Conway, Kansas

Conway is an unincorporated community in southwestern Jackson Township, McPherson County, Kansas, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 56 and a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line, west of the city of McPherson.

19th century
For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, McPherson County was founded.

In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company. In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood. The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968. In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

A post office was opened in Conway in 1880, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1983.

20th century
The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Windom, Conway, McPherson.

2020 census
The 2020 United States census counted 1,086 people, 430 households, and 285 families in Conway Springs. The population density was 1,100.3 per square mile (424.8/km$2$). There were 482 housing units at an average density of 488.3 per square mile (188.6/km$2$). The racial makeup was 93.0% (1,010) white or European American (92.82% non-Hispanic white), 0.0% (0) black or African-American, 0.74% (8) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.09% (1) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.28% (3) from other races, and 5.89% (64) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 1.38% (15) of the population.

Of the 430 households, 33.7% had children under the age of 18; 51.6% were married couples living together; 24.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 30.2% of households consisted of individuals and 12.3% 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 3.2. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 27.2% of the population.

27.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 103.1 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $53,646 (with a margin of error of +/- $12,371) and the median family income was $63,750 (+/- $28,115). Males had a median income of $43,891 (+/- $2,951) versus $36,281 (+/- $5,384) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $41,350 (+/- $3,821). Approximately, 8.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under the age of 18 and 16.5% of those ages 65 or over.

Economy
Conway is home to a large underground refined petroleum storage facility. The storage facility consists of large caverns carved into the underlying salt beds. The storage facility has a holding capacity of over 4 million barrels of propane and other refined petroleum products. The Conway storage facility holds approximately 30% of the propane stored in the United States.

Education
The community is served by McPherson USD 418 public school district.