Great Bend, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Great Bend, named for its location at the historic big bend of the Arkansas River
, is the most populous city in and the county seat
of Barton County
, Kansas
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,995.
since trampling bison
herds precluded crop farming. 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
. They named the settlement after its location at the “great bend” of the Arkansas River
, the point where the river’s course bends eastward. Settlers arrived over the following year, opening several businesses, and the town began to grow. The railroad reached Great Bend in July 1872, and an election the same month declared the town the permanent county seat. Great Bend was incorporated
as a city soon thereafter. The county courthouse and the city’s first public school were built the following year.
Beginning in 1873, following the arrival of the railroad, Great Bend became a shipping point for the cattle trade. This stimulated local business, but also transformed the city into a rowdy, violent cowtown. In 1876, however, 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.
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. 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. More than 3,000 wells produced during the 1930s, and the influx of workers dramatically increased the city’s population.
The U.S. Army Air Forces
opened Great Bend Army Airfield
west of the city in 1943. The base served as a World War II
training facility for B-29
bomber aircraft personnel. After the war, ownership of the base was transferred to the City of Great Bend which repurposed it for civilian use as Great Bend Municipal Airport
.
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 decline in population in recent decades, Great Bend continues to serve as a service industry and retail commerce center for central Kansas.
, the city is situated on the north side of the Arkansas River
where the river's course shifts from northeast to southeast. Cheyenne Bottoms
, a large inland wetland, is located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) to the northeast. Dry Walnut Creek, a tributary of nearby Walnut Creek, flows east along the northern edge of the city. Located in central Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 281
and U.S. Route 56
, Great Bend is 95 miles (152.9 km) northwest of Wichita
, 235 miles (378.2 km) west-southwest of Kansas City
, and 345 miles (555.2 km) east-southeast of Denver.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 10.7 square miles (27.7 km²), of which 10.6 square miles (27.5 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 1.02%, is water.
, humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa)
, and semi-arid (Köppen BSk) climate zones, Great Bend experiences hot summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature is 57 °F (13.9 °C), and the average relative humidity
is 67%. Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of 21 °F (-6.1 °C) in January to an average high of 94 °F (34.4 °C) in July. The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32.2 °C) an average of 70 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 °F (37.8 °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. Typically, the first fall freeze occurs by the third week of October, and the last spring freeze occurs by the second week of April. Great Bend receives 27 inches (685.8 mm) of precipitation during an average year, and there are, on average, 71 days of measurable precipitation each year. Annual snowfall averages 17 inches (43.2 cm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 7 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. On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and May is the wettest month. 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.
was 1,494.9 people per square mile (577.2/km²). There were 7,113 housing units at an average density of 671.0 per square mile (258.7/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 some other race, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 19.8% of the population.
There were 6,483 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband 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.
In the city, the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the city was $40,460, and the median income for a family was $44,707. Males had a median income of $34,968 versus $24,676 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,624. About 12.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
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.
form of government. 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. The council meets on the first and third Monday of each month.
428) serves approximately 3,000 students and operates eight schools in the city:
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
oversees one school in Great Bend, Holy Family School (Pre-K-6). In addition, there is one non-denominational Christian school
in the city, Central Kansas Christian Academy (K-8).
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.
Great Bend Municipal Airport
is located approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the city. Used primarily for general aviation, it hosts one commercial airline with daily flights to Denver.
A Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad
line runs east-west through the city with a second line branching off to the northwest, paralleling K-96.
both provide natural gas service.
.
Great Bend is a center of broadcast media for central Kansas. Two AM and ten FM radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from the city. Two television stations, one NBC
affiliate and one ABC
affiliate, also broadcast from the city. Both are satellite stations of their respective affiliates in Wichita
as Great Bend lies within the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas
television market.
Drum and Bugle Corps
. Under the direction individuals including Glenn and Sandra Opie, the corps achieved national fame, most notably, American Legion national championships in 1971, 1972, and 1973. They were also ranked 3rd at the American Legion contest in 1956, and 5th at the Drum Corps International
contest in 1972.
got its start in the United States in the bottoms in 1887 during a formal coursing
event.
wrote a ground breaking book In Cold Blood
about the murder. In 1967, part of the movie, by the same name, was filmed in Great Bend.
In the 1993 novel, The Death and Life of Superman by Roger Stern
, Jonathan and Martha Kent fly from the Metropolis airport to the Great Bend airport and proceed to drive to Smallville, which would put Smallville somewhere in central Kansas.
USA
Schools
Attractions
Historical
Maps
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
, is the most populous city in and the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Barton County
Barton County, Kansas
Barton County is a county located in Western Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 27,674. Its county seat and most populous city is Great Bend. The county is named in honor of Clara Barton, responsible for the founding of the American Red Cross...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,995.
History
The first settlers of the area arrived in 1870. Living in sod houses and dugouts, they worked as buffalo huntersBison hunting
Buffalo hunting was an activity fundamental to the Plains Indian tribes of the United States, which was later adopted by American professional hunters, leading to the near-extinction of the species.- Native hunting :...
since trampling bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
herds precluded crop farming. 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
Fort Zarah
A fort in Barton County, Kansas, just outside Great Bend, Kansas, that was used from 1864-1869.- Dates of operation :In July 1864, because of frequent Indian attacks in the area, Camp Dunlap was established 2 miles east of present day Great Bend, Kansas, where the Santa Fe Trail crossed the Walnut...
on the Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
. They named the settlement after its location at the “great bend” of the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
, the point where the river’s course bends eastward. Settlers arrived over the following year, opening several businesses, and the town began to grow. The railroad reached Great Bend in July 1872, and an election the same month declared the town the permanent county seat. Great Bend was incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
as a city soon thereafter. The county courthouse and the city’s first public school were built the following year.
