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Great Bend, Kansas

Great Bend is a city in and the county seat of Barton County, Kansas, United States.[1] It is named for its location at the point where the course of the Arkansas River bends east then southeast.[5] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 14,733.[3][4] It is home to Barton Community College.

Great Bend, Kansas
Downtown Great Bend (2012)
Location within Barton County and Kansas
KDOT map of Barton County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°21′52″N 98°45′53″W / 38.36444°N 98.76472°W / 38.36444; -98.76472Coordinates: 38°21′52″N 98°45′53″W / 38.36444°N 98.76472°W / 38.36444; -98.76472[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyBarton
Founded1871
Incorporated1872
Named forBend in Arkansas River
Area
 • Total10.63 sq mi (27.54 km2)
 • Land10.50 sq mi (27.19 km2)
 • Water0.13 sq mi (0.35 km2)
Elevation1,850 ft (560 m)
Population
 • Total14,733
 • Density1,400/sq mi (530/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67530
Area code620
FIPS code20-28300 [1]
GNIS ID475650 [1]
Websitegreatbendks.net

History

Prior to American settlement of the area, the site of Great Bend was located in the northern reaches of Kiowa territory.[6] Claimed first by France as part of Louisiana and later acquired by the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, it lay within the area organized by the U.S. as Kansas Territory in 1854.[7][8] Kansas became a state in 1861, and the state government delineated the surrounding area as Barton County in 1867.[8][9]

The first settlers of the area arrived in 1870. Living in sod houses and dugouts, they worked as buffalo hunters since trampling by bison herds precluded crop farming.[10] In 1871, the Great Bend Town Company, anticipating the westward construction of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, founded Great Bend at a site roughly three miles west of Fort Zarah on the Santa Fe Trail.[10][11] They named the settlement after its location at the "great bend" in the Arkansas River where the river's course turns eastward.[5] The town began to grow as more settlers arrived over the following year and opened several businesses.

 
1915 Railroad Map of Barton County

The railroad reached Great Bend in July 1872, and an election at about the same time declared the town the permanent county seat.[9] Great Bend was incorporated as a city soon thereafter. The county courthouse and the city's first public school were built the following year.[11]

In 1873, following the arrival of the railroad, Great Bend became a shipping point for cattle.[11] This stimulated local business but also transformed the city into a rowdy, violent cowtown.[10] In 1876, the Kansas Legislature extended the legal "dead line" restricting the presence of Texas cattle 30 miles west of Barton County. The cattle trade moved westward accordingly, and the city became more peaceful.[11]

Over the following decades, Great Bend continued to grow and modernize, becoming a center of area commerce. This was despite two disasters which struck the city: a downtown fire in 1878 and a smallpox outbreak in 1882 which resulted in a brief quarantine.[11] In 1886, local speculators began to fund exploration for petroleum in the area. By 1930, the oil and gas industry brought more than $20 million annually to the county.[12] More than 3,000 wells produced during the 1930s, and the influx of workers dramatically increased the city's population.[10]

The U.S. Army Air Forces opened Great Bend Army Airfield west of the city in 1943. The base served as training facility for B-29 bomber aircraft personnel during World War II.[13] After the war, the City of Great Bend acquired the base and repurposed it for civilian use as Great Bend Municipal Airport.[14]

The city continued to grow through the 1950s, its population peaking at almost 17,000 in 1960. In 1973, the Fuller Brush Company relocated its production facilities to Great Bend, becoming one of the city's major employers. Despite a modest decline in population in recent decades, Great Bend continues to serve as a commercial center for central Kansas.[10]

Geography

Great Bend is located at 38°21′52″N 98°45′53″W / 38.36444°N 98.76472°W / 38.36444; -98.76472 (38.3644567, -98.7648073) at an elevation of 1,850 feet (564 m).[1] It is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 281 and U.S. Route 56 highways in Kansas. Driving by highway, it is approximately 116 miles (187 km) northwest of Wichita and 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Hays.[15]

Lying in the Great Bend Sand Prairie region of the Great Plains, the city is situated on the north side of the Arkansas River where the river's course shifts from northeast to southeast.[16][17] Dry Walnut Creek, a tributary of nearby Walnut Creek, flows east along the northern edge of the city.[18] Cheyenne Bottoms, a large inland wetland, is located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) to the northeast.[19]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.71 square miles (27.74 km2), of which 10.60 square miles (27.45 km2) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km2) is water.[20]

Climate

Located near the convergence of North America's humid continental (Köppen: Dfa), humid subtropical (Köppen: Cfa), and semi-arid (Köppen: BSk) climate zones, Great Bend experiences hot summers and cold, dry winters.[21] On average, January is the coldest month, July the hottest and May is the wettest. The hottest temperature recorded in Great Bend was 111 °F (44 °C) in 1980; the coldest temperature recorded was -21 °F (-29 °C) in 1989.[22]

The average temperature is 57 °F (14 °C).[23] Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to an average high of 94 °F (34 °C) in July.[22] The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32 °C) an average of 70 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 °F (38 °C) an average of 13 days a year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 112 days a year. The first fall freeze typically takes place by the third week of October, and the last spring freeze by the second week of April.[23]

