View source for Winfield, Kansas

{{Short description|City in Cowley County, Kansas}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Winfield, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]] and [[county seat]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Downtown winfield june 2023.jpg
|image_caption            = Downtown Winfield in June 2023
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Cowley_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Winfield_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley County]] and [[Kansas]]
|image_map1               = Map of Cowley Co, Ks, USA.png
|map_caption1             = [[Kansas Department of Transportation|KDOT]] map of [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley County]] ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|legend]])

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|14|16|N|96|59|07|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Walnut Township, Cowley County, Kansas|Walnut]], [[Vernon Township, Cowley County, Kansas|Vernon]], [[Pleasant Valley Township, Cowley County, Kansas|P.V.]]

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = {{start year and age|1870|paren=yes}}<ref name="book-hcck"/>
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = {{start year and age|1873|paren=yes}}<ref name="book-hcck"/>
|named_for                = [[Winfield Scott (chaplain)|Winfield Scott]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          =
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              =
|leader_title1            = [[City manager]]
|leader_name1             = Taggart Wall<ref name="gov-admin">[http://www.winfieldks.org/index.aspx?nid=434 Administration; City of Windfield.]</ref>

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_20.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 12.51
|area_land_sq_mi          = 11.14
|area_water_sq_mi         = 1.37
|area_total_km2           = 32.41
|area_land_km2            = 28.86
|area_water_km2           = 3.55
|area_water_percent       = 10.60
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1139

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/><ref name="Census-2020-QF"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 11777
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|population_est           =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 67156
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 620|620]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 20-79950
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 485663<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|485663}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.winfieldks.org/|winfieldks.org}}
}}

'''Winfield''' is a [[city]] in and the [[county seat]] of [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley County]], [[Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  It is situated along the [[Walnut River]] in south central Kansas.  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 11,777.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Winfield, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2079950 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406113910/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2079950 |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Census-2020-QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Winfield, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/winfieldcitykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826031524/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/winfieldcitykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 26, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  It is home to [[Southwestern College (Kansas)|Southwestern College]].

[[File:War memorial winfield.jpg|thumb|Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Winfield, 2023]]

==History==

===19th century===
Winfield was founded in 1870.<ref name="book-hcck">[https://archive.org/details/historyofcowleyc00mill History of Cowley County Kansas; D.A. Millington / E.P. Greer; Winfield Courier; 162 pages; 1901.]</ref> It was named for Rev. [[Winfield Scott (chaplain)|Winfield Scott]], who promised to build the town a church in exchange for the naming rights.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ | title=Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society | publisher=Kansas State Printing Plant | author=Kansas State Historical Society | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ/page/n274 167]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2 | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC/page/n908 926]}}</ref>  The first post office at Winfield was established in May 1870.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/page:2/county:CL | title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2 | publisher=Kansas Historical Society | access-date=6 June 2014}}</ref>  In 1873, Winfield incorporated as a city.<ref name="book-hcck"/>

====Railroads====
Railroads reached Winfield in the late 1870s,<ref name="book-hcck"/> and finished at [[Arkansas City, Kansas|Arkansas City]] in 1881.<ref name="Marion 1972">''Marion County Kansas : Past and Present''; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; [[LCCN]] 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.</ref><ref name="Abandon Railway 1942">[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Florence_to_El_Dorado Railway Abandonment 1942]</ref><ref name="book-hcck"/> Eventually, a total of five railroads passed through Winfield.<ref name="book-hcck"/>

====State mental hospital====
In 1881, the State of Kansas established the Kansas State Asylum for Idiotic and Imbecile Youth, temporarily established at Lawrence, but moved to Winfield in 1887/1888, where it served as a dominant local employer for 117 years.<ref name="disability">[http://www.ksde.org/Portals/0/SES/pubs/DisabilityAwarenessGuide.pdf ''Disability History and Awareness: A Resource Guide,''], 2009, Kansas State Department of Education, State of [[Kansas]]</ref><ref name="council_calls">Ranney, Dave, [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/jun/29/council_calls_closing_state_hospital/ "Council calls for closing state hospital: Kansas no longer needs two state hospitals for the developmentally disabled,"] June 29, 2006, ''Lawrence Journal-World,'' retrieved April 6, 2017</ref><ref name="wsh_ctnewsonline">
[http://www.ctnewsonline.com/news/article_cd88c1ec-4faa-11e6-9eb1-ff24a7ab4833.html ""WSH reunion Saturday,"] July 21, 2016, Winfield / Arkansas City ''Courier-Traveler''</ref>
{{wide image|Winfield kansas 1910 b.jpg|1000px|alt=Winfield panorama (1910)|Winfield panorama (1910)}}

