Fort Scott, Kansas, United States

🇺🇸 Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States, United States, 88 miles south of Kansas City, on the Marmaton River. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Fort Scott National Cemetery. Fort Scott is named for Gen. Winfield Scott.

History Established and garrisoned by the U.S. Army from 1842 to 1853, soldiers at military Fort Scott assisted with the protection of the Permanent Indian Frontier. After the army abandoned the fort in 1853, the buildings were purchased by local settlers at a government auction in 1855. The community of Fort Scott was laid out in 1857, and was chartered as a city in 1860.

Between 1855 and 1861, the citizens of Fort Scott experienced the violent unrest that preceded the American Civil War on the Kansas and Missouri border. Eastern newspapers described this violence as "Bleeding Kansas", a result of the national controversy concerning the extension of slavery into the new territories. On January 29, 1861, Kansas entered the union as a free state, but the turmoil of "Bleeding Kansas" continued throughout the Civil War.

During the Civil War, Fort Scott was a U.S. Army district Headquarters, quartermaster supply depot, training centre, and recruitment station. It was strategically vital to the defense of Kansas and the Midwest. A battle over the fort occurred in August 1861 just across the Missouri line in the Battle of Dry Wood Creek. The battle was a pro-South victory for Sterling Price and his Missouri State Guard.

Price did not hold the fort and instead continued a northern push into Missouri in an attempt to recapture the state. Senator James H. Lane was to launch a Jayhawker offensive behind Price from Fort Scott that led to the Sacking of Osceola. The ill will of these actions was to be the basis for the 1976 Clint Eastwood film The Outlaw Josey Wales.

After the Civil War, Fort Scott was a premier city of the frontier, one of the largest cities in eastern Kansas. On three occasions, between 1870 and 1900, Fort Scott was in competition with Kansas City to become the largest railroad centre west of the Mississippi.

During the first half of the 20th century, Fort Scott became an agricultural and small industrial centre which it continues to be today.

Downtown fire On March 11, 2005, a fire destroyed several historic buildings in Fort Scott's downtown. The Victorian-era buildings were among many that are a symbol of the town.

Geography Fort Scott lies on the Osage Plains on the south side of the Marmaton River. Located at the intersection of U.S. Routes 54 and 69 in south-east Kansas, Fort Scott is approximately 54 miles (87 km) north of Joplin, Missouri, 92 miles (148 km) south of Kansas City, and 143 miles (230 km) east of Wichita.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.59 square miles (14.48 km²), of which 5.55 square miles (14.37 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) is water.

Demographics The 2020 United States census counted 7,552 people, 3,080 households, and 1,811 families in Fort Scott. The population density was 1,352.0 per square mile (522.0/km²). There were 3,639 housing units at an average density of 651.5 per square mile (251.5/km²). The racial makeup was 84.39% (6,373) white or European American (83.24% non-Hispanic white), 5.47% (413) black or African-American, 0.61% (46) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.94% (71) Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.24% (94) from other races, and 7.32% (553) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.14% (237) of the population.

Of the 3,080 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18; 38.7% were married couples living together; 33.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 35.3% of households consisted of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.8. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 13.9% of the population.

24.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 110.2 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $37,279 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,086) and the median family income was $53,245 (+/- $5,079). Males had a median income of $27,788 (+/- $4,795) versus $20,145 (+/- $4,501) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $23,424 (+/- $3,628). Approximately, 12.1% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under the age of 18 and 16.7% of those ages 65 or over.

Education Colleges Fort Scott Community College, founded in 1919, is the oldest community college in the state of Kansas.

Primary and secondary The community is served by Fort Scott USD 234 public school district, which includes two public elementary schools (Eugene Ware Elementary and Winfield Scott Elementary), one public middle school (Fort Scott Middle School) and one high school (Fort Scott High School).

There is a Catholic school for grades K–5, Fort Scott Christian Heights for K–12 and a few other small private schools for students from grades K–12. There is also a public preschool in the old middle school building.

Gunn Park Gunn Park is a 155-acre park that has seven shelter houses, two lakes for fishing and multiple playground areas. There are 14 camping sites available with electricity and water. In 1999, a nine-hole Frisbee golf course was added through a joint effort of the City of Fort Scott and the Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott. The Disc Golf Course was later expanded to 18 holes. There are two fishing lakes available at Gunn Park. From October 15 to April 15, Fern Lake is stocked with trout. There are several playground areas located throughout the park with updated equipment. Approximately, 6.5 miles of single track, mountain bike trails have been added in the timber, and along the Marmaton River. These trails provide adventure and exercise for mountain bike riders, trail runners as well as hikers. Gunn Park has 7 shelter houses, 4 are enclosed shelters and 3 are open shelters. Shelters can be reserved at City Hall.

The first shelter house of stone was built in 1910 on the first lake (Fern Lake). There was a large wood theater building on the other side of Fern Lake with a seating capacity of 800. During special events such as July 4, the street cars would take as many as 10,000 people to the park in one day.

In 1999, a nine-hole Frisbee golf course was added to Gunn Park through a joint effort of the City of Fort Scott and the Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott. It was recently made an 18-hole course.

Media • Fort Scott Tribune, twice-weekly newspaper, founded in 1884. • KOMB 103.9 FM – Fort Scott Broadcasting. Classic and contemporary hits station, with talk shows throughout the week. Airs Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Fort Scott Greyhounds and Fort Scott High School sports. • KMDO 1600 AM, rebroadcast on an FM translator on 98.3. Plays a "Red dirt country" format. • KVCY, 104.7 FM, a rebroadcaster for VCY America.