Great Bend receives 27 inches (690 mm) of precipitation during an average year, and there are, on average, 71 days of measurable precipitation each year.[22][23] The average relative humidity is 67%.[24] Annual snowfall averages 17 inches (43 cm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of seven days a year with at least an inch of snow being received on six of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 23 days a year.[23]

Climate data for Great Bend, Kansas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 79
(26)
85
(29)
91
(33)
101
(38)
102
(39)
111
(44)
111
(44)
110
(43)
106
(41)
98
(37)
90
(32)
79
(26)
111
(44)
Average high °F (°C) 45
(7)
50
(10)
60
(16)
71
(22)
79
(26)
88
(31)
94
(34)
92
(33)
84
(29)
72
(22)
57
(14)
45
(7)
70
(21)
Average low °F (°C) 21
(−6)
25
(−4)
33
(1)
43
(6)
54
(12)
63
(17)
68
(20)
67
(19)
58
(14)
45
(7)
33
(1)
23
(−5)
44
(7)
Record low °F (°C) −17
(−27)
−19
(−28)
−6
(−21)
14
(−10)
25
(−4)
39
(4)
45
(7)
45
(7)
29
(−2)
16
(−9)
−4
(−20)
−21
(−29)
−21
(−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.61
(15)
0.86
(22)
1.94
(49)
2.36
(60)
4.38
(111)
3.97
(101)
3.41
(87)
3.33
(85)
1.96
(50)
2.05
(52)
0.97
(25)
0.85
(22)
26.69
(679)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 4.9
(12)
4.1
(10)
2.6
(6.6)
0.6
(1.5)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.1
(0.25)
1.0
(2.5)
3.6
(9.1)
16.9
(41.95)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 3.1 4.1 6.2 6.8 8.8 8.2 7.3 7.4 6.0 5.7 3.9 3.8 71.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.9 1.8 1.2 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.4 1.7 7.2
Source: National Weather Service;[23] The Weather Channel[22]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18801,071
18902,450128.8%
19002,4700.8%
19104,62287.1%
19204,460−3.5%
19305,54824.4%
19409,04463.0%
195012,66540.0%
196016,67031.6%
197016,133−3.2%
198016,6082.9%
199015,427−7.1%
200015,345−0.5%
201015,9954.2%
202014,733−7.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
2010-2020[4]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 15,995 people, 6,483 households, and 4,038 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,509.0 inhabitants per square mile (582.6/km2). There were 7,113 housing units at an average density of 671.0 per square mile (259.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.0% White, 1.7% African American, 0.6% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.0% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 19.8% of the population.[25]

There were 6,483 households, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.7% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.04.[25]

The median age in the city was 36.7 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.[25]

As of 2010, the median income for a household was $42,293, and the median income for a family was $46,969. Males had a median income of $33,623 versus $25,038 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,529. About 10.2% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.[25]

Economy

Agriculture is the predominant industry in Great Bend, and its grain elevators are visible from miles away. The oil industry flourished from about 1930–1960. There was even an oil well in the city park. But this industry has been on the decline for years. Cattle raising is also an important source of income for many people.

As of 2012, 66.5% of the population over the age of 16 were in the labor force. 0.0% were in the armed forces, and 66.5% were in the civilian labor force with 61.0% employed and 5.5% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was: 30.2% in management, business, science, and arts; 27.8% in sales and office occupations; 19.2% in service occupations; 9.6% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 13.3% in production, transportation, and material moving. The four industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: educational services, health care, and social assistance (27.3%); retail trade (11.9%); manufacturing (9.8%); and arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services (9.8%).[25] Great Bend Public Schools, Barton Community College, and CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions are the city's three largest employers. Other major employers include local government, local hospitals, Wal-Mart, Superior Essex, and Fuller Brush Company.[26]

The cost of living in Great Bend is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the city is 79.4.[27] As of 2012, the median home value in the city was $78,300, the median selected monthly owner cost was $979 for housing units with a mortgage and $400 for those without, and the median gross rent was $539.[25]

Government

 
Barton County Courthouse in Great Bend

Great Bend is a city of the second class with a mayor-council form of government.[28] The city council consists of eight members, two elected from each city ward for two-year terms. The mayor is elected at-large, also for a two-year term. The mayor and city council together constitute the city's Governing Body which sets goals, establishes policies, and approves all ordinances and resolutions.[29] The council meets on the first and third Monday of each month.[28]

As the county seat, Great Bend is the administrative center of Barton County. The county courthouse is located downtown, and most departments of the county government base their operations in the city.[30]

Great Bend lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District. For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature, the city is located in the 33rd district of the Kansas Senate and the 112th district of the Kansas House of Representatives.[28]

Education

Colleges

Barton Community College, a two-year public college, is located approximately three miles northeast of Great Bend.[31][32]

Public schools

Great Bend USD 428 public school district serves approximately 3,000 students and operates eight schools in the city:[33]