===20th century===
The Winfield–Arkansas City area became an industrial community in the 20th century, manufacturing consumer goods, and eventually aircraft and aircraft parts, while retaining its traditional dominant employer, the Winfield State Hospital.<ref name="industries">[http://www.cowleycounty.org/area-industries "Area Industries,"] Cowley County government, retrieved April 6, 2017</ref>

On August 13, 1903, 35-year-old [[Winfield massacre|Gilbert Twigg]], armed with a 12-gauge [[double-barrelled shotgun]], opened fire at a concert, killing six people and wounding at least 25, before killing himself.<ref>{{cite web|title=TWIGG KILLED SIX MEN.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C01E7D71739E433A25755C1A96E9C946297D6CF|work=The New York Times|date=16 August 1903|access-date=20 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="Winfield1">{{cite web|title=The Camen Band Massacre|url=http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/wortman/twigg.htm|website=ausbcomp.com|publisher=Winfield Courier|access-date=March 29, 2016|date=August 14, 1903}}</ref> {{citation needed span|text=Three others died in hospitals afterward.|date=October 2025}}

====Strother Field====
In [[World War II]], Winfield, along with neighboring Arkansas City, became home to a military pilot–training base, [[Strother Field]], which remained in operation until the end of the war, bringing several thousand military personnel into the area. After the war, in the early 1950s, the field became the shared municipal airport and industrial park for Winfield and Arkansas City.<ref name="neumann_1975">Neumann, Mary Lucille, "History of Strother Field," April 30, 1975, ''Arkansas City Traveler'' as transcribed at [http://www.ausbcomp.com/%5C~bbott/subjects/aviaac.htm "Aviation History in Arkansas City, Kansas"]</ref><ref name="field_history">[http://www.cowleycounty.org/wp-content/uploads/History-of-Strother-Field.pdf "Strother Field History"] (note on official website of Cowley County), retrieved April 5, 2017</ref><ref name="industries" />

====Aviation industry====
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2025}}
The aircraft-manufacturing industry in nearby [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]] ({{convert|40|mi|disp=or|abbr=on}} to the north)—one of the world's principal aircraft-manufacturing centers—provided employment for many Winfield residents, directly and indirectly. That opportunity grew substantially in the last half of the century, as [[General Electric]]'s [[GE Aviation]] division, in the late 1940s, began producing engines for Wichita aircraft, and eventually in the 1960s, one of Wichita's principal manufacturers, [[Cessna Aircraft Company]] built a factory at Strother Field.

====Crayola====
The [[Crayola]] plant, near Winfield, was established in 1952. At the time, it was the only Crayola plant that made paints. The plant made a large part of the jobs in the county. Tours were conducted until 1992, and five years later, in 1997, the plant shut down and the paint-making equipment  was moved to Pennsylvania. Lots of crayons and memorabilia from the plant can still be seen at the Winfield Historical Society museum.

====Institutions====
The Winfield State Hospital and Training Center, established in the community in the prior century to house and confine the [[mental illness|mentally ill]] and [[developmentally disabled]], remained as a dominant local employer throughout the 20th century.<ref name="wsh_ctnewsonline" /><ref name="council_calls" /> Towards the end of the century the (now designated "Winfield State Hospital and Training Center") housed [[developmentally disabled]] people. Social, political and legal changes, led to closing of most of the facility in 1998.<ref name="council_calls" /><ref name="disability" /><ref name="wsh_ctnewsonline" /> It was gradually turned into the Winfield Correctional Facility.<ref name="corrections">Official history timeline: [https://www.doc.ks.gov/facilities/wcf/history "WCF History."] (Winfield Correctional Facility), 2013, [[Kansas Department of Corrections]], State of [[Kansas]]</ref>

[[Southwestern College (Kansas)|Southwestern College]] grew to become a leading local institution and employer, drawing students from throughout the central United States, and bringing an extra level of intellectual and cultural development and diversity to the community.

