCHOOL (Students: 135; Location: 2200 S 10TH ST RD; Grades: PK – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Independence:

  • INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE (Students: 459; Location: 300 W LOCUST; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • EISENHOWER ELEM (Students: 441; Location: 501 SPRUCE; Grades: KG – 02)
  • LINCOLN ELEM (Students: 297; Location: 701 W LAUREL; Grades: 03 – 04)
  • WASHINGTON ELEM (Students: 138; Location: 300 E MYRTLE; Grades: 05 – 05)

Private primary/middle schools in Independence:

  • ST ANDREW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 135; Location: 215 NORTH PARK; Grades: PK – 8)
  • ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 115; Location: 301 S 11TH; Grades: PK – 8)

Libraries

Library in Independence:

  • INDEPENDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $213,158; Location: 220 E. MAPLE; 57,182 books; 855 audio materials; 1,686 video materials; 115 serial subscriptions)

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