  • Great Bend High School (9–12)
  • Great Bend Middle School (7–8)
  • Eisenhower Elementary School (K–6)
  • Jefferson Elementary School (K–6)
  • Lincoln Elementary School (K–6)
  • Park Elementary School (K–6)
  • Riley Elementary School (PreK-6)
  • Helping Hands Preschool (PreK)

Private schools

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City oversees the Holy Family School (PreK–6).[34] There is also one non-denominational Christian school in the city, Central Kansas Christian Academy (K-8).[35]

Infrastructure

Transportation

 
Downtown grain elevator and abandoned Santa Fe railroad station

Great Bend was located on the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, that was established in 1912.[citation needed] Currently, two U.S. Highways and two Kansas state highways pass through the city. U.S. Route 281 runs north–south through Great Bend, intersecting U.S. Route 56, K-96, and K-156 which run concurrently east–west through the city. K-96 splits from U.S. 56 and K-156 in western Great Bend, exiting the city to the northwest. U.S. 56 and K-156 continue concurrently west, then turn south and ultimately southwest.[36]

Great Bend Municipal Airport is located approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the city.[36] Used primarily for general aviation.[37][38]

A Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line runs east–west through the city with a second line branching off to the northwest, paralleling K-96.[18]

Utilities

The city government's Public Works Department is responsible for water distribution, waste water treatment, and sewer maintenance. One of the few cities in the area not to have a water treatment plant or water tower, Great Bend obtains its water supply directly from ten wells located throughout the city.[39] Waste water is treated and recycled at the city's Wastewater Treatment Facility and then emptied into the Arkansas River.[40] Two regional energy cooperatives, Midwest Energy, Inc. and Wheatland Electric, provide electric power.[41] Local residents primarily use natural gas for heating fuel; Midwest Energy and Kansas Gas Service both provide natural gas service.[27][41]

Health care

There is one primary medical facility in the city. Great Bend Regional Hospital, a 33-bed general medical and surgical facility, is the city's sole hospital.[42] St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center, formerly Central Kansas Medical Center, was an outpatient care facility affiliated with Catholic Health Initiatives.[43] St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center was closed and demolished in 2015.

Media

The Great Bend Tribune is the city's daily newspaper with a circulation of over 6,200 copies.[44]

The Interrobang was the student newspaper at the Great Bend-based Barton Community College.

Great Bend is a center of broadcast media for central Kansas.[45][46] Two AM and ten FM radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from the city.[45] Two television stations, one NBC affiliate and one ABC affiliate, also broadcast from the city.[46] Both are satellite stations of their respective affiliates in Wichita as Great Bend is part of the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market.[46][47]

Parks and recreation

The city government's Park Department maintains 10 parks in the city.[48] The two largest are Brit Spaugh Park and Veteran's Memorial Park. Located in the north-central part of the city, Brit Spaugh Park includes the Great Bend Zoo, the Wetlands Aquatic Center, two softball fields, horseshoe courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, a skateboarding area, and a BMX track. Veteran's Park is located in the northwestern part of the city and includes an 18-hole disc golf course, a fishing lake with limited boating, sand volleyball, ballfields, a playground, and walking trails. The department also maintains hiking and biking trails along flood control levies around the city along with Stone Lake, a 43-acre (17 ha) fishing lake immediately south of the city.[49][50]

The Club at StoneRidge, located on the northern edge of the city, includes a private, 18-hole golf course that opened in 1940. A second 18-hole course, the Lake Barton Golf Course, lies approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the city.[51]

Culture

Arts and music

From 1947 to 1989, Great Bend was the home of the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps. Under the direction of Glenn and Sandra Opie, the corps achieved national fame, most notably winning the American Legion national championships in 1971, 1972, and 1973.[52] The Rebels were one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International, finishing in 5th place in 1972 and 11th in 1973.[52]

Points of interest

Sports

Greyhound racing got its start in the United States in the bottoms in 1886 during a formal coursing event.[55]

The first nationwide NHRA sponsored event called "the Nationals" was held in 1955, in Great Bend, Kansas at the Great Bend Municipal Airport.[56]