{{Citation needed span|text=Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences<ref>[https://pigammamu.org/ Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences]</ref> was founded at Southwestern College in Winfield in 1924. The international headquarters is now housed at a repurposed Carnegie Library building on Millington Street in downtown Winfield. Pi Gamma Mu is the oldest and preeminent interdisciplinary social science honor society. Its mission is to encourage and promote excellence in the Social Sciences and to uphold and nurture scholarship, leadership, and service.|date=October 2025}}

===21st century===
In the 21st century, Winfield remained an industrial and institutional town. With the exception of Cessna, most of the area's major employers (some under new names and ownership) continued into the early 21st century.<ref name="industries" />

==Geography==
Winfield is situated along the [[Walnut River]] at its confluence with Timber Creek. It is located {{convert|17|mi|km}} north of the [[Kansas]]-[[Oklahoma]] state border at the junction of U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 77 in Kansas|77]] and [[U.S. Route 160|160]]. State highway route [[K-15 (Kansas highway)|K-15]] follows U.S. Route 77 to the north of the city and U.S. Route 160 to the east. [[K-360 (Kansas highway)|K-360]] is a [[Bypass (road)|bypass]] around the southeastern part of the city between U.S. Route 77 and U.S. Route 160. [[Arkansas City, Kansas|Arkansas City]] is {{convert|13|mi|km}} south of Winfield along U.S. Route 77, and [[Strother Field]], a [[general aviation]] airport, is approximately five miles (8&nbsp;km) south.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|12.93|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|11.56|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|1.37|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-07-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

===Climate===

According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Winfield has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Winfield was {{convert|118|F|C|1}} on August 12, 1936, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-27|F|C|1}} on February 13, 1905.<ref name = NOWData></ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Winfield, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 88
|Mar record high F = 94
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 102
|Jun record high F = 110
|Jul record high F = 115
|Aug record high F = 118
|Sep record high F = 110
|Oct record high F = 100
|Nov record high F = 87
|Dec record high F = 81

|Jan avg record high F = 66.6
|Feb avg record high F = 72.9
|Mar avg record high F = 80.5
|Apr avg record high F = 85.8
|May avg record high F = 90.0
|Jun avg record high F = 95.9
|Jul avg record high F = 101.3
|Aug avg record high F = 100.6
|Sep avg record high F = 95.9
|Oct avg record high F = 87.6
|Nov avg record high F = 76.2
|Dec avg record high F = 67.2
|year avg record high F = 102.9

|Jan high F = 44.2
|Feb high F = 49.2
|Mar high F = 59.1
|Apr high F = 68.4
|May high F = 76.5
|Jun high F = 85.7
|Jul high F = 91.1
|Aug high F = 90.2
|Sep high F = 82.2
|Oct high F = 70.8
|Nov high F = 57.6
|Dec high F = 46.1
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 32.2
|Feb mean F = 36.4
|Mar mean F = 46.0
|Apr mean F = 55.5
|May mean F = 65.2
|Jun mean F = 74.6
|Jul mean F = 79.7
|Aug mean F = 78.1
|Sep mean F = 70.0
|Oct mean F = 57.8
|Nov mean F = 45.2
|Dec mean F = 34.8
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 20.2
|Feb low F = 23.6
|Mar low F = 32.9
|Apr low F = 42.5
|May low F = 53.9
|Jun low F = 63.5
|Jul low F = 68.2
|Aug low F = 66.0
|Sep low F = 57.8
|Oct low F = 44.8
|Nov low F = 32.8
|Dec low F = 23.4
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 4.2
|Feb avg record low F = 7.7
|Mar avg record low F = 16.6
|Apr avg record low F = 27.5
|May avg record low F = 38.9
|Jun avg record low F = 52.1
|Jul avg record low F = 58.9
|Aug avg record low F = 55.6
|Sep avg record low F = 42.3
|Oct avg record low F = 28.9
|Nov avg record low F = 16.9
|Dec avg record low F = 8.3
|year avg record low F = 0.3

|Jan record low F = -20
|Feb record low F = -27
|Mar record low F = -3
|Apr record low F = 15
|May record low F = 26
|Jun record low F = 40
|Jul record low F = 48
|Aug record low F = 45
|Sep record low F = 30
|Oct record low F = 12
|Nov record low F = 2
|Dec record low F = -15

