Holton is a city located in Jackson County, Kansas, United States. It serves as the county seat, which means it is the main city where the county government is based. According to the 2020 census, the population of Holton was 3,401.

History

The group that selected the location for Holton began their journey in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in May 1856. They traveled in a train of six covered wagons, each pulled by two pairs of oxen, on a long trip to bring Free State settlers to Kansas. The journey was funded by the Kansas Society of Milwaukee, which was led by Edward Dwight Holton, a Milwaukee abolitionist. They met General James H. Lane and two hundred men at Nebraska City, Nebraska, a meeting place for Free State supporters. They followed the Jim Lane Road into Kansas for about thirty miles. They reached Elk Creek, 2 + 1⁄2 miles west of Holton, where they cut trees to build a bridge, crossed it, and set up camp near the site of Central School. They liked the two streams (later named Banner Creek and Elk Creek) and the grassy hills, so they decided to stay. A group was formed, and a civil engineer with them began mapping the area. They named the new town in honor of Holton.

A log house measuring 20 by 20 feet (6.1 m × 6.1 m) was built. It was designed to be used as a fort and was called Jim Lane’s Fort. In the spring of 1857, J. B. Ingerson surveyed the townsite lots.

The county that includes Holton was originally named Calhoun County after John C. Calhoun, a pro-slavery senator from South Carolina. In 1859, the name was changed to Jackson County. Holton was chosen as the county seat in 1858. A wooden building served as the first courthouse on the east side of the square, near the middle of the block. The first courthouse was built in the center of the square in 1872. The current courthouse was completed in 1921.

In 1859, the abolitionist John Brown led a group of escaped slaves through Holton, leading to an event called the Battle of the Spurs.

In 1859, Holton had seven homes, one store, a blacksmith shop, and a steam sawmill. A census in April 1857 recorded 291 people in Holton; by 1860, the population had grown to 1,936. Holton was incorporated as a city in 1859.

In 1879, residents of Jackson County, Kansas, decided to establish a university in Holton. It was funded by A. C. Campbell, a mining magnate and former resident who had moved to Utah, and was named Campbell University. In 1902, it merged with Lane University to become Campbell College. In 1913, it merged with Kansas City University, but later closed in 1933. The former college site later became the location of Holton High School.

Geography

The United States Census Bureau reports that the city has a total area of 2.78 square miles (7.20 km²), with 2.70 square miles (6.99 km²) being land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km²) being water.

The climate in this area has hot, humid summers and usually mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Holton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated as "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

Holton is part of the Topeka metropolitan area.

According to the 2020 United States census, Holton had a population of 3,401 people, 1,410 households, and 784 families. The population density was 1,270.9 people per square mile (490.7/km²). There were 1,599 housing units, with an average density of 597.5 per square mile (230.7/km²). The racial makeup of the population was as follows: 83.68% (2,846 people) were white or European American (80.62% non-Hispanic white), 1.82% (62 people) were Black or African-American, 3.32% (113 people) were Native American or Alaska Native, 0.59% (20 people) were Asian, 0.12% (4 people) were Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 2.68% (91 people) were from other races, and 7.79% (265 people) were from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 8.91% (303 people) of the population.

Of the 1,410 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18. Thirty-eight point six percent were married couples living together, and 35.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. Thirty-eight point nine percent of households consisted of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.0, and the average family size was 2.7. An estimated 15.3% of the population had a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Twenty-four point seven percent of the population was under the age of 18, 8.1% were between 18 and 24, 23.5% were between 25 and 44, 22.0% were between 45 and 64, and 21.7% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 114.7 males.

The 2016–2020 American Community Survey estimated that the median household income was $47,642 (with a margin of error of ±$7,001), and the median family income was $60,909 (±$10,042). Males had a median income of $36,654 (±$4,920), while females had a median income of $16,098 (±$2,777). The median income for people above 16 years old was $21,928 (±$4,959). Approximately 14.8% of families and 16.4% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under 18 and 1.8% of those aged 65 or older.

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,329 people, 1,442 households, and 832 families living in Holton. The population density was 1,233.0 people per square mile (476.1/km²). There were 1,652 housing units, with an average density of 611.9 per square mile (236.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.7% white, 1.1% Black or African-American, 3.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 4.9% of the population.

There were 1,442 households, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. Thirty-seven point nine percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23, and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 40.2 years. Twenty-four point five percent of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between 18 and 24; 22.9% were between 25 and 44; 23.8% were between 45 and 64; and 20.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

Education

The community is served by Holton USD 336 public school district and Holton High School. Jackson Heights USD 335, located 4 miles north of Holton, is a nearby school district but it does not serve the city of Holton.

Notable people

• Case Broderick, a politician
• Bill James, a baseball writer and statistician
• Lynn Jenkins, a U.S. Congresswoman and assistant leader of the House Republican Conference, graduated from Holton High School
• Kendall McComas, a child actor in the film series Our Gang
• Harold B. Minor, a diplomat
• Danny J. Petersen, a Medal of Honor recipient who was honored after his death
• Frank C. Pomeroy, a state legislator
• Pat Roberts, a U.S. Senator who graduated from Holton High School in 1954
• Robin Utterback, an artist
• Bernice T. Van der Vries, an Illinois state legislator who was born in Holton.