Notable people

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Great Bend include jazz singer and pianist Karrin Allyson (1963– ),[57] co-inventor of the integrated circuit (IC) and 2000 Nobel Prize laureate in physics Jack Kilby (1923–2005),[58] and 1952 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic basketball player John Keller (1928–2000).[59]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Great Bend, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Profile of Great Bend, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau. from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Great Bend, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. pp. 145.
  6. ^ Sturtevant, William C. (1967). "Early Indian Tribes, Culture Areas, and Linguistic Stocks [Map]". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  7. ^ "Louisiana Purchase". Kansapedia. Kansas Historical Society. August 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Kansas Territory". Kansapedia. March 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  9. ^ a b Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 786.
  10. ^ a b c d e Weiser, Kathy. "Great Bend, Kansas – History and Information". Legends of Kansas. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c d e Cutler, William G. (1883). . History of the State of Kansas. Chicago: A. T. Andreas. Archived from the original on January 5, 2003. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  12. ^ . Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau. Archived from the original on November 24, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  13. ^ "U.S. Army and Air Force Wings Over Kansas, Part One". Kansas Historical Quarterly. Kansas Historical Society. 25 (2): 129–157. Summer 1959. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  14. ^ "Great Bend Municipal Airport – History". City of Great Bend. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  15. ^ "Official Transportation Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "Ecoregions of Nebraska and Kansas" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency. 2001. Retrieved March 14, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "Barton County, Kansas". Kansapedia. Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  18. ^ a b "General Highway Map - Barton County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. September 1, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  19. ^ Cheyenne Bottoms: Jewel of the Prairie - cheyennebottoms.net - Retrieved February 10, 2009
  20. ^ . United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  21. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11 (5): 1633–1644. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007.
  22. ^ a b c d "Average weather for Great Bend". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  23. ^ a b c d e "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service Forecast Office - Wichita, KS. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  24. ^ "Historical Weather for Great Bend, Kansas, United States of America". Weatherbase. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  25. ^ a b c d e f "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  26. ^ (PDF). Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  27. ^ a b "Great Bend, Kansas". City-Data.com. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  28. ^ a b c . Directory of Kansas Public Officials. The League of Kansas Municipalities. Archived from the original on December 13, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  29. ^ "Governing Body". City of Great Bend. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  30. ^ . Barton County, Kansas. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
  31. ^ (PDF). Barton Community College. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  32. ^ "About Our Campuses". Barton Community College. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  33. ^ . USD 428 Great Bend Public Schools. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  34. ^ . Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  35. ^ . Central Kansas Christian Academy. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  36. ^ a b "City of Great Bend (Map)" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  37. ^ "KGBD - Great Bend Municipal Airport". AirNav.com. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  38. ^ "Great Bend Municipal Airport - FAQs". City of Great Bend. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  39. ^ "Water Division". City of Great Bend. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  40. ^ "Wastewater Treatment Facility". City of Great Bend. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  41. ^ a b . Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  42. ^ "Great Bend Regional Hospital". U.S. News Best Hospitals. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  43. ^ "CKMC Announces New Direction". St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center. January 3, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  44. ^ "Great Bend Tribune". Mondo Times. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  45. ^ a b "Radio Stations in Great Bend, Kansas". Radio-Locator. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  46. ^ a b c "Stations for Hays, Kansas". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
  47. ^ "Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas TV market". EchoStar Knowledge Base. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  48. ^ "Park Department". City of Great Bend. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  49. ^ "Great Bend [Map]". Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  50. ^ "Resource Directory". City of Great Bend. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  51. ^ . Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  52. ^ a b "corpsreps.com - The Drum Corps Repertoire Database". corpsreps.com.
  53. ^ . Barton County Histor. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013.
  54. ^ "Britt Spaugh Park & Great Bend Zoo". Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  55. ^ Tim Horan (February 2006). . National Greyhound Association. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009.
  56. ^ . NHRA. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013.
  57. ^ (PDF). AMS Artists. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  58. ^ "TI People - Jack Kilby". Texas Instruments. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  59. ^ . University of Kansas. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2011.

Further reading

External links

  • City of Great Bend
  • Great Bend - Directory of Public Officials
  • Barton County Historical Museum
  • Great Bend city map, KDOT