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.10
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.54
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.91
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.05
|May precipitation inch = 6.02
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.69
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.26
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.53
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.13
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.67
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.12
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.67
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 4.9
|Feb precipitation days = 5.0
|Mar precipitation days = 7.2
|Apr precipitation days = 8.3
|May precipitation days = 11.0
|Jun precipitation days = 9.4
|Jul precipitation days = 8.2
|Aug precipitation days = 7.7
|Sep precipitation days = 7.0
|Oct precipitation days = 7.4
|Nov precipitation days = 5.8
|Dec precipitation days = 5.3

|Jan snow inch = 2.4
|Feb snow inch = 2.4
|Mar snow inch = 1.3
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.3
|Dec snow inch = 2.6
|year snow inch = 9.0

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 1.7
|Feb snow days = 1.2
|Mar snow days = 0.7
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 0.2
|Dec snow days = 1.4

|Jan snow depth inch = 
|Feb snow depth inch = 
|Mar snow depth inch = 
|Apr snow depth inch = 
|May snow depth inch = 
|Jun snow depth inch = 
|Jul snow depth inch = 
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|year snow depth inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00148964&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Winfield 3NE, KS
|access-date = November 21, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ict
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Wichita
|access-date = November 21, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| align = 
| 1870 = 472
| 1880 = 2844
| 1890 = 5184
| 1900 = 5554
| 1910 = 6700
| 1920 = 7933
| 1930 = 9398
| 1940 = 9506
| 1950 = 10264
| 1960 = 11117
| 1970 = 11405
| 1980 = 10736
| 1990 = 11931
| 2000 = 12206
| 2010 = 12301
| 2020 = 11777
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 11669
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]<br/>2010-2020<ref name="Census-2020-QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-12-15 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> counted 11,777 people, 4,339 households, and 2,687 families in Winfield. The population density was 1,057.2 per square mile (408.1/km{{sup|2}}). There were 5,136 housing units at an average density of 461.0 per square mile (178.0/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 80.28% (9,454) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]], 4.14% (487) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black or African-American]], 1.55% (182) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.49% (411) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% (78) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.42% (285) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 7.47% (880) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 9.0% (1,083) of the population.

Of the 4,339 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18; 45.1% were married couples living together; 27.1% had a female householder with no husband present. 30.4% of households consisted of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.1.

23.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 106.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 109.8 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-12-15|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> estimates show that the median household income was $48,027 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,412) and the median family income $57,236 (+/- $5,345). Males had a median income of $31,570 (+/- $3,388) versus $25,677 (+/- $2,934) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $28,904 (+/- $3,107). Approximately, 12.5% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.2% of those under the age of 18 and 12.7% of those ages 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 12,301 people, 4,600 households, and 2,848 families residing in the city.<ref name="Census2010">{{cite web|title=2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=March 6, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1064.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,217 housing units at an average density of {{convert|451.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.7% [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 3.9% [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 1.3% [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 3.9% [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 1.8% from [[Race (U.S. census)|other races]], and 3.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. census)|Latino]] people of any race were 6.1% of the population.

There were 4,600 households, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 36.7 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 12% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000,<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 12,206 people, 4,627 households, and 2,952 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,104.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,049 housing units at an average density of {{convert|456.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.06% [[Race (United States census)|White]], 3.26% Black or African American, 1.08% Native American, 3.74% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.73% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.66% of the population.

There were 4,627 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The [[Median household income|median income for a household]] in the city was $34,443, and the median income for a family was $44,539. Males had a median income of $31,768 versus $21,605 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,162. About 9.9% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
===19th century===
====Railroads====
In 1877, the [[Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad]] Company built a branch line from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]] to [[El Dorado, Kansas|El Dorado]]. The line was extended to [[Douglass, Kansas|Douglass]] then reached Winfield on October 1, 1879,<ref name="book-hcck"/> and finished at [[Arkansas City, Kansas|Arkansas City]] in 1881.<ref name="Marion 1972"/> The line was leased and operated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]]. The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942.<ref name="Abandon Railway 1942"/> The original branch line connected Florence, [[Burns, Kansas|Burns]], De Graff, El Dorado, [[Augusta, Kansas|Augusta]], [[Douglass, Kansas|Douglass]], [[Rock, Kansas|Rock]], Akron, Winfield, [[Arkansas City, Kansas|Arkansas City]].

