This article will include 1) information about the following features and 2) links for gathering the latest information:

• Location and Description
• Background and History
• Business Status and Economic Development / Employment Outlook
• Higher Education
• PreK - 12 School System
• Sports
• Tourism, Recreation & Historical Attractions
• Things that make Mulberry different

Mulberry sits in Crawford County, Kansas in the Southeast Market Area designated for gathering statistics about employment and business. Mulberry is actually at the Missouri-Kansas state border, near Pittsburg KS.

Sperling's Best Cities lists 573 residents in Mulberry in 2009. The US Census stated in 2000 that the City of Mulberry covered ½ square mile of ground. If it were a rectangle, it would 10 city blocks long and 5 city blocks wide, assuming a standard length of 0.10 mile per block. As a square, it would be 0.70 mile on a side and regardless of the shape, you could walk around the perimeter in about 90 minutes at the leisurely rate of 30 min/mile. Its population was recorded as 577, with over 1100 people per square mile. The largest proportion of homes in Mulberry were built in or before 1939.

Mulberry is a very small town and particularly low-tech, once a old coal mining town named Mulberry Grove. The population is comprised of largely mid-careerists and younger retirees, ages 24 - 65, with approximately equal numbers below and above age 45.

Interestingly, a higher proportion of the population is Native American than in other US States: 3.3% compared to the usual 1/2 to 9/10 of only one percent. The Native Americans live on the west side of Mulberry. One square block in the central city is comprised of 45+% Native Americans, the higest concentration in Mulberry.

Native Americans cared for the lands of the future state of Kansas from at least 6,000 - 12,000 years ago. The Kansa and Osage moved into the area around 1600, followed by the Taos. Others moved back and forth across the lands.

Kansas Territory was settled in the 1800s by thiose moving in from the United States East. The US Federal Government awarded packages of land to homesteaders, displacing Native American populations. Some of these Indigenous People moves further West or South as settlers swarmed into the area, while others were forcibly moved to federal reservations.

Crawford County formed from another county to the north in 1867 after the American Civil War and named for Governor (and US Army Captain) Samuel J. Crawford (1864 - 1868). Governor Crawford resigned in 1868, to become Colonel of the 19^th Kansas Cavalry in the Indian War of 1868-69.

The Crawford County Historical Museum in Pittsburg KS contains some records of Mulberry history. They can be called at (620) 231-1440 for additional information.

As part Southeast Kansas, Mulberry will benefit from a portion of the funding allocated to the counties from the US States through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Education and Healthcare are the leaders for enhancement, with Infrastructure Projects that are creating new jobs close behinds. Job Training (Employment & Training or E&T), Unemployment Benefits, and related Support Services are, unfortunately, in last position.

• Education $584 Million
• Healthcare $507 Million
• Infrastructure Projects $108 Million
• Justice/Public Safety $105 Million
• Energy $96 Million
• Job Training, Unemployment Benefits, etc. $58 Million

These jobs in Crawford County, including Mulberry and a 25-mile radius, are largely categorized as Healthcare, Production, and Services other than Healthcare.

1. Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and related positions
2. Registered Nurses (RNs)with a 2-year AA Degree
3. Personal Aides and Home Care Aides
4. Team Assemblers - production/factories
5. Janitors/Cleaners - does not include Maids and Housekeepers (Accomodations and private homes).
6. Food Preparation and Service - all types of establishments.
7. Retail Sales
8. Teacher's Assistants
9. Customer Service Representatives
10. Waitstaff - Waiters and Waitresses in full service establishments 

The jobs that are multiplying most quickly include Production, Clerical, Professional Accounting, Cleaning, and various Manual Labor. This indicates a yearly jump in business in Mulberry and the Southeast Market, including new businesses, expanding companies, more customers, increased customer bases, increased sales, increased average customer sale ("ticket"), and others. Considering the years 2009 - 2014, the increase in the first year may not seem to include a large number of jobs, but the jump each year will build a large number by 2014. Stimulus and ARRA 2009 funds will boost those numbers higher. Infrastructure and Green Jobs will increase, but these jobs were already increasing from 2004 - 2009.   

1. Trades Helpers
2. Production Workers - i.e., factories and plants.
3. Receptionists and Information Clerks
4. Accountants and Auditors - includes forensic accounting.
5. Janitors/Industrial Cleaners - does not include Maids and Housekeepers in the Accomodations Industry and homes.
6. Manual Packers and Packagers - work done by hand; On the Job Training.
7. Bookkeepers
8. Accounting, and Auditing Clerks - includes forensic accounting.
9. Manual Laborers - On the Job Training.
10. Handlers of Freight, Stock, and Materials - all work done by hand; On the Job Training.

Over 380 Jobs were listed and available in the Mulberry area on April 30, 2009, and the majority of them were related to Healthcare. Specifically, the most jobs were offred in Occupational Therapy in travel positions (more highly paid), other Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapist and Travelers in that field. The Travel Healthcare Field is booming inmany US States.

The employers listing the highest numbers of job openings are all heathcare providers:

1. Critical Connection
2. Medical Connections
3. OceanMed Staffing
4. Reflectx Staffing
5. TravelRehab
6. Med Travelers

The Largest Employers In and Around Mulberry

Small businesses make up most of the local employment market, included in the following industry sectors:

• Accommodation & Food Services: Full-Service Restaurants (3 shops: Gebhardt's Chicken Dinner. Country Cove, and Rockin' K Steak 'N' Rib)
• Mining: Crushed and Broken Limestone (1)
• Construction: Painting and Wall Covering (1)
• Construction: Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (1)
• Health Care and Social Assistance: Community Food Services (1)
• Construction: New Single-Family Housing Construction (1)

Most residents in Mulberry that work commute out of town ti nearby towns. Online discussion boards reveal that the city no longer has a gas station or a grocery store of its own.

One University and one State College are within ~30 miles of Mulberry.

• Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg KS
• Missouri Southern State College, Joplin MO

Mulberry School Systems

• Children and youth attend schools in neighboring locations such as Arma, two miles away: Northeast Unified School District 246.

SPORTS

• Sports teams are associated with the surrounding YMCAs and the local schools and higher education facilities.
• Geocaching is becoming widespread - Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt that uses GPS devices. Players find hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and write their experiences online. The game encourages environmental awareness and concern.
• Sports opportunities are available at 4 golf courses and in a number of outdoor recreational sports, birding, hunting, and fishing.

From the vantage point of the state border, Mulberry is a quiet city from which to proceed to nearby libraries, museums, State Parks, festivals and celebrations around eastern Kansas and Crawford County, sports, recreation, and local restaurants and scenery, as well as yourist and historical sites in Missouri.

See the Research Links above for additional information.

• Larger Native American population than many US States and Counties.
• Very small population of ethnic peoples.
• Large White population - about 96%.
• Ghost Sightings: Mulberry, Kansas, Ghost Sightings
• Two miles away in Arma: Scottys Classic Car Museum - thre gift shop/show room/library is unbelievable. The Museum was opened by Scotty and Phyllis Bitner in the memory of the owner's departed 6-year-old grandson, Scotty.  Larger gallery of photos online.