De Soto, Kansas

human settlement in Kansas, United States of America

De Soto /dəˈst/ is a city in Johnson and Leavenworth counties in the U.S. state of Kansas.[1] It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Most of the city, 11.13 square miles (28.8 km2), is in Johnson County. In 2020, 6,118 people lived there.[3]

De Soto, Kansas
De Soto City Hall (2022)
De Soto City Hall (2022)
Location within Johnson County and Kansas
Location within Johnson County and Kansas
KDOT map of Johnson County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°58′07″N 94°57′18″W / 38.96861°N 94.95500°W / 38.96861; -94.95500[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountiesJohnson, Leavenworth
TownshipsLexington, Sherman
Founded1828
Platted1857
IncorporatedOctober 1, 1897
Named forHernando de Soto
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
Area
 • Total11.45 sq mi (29.66 km2)
 • Land11.26 sq mi (29.15 km2)
 • Water0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2)
Elevation853 ft (260 m)
Population
 • Total6,118
 • Density530/sq mi (210/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
66018, 66019, 66025, 66061
Area code913
FIPS code20-17850
GNIS ID485562[1]
Websitedesotoks.us

History change

De Soto was platted in spring 1857. It was named after sixteenth-century Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto.[4]

Geography change

De Soto is in northwestern Johnson County and southern Leavenworth County at 38°58′45″N 94°58′7″W / 38.97917°N 94.96861°W / 38.97917; -94.96861 (38.9791709, -94.9685783).[1] It is along Kansas River.[5] The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 11.45 square miles (29.66 km2). Of that, 11.25 square miles (29.15 km2) are land and 0.20 square miles (0.51 km2), or 1.7%, are water.[2]

People change

Historical population
Census Pop.
186035
1870102191.4%
188014138.2%
189022358.2%
19002261.3%
19102406.2%
19202556.3%
193038450.6%
1940383−0.3%
195051835.2%
19601,271145.4%
19701,83944.7%
19802,06112.1%
19902,29111.2%
20004,56199.1%
20105,72025.4%
20206,1187.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
2010-2020[3]

2020 census change

The 2020 census says that there were 6,118 people, 2,295 households, and 1,635 families living in De Soto. Of the households, 67.0% owned their home and 33.0% rented their home.

The median age was 39.4 years. Of the people, 79.9% were White, 1.0% were Native American, 0.9% were Black, 0.7% were Asian, 7.2% were from some other race, and 10.4% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.9% of the people.[6][7]

2010 census change

The 2010 census says that there were 5,720 people, 2,007 households, and 1,523 families living in De Soto.[8]

Economy change

Two local companies, Great American Bank and Custom Foods, Inc., and one national company, Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs, are headquartered in De Soto. Huhtamaki Americas, Inc. and Engineered Air, two international companies, chose De Soto for their North American headquarters. Merck Animal Health, one of the world's biggest manufacturers of animal health supplies, chose De Soto for one of its U.S. manufacturing facilities.

Biggest employers change

as of January 2017, the largest employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 De Soto USD #232 1,655
2 Huhtamaki 640
3 Engineered Air 270
4 Merck Animal Health 180
5 Rehrig Pacific 110
6 Custom Foods Inc 108
7 Goodcent's Deli Fresh Subs Headquarters 95
8 Hillside Village 86
9 Harps Food Stores 31

Government change

The De Soto government is made of a mayor and five council members. It has a president that is chosen by the council.

Mayor

  • Rick Walker (term expires 2022)

City Council President

  • Lori Murdock (term expires 2020)

City Council

  • Danny Lane (term expires 2020)
  • Kevin Ritter (term expires 2021)
  • Kevin Honomichl (term expires 2022)
  • Rob Daniels (term expires 2022)

Education change

The city of De Soto is served by the De Soto school district.

Other local education institutions near De Soto include:

Library change

The Johnson County Library System maintains the De Soto Downtown Library.

Media change

Newspapers change

The De Soto Explorer was started in 1998, and it was De Soto's main news source for 14 years. It closed in 2012. In the fall of 2015, Discovering De Soto magazine released its first preview edition.[9] In 2017, the De Soto City Council funded issues of Discovering De Soto. This was done in order to distribute the magazine by mail and around local businesses. In 2018, the De Soto City Council funded issues of Discovering De Soto for the year.[10]

The Kansas City Star and the Lawrence Journal-World both cover and deliver to De Soto.

Television change

All Kansas City stations broadcast in De Soto.

Radio change

All Topeka and Kansas City stations broadcast in De Soto.

Transportation change

Road change

Several highways go to De Soto:

  •   K-10 runs through most portions of southern De Soto. Two exits have a direct connection to De Soto.
    • Exit – Edgerton Road
    • Exit – Lexington Avenue, formerly   K-285 (Decommissioned in 1999)
    • Exit – Kill Creek Road
  •   K-32 runs about 5 miles (8 km) north of De Soto. Two junctions have a direct connection to De Soto.
    • Junction – 189th Street   CR-26(Leavenworth County)
    • Junction – 158th Street   CR-2(Leavenworth County)
  • S. Wyandotte Road / 158th Street   CR-2(Leavenworth County)
  •   CR-3(Leavenworth County)
  •   CR-26(Leavenworth County)
  •   CR-32(Leavenworth County)

Rail change

In 1857, the Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe Railway built a railroad through northern parts of town. It was built parallel to the river. De Soto's train depot was built along a siding around 1860.[11]

Famous people change

Notable people who were born in and/or have lived in De Soto include:

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: De Soto, Kansas
  2. 2.0 2.1 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "QuickFacts: De Soto city, Kansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  4. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 516. ISBN 9780722249055.
  5. "City of De Soto Official Zoning Map" (PDF). City of De Soto. May 30, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 22, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  6. "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  7. "P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  8. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  9. Discovering Desoto online magazine.
  10. "Google Drive: Sign-in".
  11. "Topeka – Lawrence – Kansas City (Corridor H)". Archived from the original on 2017-07-21. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  12. "Johnson County to remember a Kansas Congressional Medal of Honor recipient on Veterans Day". Johnson County, Kansas. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  13. "KHS Distinguished Life Members". Kansas Herpetological Society. Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  14. "Lee, Frank Hood (1873-1952)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2016-04-01.

Other websites change