Manhattan is a city located in Riley County Kansas. Manhattan has a 2023 population of 55,204. It is also the county seat of Riley County.Manhattan is currently growing at a rate of 0.4% annually and its population has increased by 1.21% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 54,544 in 2020.
The average household income in Manhattan is $75,791 with a poverty rate of 25.93%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Manhattan is 25 years, 24.9 years for males, and 25.1 years for females.
While the name may remind you of the borough in New York City, the Manhattan that we examine here is a city located in the state of Kansas. It is located in Riley County, with part of the city located in Pottawatomie. It is the county seat of Riley County. This city is most known for having a college-town vibe, as it is the location of Kansas State University.
It is also known by its nickname “The Little Apple” to New York City’s “Big Apple.” According to recent estimates, the population of Manhattan is {pop}.
The largest employer in Manhattan is Kansas State University. The school district, Fort Riley, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture are also significant employers in the area.
Manhattan has seen consistent growth every decade since the census of 1870. The population surpassed 10,000 residents in 1930 and had more than doubled just 30 years later. At the time of the 2010 census, the population had grown to over 50,000. Since the 2010 census, current estimates show that the population has already increased by over 5%, indicating that this city will continue on its upward growth trend well into the future.
Native tribes originally inhabited what is now Manhattan. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Kansa people were the primary inhabitants. The tribe gave up their rights to the land with the signing of a treaty in 1846. Just a few years later, the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed US citizens to settle the territory. George Park founded a settlement that year, naming it Polistra. A nearby area was also established and was named Canton.
In 1855, New England Free-Staters came into the area. The sites of Canton and Polistra were chosen for settlement. The same year, it was decided that the town settlements would be joined and named Boston. Dozens of settlers continued to come into the area. A steamer came ashore carrying 75 immigrants. They were stranded and decided to settle in the area but only if the name was changed, which it was. The city was incorporated just two years later.
Because Manhattan was Free-State, it was subject to violence. However, it was protected under neighboring Fort Riley, so it was spared much of the violence and destruction faced by other cities during the Bleeding Kansas period. Because of this, the area developed quite quickly. It was in the late 1850s when the city was selected as the county seat, and the same year, a college was established.
The population continued to grow as Fifty-Niners came to the area following the discovery of gold. The city flourished by selling supplies to miners. Later that year, the first newspaper was established. The population was continuing to grow, especially with the arrival of the Kansas Pacific Railroad.
The city of Manhattan has continued to expand, and its population has grown every decade. Today, the city has been named as one of the best places to retire and one of the best small communities for business and career. Public entities are the hub of the economy, and the city is home to many historic buildings and homes, Kansas State University, and cultural hotspots.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Manhattan was:
White
Two or more races
Black or African American
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 20,815 | 2.35 | 41.7 | 58.3 |
Non Family | 11,174 | 1.78 | 24.1 | 75.9 |
Married | 7,210 | 2.91 | 73.1 | 26.9 |
Female | 1,555 | 3.35 | 25.5 | 74.5 |
Male | 876 | 3.2 | 36.3 | 63.7 |
2.91
Average Family Size
2.35
Average Household Size
41.7%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
89.64% of Manhattan residents speak only English, while 10.36% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 4.92% of the population.
rate
25.93%
Overall Poverty Rate
24.67%
Male Poverty Rate
27.26%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Manhattan is Islander, with 51.18% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Manhattan is Other, with 17.78% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 6.18%. Among those working part-time, it was 51.6%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 29.07%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
32.5%
Overall Marriage Rate
32.1%
Male Marriage Rate
32.8%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
13.4%
Veteran Poverty Rate
21.73%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
70.4%
Labor Force Participation
65.2%
Employment Rate
4.5%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
56.96%
Born in Manhattan
103.11%
Native Born
8.78%
Foreign Born
6.43%
Non Citizen
2.35%
Naturalized
103.11% of Manhattan residents were born in the United States, with 56.96% having been born in Kansas. 6.43% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 3,004 | -53,543 | 2.13% |
1900 | 3,438 | 434 | 1.36% |
1910 | 5,722 | 2,284 | 5.23% |
1920 | 7,989 | 2,267 | 3.39% |
1930 | 10,136 | 2,147 | 2.41% |
1940 | 11,659 | 1,523 | 1.41% |
1950 | 19,056 | 7,397 | 5.04% |
1960 | 22,993 | 3,937 | 1.9% |
1970 | 27,575 | 4,582 | 1.83% |
1980 | 32,644 | 5,069 | 1.7% |
1990 | 37,712 | 5,068 | 1.45% |
2000 | 44,831 | 7,119 | 1.74% |
2010 | 52,281 | ||
2011 | 52,463 | 182 | 0.35% |
2012 | 52,645 | 182 | 0.35% |
2013 | 52,827 | 182 | 0.35% |
2014 | 53,009 | 182 | 0.34% |
2015 | 53,191 | 182 | 0.34% |
2016 | 53,373 | 182 | 0.34% |
2017 | 53,555 | 182 | 0.34% |
2018 | 53,737 | 182 | 0.34% |
2019 | 53,919 | 182 | 0.34% |
2020 | 54,544 | 625 | 1.16% |
2021 | 54,763 | 219 | 0.4% |
2022 | 54,983 | 220 | 0.4% |
2023 | 55,204 | 221 | 0.4% |
2024 | 55,426 | 222 | 0.4% |
2025 | 55,649 | 223 | 0.4% |
2026 | 55,872 | 223 | 0.4% |
2027 | 56,096 | 224 | 0.4% |
2028 | 56,321 | 225 | 0.4% |
2029 | 56,547 | 226 | 0.4% |