great, bend, kansas, other, places, named, great, bend, great, bend, disambiguation, great, bend, city, county, seat, barton, county, kansas, united, states, named, location, point, where, course, arkansas, river, bends, east, then, southeast, 2020, census, po. For other places named Great Bend see Great Bend disambiguation Great Bend is a city in and the county seat of Barton County Kansas United States 1 It is named for its location at the point where the course of the Arkansas River bends east then southeast 5 As of the 2020 census the population of the city was 14 733 3 4 It is home to Barton Community College Great Bend KansasCity and County seatDowntown Great Bend 2012 Location within Barton County and KansasKDOT map of Barton County legend Coordinates 38 21 52 N 98 45 53 W 38 36444 N 98 76472 W 38 36444 98 76472 Coordinates 38 21 52 N 98 45 53 W 38 36444 N 98 76472 W 38 36444 98 76472 1 CountryUnited StatesStateKansasCountyBartonFounded1871Incorporated1872Named forBend in Arkansas RiverArea 2 Total10 63 sq mi 27 54 km2 Land10 50 sq mi 27 19 km2 Water0 13 sq mi 0 35 km2 Elevation 1 1 850 ft 560 m Population 2020 3 4 Total14 733 Density1 400 sq mi 530 km2 Time zoneUTC 6 CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT ZIP code67530Area code620FIPS code20 28300 1 GNIS ID475650 1 Websitegreatbendks net Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 3 Demographics 3 1 2010 census 4 Economy 5 Government 6 Education 6 1 Colleges 6 2 Public schools 6 3 Private schools 7 Infrastructure 7 1 Transportation 7 2 Utilities 7 3 Health care 8 Media 9 Parks and recreation 10 Culture 10 1 Arts and music 10 2 Points of interest 10 3 Sports 11 Notable people 12 See also 13 References 14 Further reading 15 External linksHistory EditSee also History of Kansas Prior to American settlement of the area the site of Great Bend was located in the northern reaches of Kiowa territory 6 Claimed first by France as part of Louisiana and later acquired by the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 it lay within the area organized by the U S as Kansas Territory in 1854 7 8 Kansas became a state in 1861 and the state government delineated the surrounding area as Barton County in 1867 8 9 The first settlers of the area arrived in 1870 Living in sod houses and dugouts they worked as buffalo hunters since trampling by bison herds precluded crop farming 10 In 1871 the Great Bend Town Company anticipating the westward construction of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad founded Great Bend at a site roughly three miles west of Fort Zarah on the Santa Fe Trail 10 11 They named the settlement after its location at the great bend in the Arkansas River where the river s course turns eastward 5 The town began to grow as more settlers arrived over the following year and opened several businesses 1915 Railroad Map of Barton County The railroad reached Great Bend in July 1872 and an election at about the same time declared the town the permanent county seat 9 Great Bend was incorporated as a city soon thereafter The county courthouse and the city s first public school were built the following year 11 In 1873 following the arrival of the railroad Great Bend became a shipping point for cattle 11 This stimulated local business but also transformed the city into a rowdy violent cowtown 10 In 1876 the Kansas Legislature extended the legal dead line restricting the presence of Texas cattle 30 miles west of Barton County The cattle trade moved westward accordingly and the city became more peaceful 11 Over the following decades Great Bend continued to grow and modernize becoming a center of area commerce This was despite two disasters which struck the city a downtown fire in 1878 and a smallpox outbreak in 1882 which resulted in a brief quarantine 11 In 1886 local speculators began to fund exploration for petroleum in the area By 1930 the oil and gas industry brought more than 20 million annually to the county 12 More than 3 000 wells produced during the 1930s and the influx of workers dramatically increased the city s population 10 The U S Army Air Forces opened Great Bend Army Airfield west of the city in 1943 The base served as training facility for B 29 bomber aircraft personnel during World War II 13 After the war the City of Great Bend acquired the base and repurposed it for civilian use as Great Bend Municipal Airport 14 The city continued to grow through the 1950s its population peaking at almost 17 000 in 1960 In 1973 the Fuller Brush Company relocated its production facilities to Great Bend becoming one of the city s major employers Despite a modest decline in population in recent decades Great Bend continues to serve as a commercial center for central Kansas 10 Geography EditGreat Bend is located at 38 21 52 N 98 45 53 W 38 36444 N 98 76472 W 38 36444 98 76472 38 3644567 98 7648073 at an elevation of 1 850 feet 564 m 1 It is located at the intersection of U S Route 281 and U S Route 56 highways in Kansas Driving by highway it is approximately 116 miles 187 km northwest of Wichita and 60 miles 97 km southwest of Hays 15 Lying in the Great Bend Sand Prairie region of the Great Plains the city is situated on the north side of the Arkansas River where the river s course shifts from northeast to southeast 16 17 Dry Walnut Creek a tributary of nearby Walnut Creek flows east along the northern edge of the city 18 Cheyenne Bottoms a large inland wetland is located approximately 6 miles 9 7 km to the northeast 19 According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 10 71 square miles 27 74 km2 of which 10 60 square miles 27 45 km2 is land and 0 11 square miles 0 28 km2 is water 20 Climate Edit Located near the convergence of North America s humid continental Koppen Dfa humid subtropical Koppen Cfa and semi arid Koppen BSk climate zones Great Bend experiences hot summers and cold dry winters 21 On average January is the coldest month July the hottest and May is the wettest The hottest temperature recorded in Great Bend was 111 F 44 C in 1980 the coldest temperature recorded was 21 F 29 C in 1989 22 The average temperature is 57 F 14 C 23 Over the course of a year temperatures range from an average low of 21 F 6 C in January to an average high of 94 F 34 C in July 22 The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 