The Southern Kansas and Western Railroad was completed from the east to Winfield on February 17, 1880, then continued westward, and it reached the western county line on March 16.<ref name="book-hcck"/> This railroad changed its name over time as it merged or purchased by other railroads.

Eventually, a total of five railroads passed through Winfield.<ref name="book-hcck"/>

====State mental hospital====
In 1881, The Kansas Constitution stated that the care, treatment, and education of the handicapped were responsibilities of public residential institutions. Accordingly, the Kansas State Asylum for Idiotic and Imbecile Youth was temporarily established at Lawrence, moving to Winfield in 1887.<ref name="disability"/>

The Kansas State Imbecile Asylum (later the [[Winfield State Hospital and Training Center]]) was established in the community in 1888, on a hill overlooking the city. For the next 117 years, it served as a dominant local employer, housing and confining those with mental problems from throughout the state of Kansas.<ref name="council_calls" /><ref name="wsh_ctnewsonline"/>

===20th century===
====Industry====
The Winfield-[[Arkansas City, Kansas|Arkansas City]] area has a wide range of industrial employers—most of which emerged and developed in the 20th century. Many are based at, and around, Strother Field—a municipal airport that the two cities share.<ref name="industries"/>

=====Consumer goods=====
In 1916, Gott Manufacturing was established in Winfield to produce metal water coolers. Over the next 70 years, the enterprise grew into a major supplier of insulated water jugs and urns.<ref name="rubbermaid">Roy, Bill, [http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2011/12/22/newell-rubbermaid-to-bring-200-jobs-to.html "Newell Rubbermaid to bring 200 jobs to Kansas,"] December 22, 2011, ''Wichita Business Journal,'' retrieved April 5, 2017"</ref><ref name="rubbermaid_commerce">[http://www.kansascommerce.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=535 "Rubbermaid celebrates its renewed investment in Winfield, Kan.,"] May 3, 2012, Kansas Dept. of Commerce</ref>

In 1986, Gott was acquired by [[Rubbermaid]], a globally dominant manufacturer of [[rubber]] storage containers, and converted to producing Rubbermaid-branded products, manufacturing insulated water coolers, ice chests, outdoor-living and outdoor-storage products. Subsequent expansion of its facilities have continued into the present day.<ref name="rubbermaid" /><ref name="rubbermaid_commerce" />

A [[Crayola]] crayon-manufacturing plant was located in Winfield from 1952 to 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crayola.com/canwehelp/contact/faq_view.cfm?id=256 | title=Crayola.com Can We Help | access-date=December 11, 2011 }}</ref>

=====Aviation industry=====
======Strother Field======
In 1942, as America entered [[World War II]], Winfield, along with neighboring [[Arkansas City, Kansas|Arkansas City]], began development of a shared municipal airport. However, the entry of the U.S. into the war led to military acquisition and completion of the airfield, which became [[Strother Field]]. During the war, the airfield was used for military pilot training.<ref name="neumann_1975"/><ref name="field_history"/>

In 1953, the airport reverted to shared control of Winfield and Arkansas City, and became a major industrial center for both communities, which it remains to the present.<ref name="neumann_1975" /><ref name="industries" /><ref name="field_history" />

======GE Aviation======
In 1951, at Strother Field, [[GE Aviation]]—an aircraft-engine division of [[General Electric]]—began producing [[General Electric J47]] jet engines for U.S. military aircraft (notably the [[Boeing B-47 Stratojet]] intercontinental bomber, built primarily in Wichita, and also built by [[Douglas Aircraft]] at [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]] in neighboring Oklahoma).<ref name="aerofiles">[http://www.aerofiles.com/_boe.html "Boeing numeric, and A to BX,"] ''AEROFILES.com'' retrieved April 7, 2017</ref> Approximately 3,000 of those engines were produced at Strother by 1955.<ref name="neumann_1975" />

