Gas, Kansas

Gas, Kansas
City
"Gas Kan"- shaped Watertower in Gas (2012)
Motto(s):  "Don't Pass Gas, Stop and Enjoy It"
Location within Allen County and Kansas
KDOT map of Allen County (legend)
Coordinates: 37°55′21″N 95°20′41″W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Allen
Township	Elm
Founded	1898
Incorporated	1901
Named for	Natural gas
Area
• Total	0.72 sq mi (1.87 km2)
• Land	0.72 sq mi (1.86 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,020 ft (310 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	475
• Density	660/sq mi (250/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	66742
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-25975
GNIS ID	2394865
Website	cityofgas.com

Gas is a city in the northwestern part of Allen County, in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. In 2020, 475 people lived there. The city was named for the natural gas that was found in the area.

History

In the summer of 1898 in Elm Township, E.K. Taylor sold 60 acres (24 ha) of his farm to some spelter companies when natural gas was found in the area. This was the beginning of "Gas City". The place grew quickly. In 1910 the population was 1,281, and the city had a bank, a daily and a weekly newspaper, an opera house, an international money order postoffice (first opened in August 1899).

Geography

Gas is at 37°55′21″N 95°20′41″W (37.92257, -95.344956). It is along U.S. Route 54 in Elm Township. Gas is about three miles (5 km) east of Iola (the county seat) and 2½ miles west of the city of La Harpe. The interchange between U.S. Routes 54 and 169 is about two miles (3 km) west of Gas.

The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 0.72 square miles (1.86 km²). All of it is land.

People

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	1,281		—
1920	367		−71.4%
1930	326		−11.2%
1940	357		9.5%
1950	294		−17.6%
1960	342		16.3%
1970	438		28.1%
1980	543		24.0%
1990	505		−7.0%
2000	556		10.1%
2010	564		1.4%
2020	475		−15.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

In the 2020 census, there were 475 people, 193 households, and 124 families living in Gas. Of the households, 83.4% owned their home and 16.6% rented their home.

The median age was 41.1 years. Of the people, 89.9% were White, 1.9% were Native American, 1.3% were Black, 1.3% were Asian, 0.4% were from some other race, and 5.3% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the people.

2010 census

In 2010, there were 564 people, 216 households, and 149 families living in Gas.

2000 census

In 2000, there were 556 people, 217 households, and 167 families living in Gas.

More reading

See also: List of books about Allen County, Kansas

Other websites

City

• City of Gas
• Gas - Directory of Public Officials

Schools

• USD 257, local school district

Maps

• Gas City Map, KDOT