F 32 C an average of 70 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 F 38 C an average of 13 days a year The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point 32 F 0 C an average of 112 days a year The first fall freeze typically takes place by the third week of October and the last spring freeze by the second week of April 23 Great Bend receives 27 inches 690 mm of precipitation during an average year and there are on average 71 days of measurable precipitation each year 22 23 The average relative humidity is 67 24 Annual snowfall averages 17 inches 43 cm Measurable snowfall occurs an average of seven days a year with at least an inch of snow being received on six of those days Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 23 days a year 23 Climate data for Great Bend KansasMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 79 26 85 29 91 33 101 38 102 39 111 44 111 44 110 43 106 41 98 37 90 32 79 26 111 44 Average high F C 45 7 50 10 60 16 71 22 79 26 88 31 94 34 92 33 84 29 72 22 57 14 45 7 70 21 Average low F C 21 6 25 4 33 1 43 6 54 12 63 17 68 20 67 19 58 14 45 7 33 1 23 5 44 7 Record low F C 17 27 19 28 6 21 14 10 25 4 39 4 45 7 45 7 29 2 16 9 4 20 21 29 21 29 Average precipitation inches mm 0 61 15 0 86 22 1 94 49 2 36 60 4 38 111 3 97 101 3 41 87 3 33 85 1 96 50 2 05 52 0 97 25 0 85 22 26 69 679 Average snowfall inches cm 4 9 12 4 1 10 2 6 6 6 0 6 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 25 1 0 2 5 3 6 9 1 16 9 41 95 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 3 1 4 1 6 2 6 8 8 8 8 2 7 3 7 4 6 0 5 7 3 9 3 8 71 3Average snowy days 0 1 in 1 9 1 8 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 7 7 2Source National Weather Service 23 The Weather Channel 22 Demographics EditHistorical population CensusPop Note 18801 071 18902 450128 8 19002 4700 8 19104 62287 1 19204 460 3 5 19305 54824 4 19409 04463 0 195012 66540 0 196016 67031 6 197016 133 3 2 198016 6082 9 199015 427 7 1 200015 345 0 5 201015 9954 2 202014 733 7 9 U S Decennial Census2010 2020 4 2010 census Edit As of the 2010 census there were 15 995 people 6 483 households and 4 038 families residing in the city The population density was 1 509 0 inhabitants per square mile 582 6 km2 There were 7 113 housing units at an average density of 671 0 per square mile 259 1 km2 The racial makeup of the city was 84 0 White 1 7 African American 0 6 American Indian 0 2 Asian 0 1 Pacific Islander 11 0 from other races and 2 3 from two or more races Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 19 8 of the population 25 There were 6 483 households of which 32 2 had children under the age of 18 living with them 47 4 were married couples living together 10 6 had a female householder with no husband present 4 3 had a male householder with no wife present and 37 7 were non families 32 6 of all households were made up of individuals and 13 4 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 41 and the average family size was 3 04 25 The median age in the city was 36 7 years 26 2 of residents were under the age of 18 9 2 were between the ages of 18 and 24 23 5 were from 25 to 44 24 5 were from 45 to 64 and 16 6 were 65 years of age or older The gender makeup of the city was 48 5 male and 51 5 female 25 As of 2010 the median income for a household was 42 293 and the median income for a family was 46 969 Males had a median income of 33 623 versus 25 038 for females The per capita income for the city was 24 529 About 10 2 of families and 13 7 of the population were below the poverty line including 15 7 of those under age 18 and 7 7 of those age 65 or over 25 Economy EditAgriculture is the predominant industry in Great Bend and its grain elevators are visible from miles away The oil industry flourished from about 1930 1960 There was even an oil well in the city park But this industry has been on the decline for years Cattle raising is also an important source of income for many people As of 2012 66 5 of the population over the age of 16 were in the labor force 0 0 were in the armed forces and 66 5 were in the civilian labor force with 61 0 employed and 5 5 unemployed The composition by occupation of the employed civilian labor force was 30 2 in management business science and arts 27 8 in sales and office occupations 19 2 in service occupations 9 6 in natural resources construction and maintenance 13 3 in production transportation and material moving The four industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were educational services health care and social assistance 27 3 retail trade 11 9 manufacturing 9 8 and arts entertainment recreation and accommodation and food services 9 8 25 Great Bend Public Schools Barton Community College and CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions are the city s three largest employers Other major employers include local government local hospitals Wal Mart Superior Essex and Fuller Brush Company 26 The cost of living in Great Bend is relatively low compared to a U S average of 100 the cost of living index for the city is 79 4 27 As of 2012 the median home value in the city was 78 300 the median selected monthly owner cost was 979 for housing units with a mortgage and 400 for those without and the median gross rent was 539 25 Government Edit Barton County Courthouse in Great Bend Great Bend is a city of the second class with a mayor council form of government 28 The city council consists of eight members two elected from each city ward for two year terms The mayor is elected at large also for a two year term The mayor and city council together constitute the city s Governing Body which sets goals establishes policies and approves all ordinances and resolutions 29 The council meets on the first and third Monday of each month 28 As the county seat Great Bend is the administrative center of Barton County The county courthouse is located downtown and most departments of the county government base their operations in the city 30 Great Bend lies within Kansas s 1st U S Congressional District For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature the city is located in the 33rd district of the Kansas Senate and the 112th district of the Kansas House of Representatives 28 Education EditColleges Edit Barton Community College a two year public college is