With the end of the Korean War, the GE factory switched to overhauling jet engine parts and accessories. In 1962, GE began overhauling and repairing entire military jet engines (particularly [[General Electric J73|J73]] and [[General Electric J85|J85]]), and related parts and accessories—ultimately processing over 6,000 jet engines between 1962 and 1975.<ref name="neumann_1975" />

With the advent of [[business jets]] in the mid-1960s—led by Wichita's [[Learjet]] (using [[General Electric CJ-610]] engines, also used on other business aircraft)—the Strother Field GE facility switched to servicing GE's business jet engines, ultimately processing over 6,000 by 1975, as the factory grew to 125,000 square feet. During those years, several hundred business jets, from around the world, flew into Strother Field to be serviced directly at the GE facility.<ref name="neumann_1975" />

Subsequently, GE's Strother facility overhauled [[General Electric J33|J33]] military engines, and [[General Electric CF6]] engines for "jumbo" jetliners.<ref name="neumann_1975" />

In 1985, GE acquired much of the abandoned Cessna facility for use in its engine-overhaul enterprise.<ref name="cessna">"152, 172RG, 185 PRODUCTION SUSPENDED, STROTHER FIELD SOLD: Cessna Facility at Strother Field sold to General Electric," July, 1985 ''Cessna Owner'' Magazine, p.142, as summarized in [http://cessna.org/documents/magazine_index.pdf "Cessna Pilots Association Magazine Article Index, August 1984-December 2011,"] retrieved April 7, 2017</ref>

======Cessna======
In 1967, [[Cessna Aircraft Company]], the world's highest-volume producer of aircraft (mostly light aircraft, at the time) addressed booming demand for its smallest, most-popular aircraft, by opening a Cessna factory at Strother Field. Initially, the factory produced the [[Cessna 150]], at that time the world's most popular two-seat light aircraft (the world's dominant pilot-training aircraft for several decades).<ref name="legend">Rodengen, Jeffrey L., book: ''The Legend of Cessna,'' 2007, Write Stuff Enterprises, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, p.135.</ref><ref name="mass">
[https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1975/1975%20-%200078.PDF "U. S. Mass-Produced Aeroplane,"] January 9, 1975, ''Flight International,'' as photo-reproduced at ''FlightGlobal.com,'' (PDF) retrieved April 7, 2017</ref>

In 1975, Cessna also began to move the assembly of the world's most popular light aircraft, the [[Cessna 172]], from its Wichita factory to Strother Field.<ref name="legend" />

Several thousand of both aircraft models were produced at Strother Field (making it a globally major aircraft factory complex, in total unit production). The factory employed several hundred to a few thousand workers until the [[early 1980s recession]] and other factors crashed the market for light aircraft, and Cessna, following layoffs of 700 workers at Strother Field, eventually shut down the Strother Field factory in the early 1980s.<ref name="cessna_shut">Associated Press, [https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/17/business/cessna-will-shut-plant-6-weeks.html "Cessna Will Shut Plant 6 Weeks"], March 17, 1982, ''New York Times,'' retrieved April 7, 2017</ref>

====Institutions====
The [[Winfield State Hospital and Training Center]], established in the community in the prior century to house and confine the [[mental illness|mentally ill]] and [[developmentally disabled]], remained as a dominant local employer throughout the 20th century, housing and confining those with mental problems from throughout the state of Kansas—housing up to 1,492 "patients" at its maximum in 1952.<ref name="wsh_ctnewsonline" /><ref name="council_calls" />

Towards the end of the century the (now designated "Winfield State Hospital and Training Center") housed [[developmentally disabled]] people. Changing social and political attitudes, and [[SCOTUS]] decisions, and conservative political economics (developmentally disabled persons supported in the community cost the state $25,000 annually, versus $130,000 for confinement in the Winfield facility), led to the gradual closing of most of the facility—despite heated protests from residents' families and local community leaders. In 1998, the [[Kansas Legislature]] officially voted to close it. At that time, it was the oldest and largest of the three Kansas state hospitals for [[developmentally disabled]] persons. When the closure of the facility was announced in 1997, the patient population had declined to only 250 residents.<ref name="council_calls" /><ref name="disability" /><ref name="wsh_ctnewsonline" />

