# Maize, Kansas

Maize is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States, and a suburb of Wichita. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 5,735. The name Maize, derived from a Native American word for "corn", was so named because it is located within the Corn Belt.

## History

The Maize Town Company, led by N. F. Neiderlander, founded Maize in 1886 at the first stop outside of Wichita on the Wichita and Colorado Railway. The post office opened that same year as did the town's first church, having relocated from nearby. Maize's first school opened in 1887; its first newspaper opened in 1895. Maize State Bank, the town's first financial institution, opened in 1901, and, by 1908, a business community had emerged. In 1915, the Maize Town Company dissolved, and Maize was incorporated as a city.
Several natural disasters struck Maize in the 1930s and 1940s, including the Dust Bowl in 1934–35, a plague of grasshoppers in 1936, and a flood in 1944.
Maize began to grow rapidly in 1950, more than doubling in size by 1956. This growth has continued, accelerating in recent years as Wichita has expanded to the northwest, and transformed Maize into a suburb.

## Geography

Maize is located at 37°46′45″N 97°28′2″W﻿ / ﻿37.77917°N 97.46722°W﻿ / 37.77917; -97.46722 (37.779178, -97.467267) at an elevation of 1,348 feet (411 m). It lies on the west side of Big Slough Creek, roughly 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of the Arkansas River in the Wellington-McPherson Lowlands region of the Great Plains. Located in south-central Kansas, Maize is on K-96, immediately northwest of Wichita.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.84 square miles (22.90 km$^2$), all land.

## Demographics

Maize is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

### 2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 5,735 people, 2,111 households, and 1,498 families in Maize. The population density was 588.9 per square mile (227.4/km$^2$). There were 2,289 housing units at an average density of 235.1 per square mile (90.8/km$^2$). The racial makeup was 81.81% (4,692) white or European American (78.01% non-Hispanic white), 2.91% (167) black or African-American, 1.15% (66) Native American or Alaska Native, 1.62% (93) Asian, 0.07% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 2.58% (148) from other races, and 9.85% (565) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 10.27% (589) of the population.
Of the 2,111 households, 40.5% had children under the age of 18; 53.4% were married couples living together; 25.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 23.0% of households consisted of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.1. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 20.5% of the population.
30.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 107.3 males.
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $59,856 (with a margin of error of +/- $18,462) and the median family income was $75,993 (+/- $24,517). Males had a median income of $48,077 (+/- $8,030) versus $31,755 (+/- $11,804) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $39,703 (+/- $15,974). Approximately, 1.8% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those ages 65 or over.

### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,420 people, 1,172 households, and 942 families living in the city. The population density was 386.9 inhabitants per square mile (149.4/km$^2$). There were 1,284 housing units at an average density of 145.2 per square mile (56.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 91.3% White, 1.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.4% of the population.
There were 1,172 households, of which 49.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 19.6% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.28.
The median age in the city was 30.7 years. 34.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.7% were from 25 to 44; 21.8% were from 45 to 64; and 8.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,868 people, 632 households, and 523 families living in the city. The population density was 2,274.9 inhabitants per square mile (878.3/km$^2$). There were 668 housing units at an average density of 813.5 per square mile (314.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 93.47% White, 0.96% African American, 1.23% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.91% from other races, and 3.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.62% of the population.
There were 632 households, out of which 49.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.2% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,845, and the median income for a family was $53,365. Males had a median income of $41,653 versus $25,817 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,803. About 1.9% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

Maize has a mayor-council-administrator form of government. The city council consists of the mayor and five members who serve part-time. The mayor is elected to a four-year term while terms for council members are staggered such that two members are up for election every two years.

## Education

Maize USD 266 public school district operates eighteen schools in and around the city.

## Infrastructure
### Transportation

K-96 runs northwest-southeast through the middle of the city, but remains outside of the official city limits. Questions of jurisdictional responsibility relating to highways and infrastructure as well as law enforcement authority have long been an issue of misunderstanding amongst city leaders. City police have no police authority on K-96 unless operating under a deputy sheriff commission granted under the authority of the Sedgwick County Sheriff. Currently, sheriff’s deputies and members of the Kansas Highway Patrol are tasked with all law enforcement and investigative responsibility.
The Hutchinson line of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad runs southeast–northwest through Maize.
Maize Airport is a privately owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (2.3 mi, 3.7 km) southeast of the central business district of Maize.

## Notable people

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Maize include:
* Nancy Kassebaum (1932- ), U.S. Senator from Kansas
* Richard Kassebaum (1960-2008), documentary filmmaker
* Miles Ukaoma (1992-), Olympian