located approximately three miles northeast of Great Bend 31 32 Public schools Edit Great Bend USD 428 public school district serves approximately 3 000 students and operates eight schools in the city 33 Great Bend High School 9 12 Great Bend Middle School 7 8 Eisenhower Elementary School K 6 Jefferson Elementary School K 6 Lincoln Elementary School K 6 Park Elementary School K 6 Riley Elementary School PreK 6 Helping Hands Preschool PreK Private schools Edit The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City oversees the Holy Family School PreK 6 34 There is also one non denominational Christian school in the city Central Kansas Christian Academy K 8 35 Infrastructure EditTransportation Edit Downtown grain elevator and abandoned Santa Fe railroad station Great Bend was located on the National Old Trails Road also known as the Ocean to Ocean Highway that was established in 1912 citation needed Currently two U S Highways and two Kansas state highways pass through the city U S Route 281 runs north south through Great Bend intersecting U S Route 56 K 96 and K 156 which run concurrently east west through the city K 96 splits from U S 56 and K 156 in western Great Bend exiting the city to the northwest U S 56 and K 156 continue concurrently west then turn south and ultimately southwest 36 Great Bend Municipal Airport is located approximately 2 miles 3 2 km west of the city 36 Used primarily for general aviation 37 38 A Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line runs east west through the city with a second line branching off to the northwest paralleling K 96 18 Utilities Edit The city government s Public Works Department is responsible for water distribution waste water treatment and sewer maintenance One of the few cities in the area not to have a water treatment plant or water tower Great Bend obtains its water supply directly from ten wells located throughout the city 39 Waste water is treated and recycled at the city s Wastewater Treatment Facility and then emptied into the Arkansas River 40 Two regional energy cooperatives Midwest Energy Inc and Wheatland Electric provide electric power 41 Local residents primarily use natural gas for heating fuel Midwest Energy and Kansas Gas Service both provide natural gas service 27 41 Health care Edit There is one primary medical facility in the city Great Bend Regional Hospital a 33 bed general medical and surgical facility is the city s sole hospital 42 St Rose Ambulatory amp Surgery Center formerly Central Kansas Medical Center was an outpatient care facility affiliated with Catholic Health Initiatives 43 St Rose Ambulatory amp Surgery Center was closed and demolished in 2015 Media EditMain article Media in Great Bend Kansas The Great Bend Tribune is the city s daily newspaper with a circulation of over 6 200 copies 44 The Interrobang was the student newspaper at the Great Bend based Barton Community College Great Bend is a center of broadcast media for central Kansas 45 46 Two AM and ten FM radio stations are licensed to and or broadcast from the city 45 Two television stations one NBC affiliate and one ABC affiliate also broadcast from the city 46 Both are satellite stations of their respective affiliates in Wichita as Great Bend is part of the Wichita Hutchinson Kansas television market 46 47 Parks and recreation EditThe city government s Park Department maintains 10 parks in the city 48 The two largest are Brit Spaugh Park and Veteran s Memorial Park Located in the north central part of the city Brit Spaugh Park includes the Great Bend Zoo the Wetlands Aquatic Center two softball fields horseshoe courts picnic areas playgrounds a skateboarding area and a BMX track Veteran s Park is located in the northwestern part of the city and includes an 18 hole disc golf course a fishing lake with limited boating sand volleyball ballfields a playground and walking trails The department also maintains hiking and biking trails along flood control levies around the city along with Stone Lake a 43 acre 17 ha fishing lake immediately south of the city 49 50 The Club at StoneRidge located on the northern edge of the city includes a private 18 hole golf course that opened in 1940 A second 18 hole course the Lake Barton Golf Course lies approximately 5 miles 8 0 km north of the city 51 Culture EditArts and music Edit From 1947 to 1989 Great Bend was the home of the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps Under the direction of Glenn and Sandra Opie the corps achieved national fame most notably winning the American Legion national championships in 1971 1972 and 1973 52 The Rebels were one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International finishing in 5th place in 1972 and 11th in 1973 52 Points of interest Edit The Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village is located in Great Bend 53 The Great Bend Zoo and Raptor Center founded in 1952 contains over 60 species of animals 54 Sports Edit Greyhound racing got its start in the United States in the bottoms in 1886 during a formal coursing event 55 The first nationwide NHRA sponsored event called the Nationals was held in 1955 in Great Bend Kansas at the Great Bend Municipal Airport 56 Notable people EditMain article List of people from Great Bend Kansas See also List of Barton Community College people Notable individuals who were born in and or have lived in Great Bend include jazz singer and pianist Karrin Allyson 1963 57 co inventor of the integrated circuit IC and 2000 Nobel Prize laureate in physics Jack Kilby 1923 2005 58 and 1952 gold medal winning U S Olympic basketball player John Keller 1928 2000 59 See also EditGreat Bend Zoo Santa Fe Trail National Old Trails RoadReferences Edit a b c d e f Great Bend Kansas Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior 2019 U S Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau Retrieved July 24 2020 a b Profile of Great Bend Kansas in 2020 United States Census Bureau Archived from the original on March 20 2022 Retrieved March 20 2022 a b c QuickFacts Great Bend Kansas Population Census 2020 amp 2010 United States Census Bureau Archived from the original on August 26 2021 Retrieved August 25 2021 a b Kansas State Historical Society 1916 Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society Kansas State Printing Plant