The facility was gradually taken over by the [[Kansas Department of Corrections]], and repurposed as the [[Winfield Correctional Facility]], expanded to contain up to 556 prisoners.<ref name="corrections"/>

===21st century===
With the exception of Cessna, most of the area's major employers (some under new names and ownership) continued into the early 21st century.<ref name="industries" /> The Strother Field municipal airport remains the site of the area's principal industrial park, employing thousands.<ref name="industries" /><ref name="field_history" />

In 2010, the [[Keystone Pipeline|Keystone-Cushing Pipeline]] (Phase II) was constructed west of Winfield, north to south through [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley County]], with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).<ref>[http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ Keystone Pipeline - ''Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal''; April 18, 2010.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022015437/http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ |date=October 22, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/dec/10/transcanada-inspecting-keystone-pipeline/ Keystone Pipeline - ''Trans-Canada inspecting pipeline''; December 10, 2010.]</ref>

In 2011–2012, Rubbermaid (now [[Newell Rubbermaid]]) announced it was moving 200 jobs from a Texas factory to Winfield, increasing its Winfield capacity to add manufacturing of Rubbermaid's trash cans and home-organization products. Further, Rubbermaid would invest $26.6 million to expand its operations, beginning construction of a 500,000-square-foot distribution center next to its factory.<ref name="rubbermaid_commerce" /><ref name="rubbermaid" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Kansas Dept of Commerce|title=Rubbermaid set to expand facility with major investment in Winfield|url=http://www.kansascommerce.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=357|publisher=State of Kansas|access-date=7 March 2012}}</ref> In early 2017, the company was employing 1,054 people<ref name="industries" />

GE Aviation, which began Winfield operations in 1947, continued, generally, until the present day, (according to a local government statement online in April 2017), now employing 750 people in the area.<ref name="industries" />

[[Creekstone Farms]] beef processing plant, in neighboring [[Arkansas City, Kansas]], employed over 600 in early 2017.<ref name="industries" />

Hospitals and nursing-care facilities in Winfield and Arkansas City, combined, employed over 600 workers in early 2017—about half at [[William Newton Memorial Hospital]] in Winfield.<ref name="industries" />

The [[Winfield Correctional Facility]] employed another 200.<ref name="industries" />

==Arts and culture==

===Entertainment===
Winfield hosts the annual [[Walnut Valley Festival]], one of the nation's oldest and largest [[bluegrass music|bluegrass]] and [[acoustic music]] festivals, on the third weekend of every September. Crowds have exceeded 15,000, arriving from around the nation—with hundreds of the bluegrass and acoustic music enthusiasts camping, socializing and "jamming" at the site for weeks before the festival begins. The event also often features [[folk music]] and [[Celtic music]] performances, and related cultural activities and exhibits.<ref>[http://www.wvfest.com/ Walnut Valley Festival]</ref><ref name="acoustic">Tangeman, Anne, [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/1997/sep/11/acoustic_music_fans_to "ACOUSTIC MUSIC FANS TO GATHER IN WINFIELD,"] September 11, 1997, Lawrence (Kansas) ''Journal World,'' retrieved April 6, 2017</ref><ref name="pickers">Lane, Ken [http://www.currentland.com/View-Article/AID/2860/Title/Pickers-paradise "Pickers paradise: John McCutcheon,"] September, 2014, ''CurrentLand,'' Vol. 11 No. 4, retrieved April 6, 2017</ref><ref name="going_2003">Gintowt, Richard, [http://www.lawrence.com/news/2003/sep/17/winfield/ "'I can't ... I'm going to Winfield': Walnut Valley Festival hits 32 years with old faces, new pickers,"] September 17, 2003, Lawrence (Kansas) ''Journal World,'' retrieved April 6, 2017</ref>

==Education==
[[Image:Winfield Public Carnegie Library.JPG|thumb|right|[[Winfield Public Carnegie Library]] (2013)]]

===Primary and secondary education===
The community is served by [[Winfield USD 465]] public school district, which operates [[Winfield High School (Kansas)|Winfield High School]].<ref>[http://www.usd465.com USD 465]</ref>

===College===
[[Southwestern College (Kansas)|Southwestern College]] is located in Winfield. It is a four-year private higher-educational institution affiliated with the [[United Methodist Church]].

