Bunker Hill is a city in Russell County, Kansas, United States.

History

J. B. Corbett and Valentine Harbaugh, leaders of a colony from Ohio, founded Bunker Hill at a site on the Kansas Pacific Railway in the summer of 1871. The settlement received its name from a Butterfield Overland Despatch station, built in 1865, that had preceded it on the site. County commissioners declared Bunker Hill the county seat in 1872, but, two years later, a popular vote moved the seat to nearby Russell. Many Bunker Hill residents moved with it, stunting the growth and development of the town. By 1883, a small business community emerged, including a hotel, flour mill, and several shops. Located north of Interstate 70, it is roughly east of Russell, the county seat. Wilson Lake lies to the northeast.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bunker Hill has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 103 people, 44 households, and 21 families in Bunker Hill. The racial makeup was 99.03% (102) white or European American (99.03% non-Hispanic white), 0.0% (0) black or African-American, 0.0% (0) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.0% (0) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.0% (0) from other races, and 0.97% (1) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 0.0% (0) of the population.

Of the 44 households, 15.9% had children under the age of 18; 36.4% were married couples living together; 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 45.5% of households consisted of individuals and 36.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 14.6% of the population.

22.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 15.5% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. Males had a median income of $45,729 (+/- $16,059) versus $16,154 (+/- $6,108) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $31,250 (+/- $18,322). Approximately, 12.5% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under the age of 18 and 3.0% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 95 people, 47 households, and 21 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 66 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.9% White, 1.1% Asian, and 1.1% from some other race. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 47 households, of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.2% were married couples living together, 2.1% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.3% were non-families. 53.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 42.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02, and the average family size was 3.00. of 2000, there were 101 people, 51 households, and 29 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 68 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.93% of the population.

There were 51 households, out of which 13.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.59.

In the city the population was spread out, with 17.8% under the age of 18, 1.0% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 37.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

Economy

As of 2012, 70.7% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.0% was in the armed forces, and 70.7% was in the civilian labor force with 70.7% being employed and 0.0% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was: 34.5% in service occupations; 32.8% in sales and office occupations; 17.2% in management, business, science, and arts; 12.1% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 3.4% in production, transportation, and material moving. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: retail trade (27.6%); arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (13.8%); and wholesale trade (13.8%).

Bunker Hill lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District. For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature, the city is located in the 36th district of the Kansas Senate and the 109th district of the Kansas House of Representatives.

Bunker Hill schools were closed through school unification. The Bunker Hill High School mascot was White Owls.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 run concurrently east-west, one mile south of the city.

Union Pacific Railroad operates one freight rail line, its Kansas Pacific (KP) Line, through Bunker Hill. The line runs east–west through the community.

Utilities

Western Electric provides electricity to local residents. Rural Telephone provides landline telephone service, and Nex-Tech offers cable television and internet access. Most residents use natural gas for heating fuel; service is provided by Midwest Energy, Inc. Smoky Hills Public Television, the PBS member network for western Kansas, is headquartered in Bunker Hill.

Culture

Points of interest

The Bunker Hill Museum, located in an old limestone church one block east of Main Street, displays documents and artifacts from the community's history.

Bunker Hill is the setting and namesake of the 2008 film Bunker Hill.

Notable people

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Bunker Hill include:

  • Mary Ann Bickerdyke (1817-1901), American Civil War nurse

References

Further reading

  • Bunker Hill - Directory of Public Officials