pp 145 Sturtevant William C 1967 Early Indian Tribes Culture Areas and Linguistic Stocks Map Smithsonian Institution Retrieved July 31 2014 Louisiana Purchase Kansapedia Kansas Historical Society August 2012 Retrieved March 5 2014 a b Kansas Territory Kansapedia March 2013 Retrieved March 5 2013 a b Blackmar Frank Wilson 1912 Kansas A Cyclopedia of State History Embracing Events Institutions Industries Counties Cities Towns Prominent Persons Etc Standard Publishing Company pp 786 a b c d e Weiser Kathy Great Bend Kansas History and Information Legends of Kansas Retrieved November 19 2011 a b c d e Cutler William G 1883 Barton County History of the State of Kansas Chicago A T Andreas Archived from the original on January 5 2003 Retrieved November 19 2011 History Great Bend Convention amp Visitors Bureau Archived from the original on November 24 2011 Retrieved November 20 2011 U S Army and Air Force Wings Over Kansas Part One Kansas Historical Quarterly Kansas Historical Society 25 2 129 157 Summer 1959 Retrieved November 20 2011 Great Bend Municipal Airport History City of Great Bend Retrieved November 20 2011 Official Transportation Map PDF Kansas Department of Transportation Retrieved February 3 2023 Ecoregions of Nebraska and Kansas PDF Environmental Protection Agency 2001 Retrieved March 14 2010 permanent dead link Barton County Kansas Kansapedia Kansas Historical Society Retrieved May 23 2011 a b General Highway Map Barton County Kansas PDF Kansas Department of Transportation September 1 2009 Retrieved May 23 2011 Cheyenne Bottoms Jewel of the Prairie cheyennebottoms net Retrieved February 10 2009 US Gazetteer files 2010 United States Census Bureau Archived from the original on January 12 2012 Retrieved July 6 2012 Peel M C Finlayson B L McMahon T A 2007 Updated world map of the Koppen Geiger climate classification Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 11 5 1633 1644 Bibcode 2007HESS 11 1633P doi 10 5194 hess 11 1633 2007 a b c d Average weather for Great Bend The Weather Channel Retrieved November 21 2011 a b c d e NOWData NOAA Online Weather Data National Weather Service Forecast Office Wichita KS Retrieved November 21 2011 Historical Weather for Great Bend Kansas United States of America Weatherbase Retrieved November 21 2011 a b c d e f U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved August 13 2021 Great Bend Area Manufacturers amp Major Employers PDF Great Bend Chamber of Commerce amp Economic Development Archived from the original PDF on August 8 2014 Retrieved July 31 2014 a b Great Bend Kansas City Data com Retrieved July 31 2014 a b c Great Bend Directory of Kansas Public Officials The League of Kansas Municipalities Archived from the original on December 13 2011 Retrieved November 20 2011 Governing Body City of Great Bend Retrieved February 15 2010 Offices Departments Barton County Kansas Archived from the original on March 9 2012 Retrieved February 25 2012 Programs of Study PDF Barton Community College Archived from the original PDF on May 27 2010 Retrieved January 27 2010 About Our Campuses Barton Community College Archived from the original on July 18 2012 Retrieved January 27 2010 USD 428 Great Bend USD 428 Great Bend Public Schools Archived from the original on January 16 2010 Retrieved January 27 2010 Holy Family School Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City Archived from the original on September 21 2011 Retrieved November 20 2011 Central Kansas Christian Academy Central Kansas Christian Academy Archived from the original on April 25 2012 Retrieved November 20 2011 a b City of Great Bend Map PDF Kansas Department of Transportation Retrieved November 22 2011 KGBD Great Bend Municipal Airport AirNav com Retrieved November 22 2011 Great Bend Municipal Airport FAQs City of Great Bend Retrieved November 22 2011 Water Division City of Great Bend Retrieved November 22 2011 Wastewater Treatment Facility City of Great Bend Retrieved November 22 2011 a b Utilities Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Archived from the original on April 7 2012 Retrieved November 22 2011 Great Bend Regional Hospital U S News Best Hospitals U S News amp World Report Retrieved November 22 2011 CKMC Announces New Direction St Rose Ambulatory amp Surgery Center January 3 2011 Retrieved November 22 2011 Great Bend Tribune Mondo Times Retrieved November 20 2011 a b Radio Stations in Great Bend Kansas Radio Locator Retrieved May 23 2011 a b c Stations for Hays Kansas RabbitEars Info Retrieved November 1 2011 Wichita Hutchinson Kansas TV market EchoStar Knowledge Base Retrieved November 20 2011 Park Department City of Great Bend Retrieved August 15 2016 Great Bend Map Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Retrieved August 15 2016 Resource Directory City of Great Bend Retrieved August 15 2016 Visitor Information Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Archived from the original on September 14 2016 Retrieved August 15 2016 a b corpsreps com The Drum Corps Repertoire Database corpsreps com Home Barton County Historical Society Barton County Histor Archived from the original on April 7 2013 Britt Spaugh Park amp Great Bend Zoo Retrieved June 15 2016 Tim Horan February 2006 History of the Greyhound and Greyhound Racing National Greyhound Association Archived from the original on June 20 2009 NHRA History NHRA Archived from the original on January 17 2013 Karrin Allyson Electronic Press Kit PDF AMS Artists p 3 Archived from the original PDF on October 3 2011 Retrieved May 22 2011 TI People Jack Kilby Texas Instruments Retrieved May 22 2011 John Keller University of Kansas Archived from the original on March 24 2012 Retrieved May 22 2011 Further reading Edit Kansas portalSee also List of books about Kansas including historical information about its counties and cities See also List of books about Barton County KansasExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Great Bend Kansas Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Great Bend City of Great Bend Great Bend Directory of Public Officials Barton County Historical Museum Great Bend city map KDOT Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Great Bend Kansas amp oldid 1152186124, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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