[[St. John's College (Kansas)|St. John's College]] was located in Winfield before it closed in 1986.<ref>[http://stjohnsalumni.org/ St. John's College Alumni Assn.]</ref>

==Media==
{{See also|Media in Wichita, Kansas|List of newspapers in Kansas|List of radio stations in Kansas|List of television stations in Kansas}}

===Print===
* ''[[The Cowley Courier Traveler]]'' for both Winfield and Arkansas City, formed by the merger of ''[[The Winfield Daily Courier]]'' and ''[[The Arkansas City Traveler]]''

===Radio===
* [[KKLE]], 1550 AM, News/Talk
* [[KBDD]], 91.9 FM, Religious
* KSWC, 94.7 FM, College (low power)
* [[KSOK-FM|KSOK]], 95.9 FM, Country
* KSOK, 103.3 FM, Classic Hits (translator for KSOK-AM)
* KSOK-AM, 1280 AM, Classic Hits
* [[KWLS]], 107.9 FM, Country

==Notable people==
{{Alumni|people|date=October 2025}}
<!--- Please list only people who have spent a significant amount of time in Winfield. If the individual's tie is ''only'' as a college student, they should be listed in the college article. --->
{{Main|List of people from Cowley County, Kansas}}
{{See also|Southwestern_College_(Kansas)#Notable_alumni|l1=List of Southwestern College people}}
* [[Robert A. Alberty]], biophysical chemist
* [[Bob Brannum]], basketball player
* [[Gilbert Bundy]] (1911–1955), cartoonist and illustrator
* [[Darren E. Burrows]], artist, director and actor; most notably as [[Ed Chigliak]] in the television series ''[[Northern Exposure]]''
* [[Josh Clarke (baseball)|Josh Clarke]], baseball player
* [[Harold Corbin]], Olympian in fencing
* [[Ira Davenport (athlete)|Ira Davenport]], Olympic bronze-medal winner in track and field
* [[Greta Goodwin]], member Kansas Senate and Kansas House of Representatives
* [[John A. Harts|John Harts]], football coach
* [[Bob Kenney]], University of Kansas NCAA National Men's Basketball Championship team in 1952, 1952 Olympic gold medal
* [[Richard Mawdsley]], artist known for his work in metalsmithing
* [[Ruth Maycliffe]] (1888–1981), Broadway actress
* [[Guy McAfee]] (1888–1960), law enforcement officer, owner of brothels and gambling saloons in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] and co-founder of casinos in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lillisview|first1=Maggie|title=Guy McAfee credited with branding the Strip|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/life/las-vegas-history/guy-mcafee-credited-branding-strip|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
* [[George Thomas McDermott|George McDermott]], U.S. federal judge
* [[Eugene Pallette]], actor; appeared in over 240 silent-era and sound-era motion pictures
* [[Steve Sidwell (American football)|Steve Sidwell]], football coach
* [[Dean C. Strother|Dean Strother]], [[U.S. Air Force]] [[four-star general]]; Commander in Chief of the [[North American Air Defense Command]] and the [[Continental Air Defense Command]]
* [[Caroline Thorington]], artist
* [[Karen Wheeler]], artist
<!-- *** INSTRUCTIONS FOR NOTABLE PEOPLE SECTIONS ***
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 1) Insert person into list sorted by last name (surname).
 2) Each person MUST meet [[Wikipedia:Bio]] requirements to ensure notability (see [[Wikipedia:Notability]]).
 3) Each person MUST meet [[Wikipedia:Verifiability]] requirements to verify their notability and prove they resided in the city.
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==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Cowley County, Kansas]]
* [[List of Kansas railroads]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
{{See also|Cowley County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Cowley County, Kansas}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Winfield, Kansas}}
{{Wikivoyage|Winfield (Kansas)}} 
* {{Official website|https://www.winfieldks.org/}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41261125 Winfield – Directory of Public Officials]
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/winfield.PDF Winfield city map], KDOT
* {{Cite EB1911|short=x|wstitle=Winfield}}

{{Winfield, Kansas|state=expanded}}
{{Cowley County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:County seats in Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Cowley County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1870]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Kansas]]