Beginning in 1873, following the arrival of the railroad, Great Bend became a shipping point for the cattle trade. This stimulated local business, but also transformed the city into a rowdy, violent cowtown. In 1876, however, the Kansas Legislature
Kansas Legislature
The Kansas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a bicameral assembly, composed of the lower Kansas House of Representatives, composed of 125 Representatives, and the upper Kansas Senate, with 40 Senators...
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.
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
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
outbreak in 1882 which resulted in a brief quarantine. In 1886, local speculators began to fund exploration for petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
in the area. By 1930, the oil and gas industry brought more than $20 million annually to the county. More than 3,000 wells produced during the 1930s, and the influx of workers dramatically increased the city’s population.
The U.S. Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
opened Great Bend Army Airfield
Great Bend Army Airfield
Great Bend Army Airfield is a closed United States Air Force base. It is located west-southwest of Great Bend, Kansas, and was closed in 1946. Today it is used as Great Bend Municipal Airport....
west of the city in 1943. The base served as a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
training facility for B-29
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
bomber aircraft personnel. After the war, ownership of the base was transferred to the City of Great Bend which repurposed it for civilian use as Great Bend Municipal Airport
Great Bend Municipal Airport
Great Bend Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located four nautical miles west of the central business district of Great Bend, a city in Barton County, Kansas, United States. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by one commercial airline...
.
The city continued to grow through the 1950s, its population peaking at almost 17,000 in 1960. In 1973, the Fuller Brush Company
Fuller Brush Company
The Fuller Brush Company sells branded and private label products for personal care as well as commercial and household cleaning; it is a subsidiary of CPAC Inc., which since 2007 has been owned by the private equity group Buckingham Capital Partners. Fuller Brush was founded in 1906, by Alfred...
relocated its production facilities to Great Bend, becoming one of the city’s major employers. Despite a decline in population in recent decades, Great Bend continues to serve as a service industry and retail commerce center for central Kansas.
Geography
Great Bend is located at 38°21′52"N 98°45′53"W (38.3644567, -98.7648073) at an elevation of 1,850 feet (564 m). Lying in the Great Bend Sand Prairie region of the Great PlainsGreat Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
, the city is situated on the north side of the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
where the river's course shifts from northeast to southeast. Cheyenne Bottoms
Cheyenne Bottoms
Cheyenne Bottoms is one of 29 places in the United States on the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance. It is located east of US Highway 281, midway between Hoisington and Great Bend in Kansas....
, a large inland wetland, is located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) to the northeast. Dry Walnut Creek, a tributary of nearby Walnut Creek, flows east along the northern edge of the city. Located in central Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281 is a north–south United States highway. At 1,872 miles long it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route....
and U.S. Route 56
U.S. Route 56
U.S. Route 56 is an east–west United States highway that runs for in the Midwestern United States. The highway's eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 71 in Kansas City, Missouri. Its western terminus is at Interstate 25 Business in Springer, New Mexico. Much of it follows the Santa Fe...
, Great Bend is 95 miles (152.9 km) northwest of Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, 235 miles (378.2 km) west-southwest of Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, and 345 miles (555.2 km) east-southeast of Denver.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 10.7 square miles (27.7 km²), of which 10.6 square miles (27.5 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 1.02%, is water.
Climate
Located near the convergence of North America's humid continental (Köppen Dfa)Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
, humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa)
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, and semi-arid (Köppen BSk) climate zones, Great Bend experiences hot summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature is 57 °F (13.9 °C), and the average relative humidity
Relative humidity
Relative humidity is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor. It is defined as the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture, given as a percentage of the saturated vapor pressure under those conditions...
is 67%. Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of 21 °F (-6.1 °C) in January to an average high of 94 °F (34.4 °C) in July. The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32.2 °C) an average of 70 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 °F (37.8 °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. Typically, the first fall freeze occurs by the third week of October, and the last spring freeze occurs by the second week of April. Great Bend receives 27 inches (685.8 mm) of precipitation during an average year, and there are, on average, 71 days of measurable precipitation each year. Annual snowfall averages 17 inches (43.2 cm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 7 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. On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and May is the wettest month. 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.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 15,995 people, 6,483 households, and 4,038 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,494.9 people per square mile (577.2/km²). There were 7,113 housing units at an average density of 671.0 per square mile (258.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.0% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 1.7% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.6% American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.2% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.1% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
, 11.0% from some other race, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 19.8% of the population.
There were 6,483 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband 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.
In the city, the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the city was $40,460, and the median income for a family was $44,707. Males had a median income of $34,968 versus $24,676 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $21,624. About 12.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
AgricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
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.
Government
Great Bend is a city of the second class with a mayor-councilMayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
form of government. The city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consists of eight members, two elected from each city ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
for two-year terms. The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
is elected at-large
Plurality-at-large voting
Plurality-at-large voting is a non-proportional voting system for electing several representatives from a single multimember electoral district using a series of check boxes and tallying votes similar to a plurality election...
, 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. The council meets on the first and third Monday of each month.
Primary and secondary education
Great Bend Public Schools (USDUnified school district
A unified school district or unit school district is a school district which includes both primary school and high school under the same district control....
428) serves approximately 3,000 students and operates eight schools in the city:
- Washington Early Childhood Center (Grades Pre-K)
- Eisenhower Elementary School (K-5)
- Jefferson Elementary School (K-5)
- Lincoln Elementary School (K-5)
- Park Elementary School (K-5)
- Riley Elementary School (K-5)
- Great Bend Middle School (6-8)
- Great Bend High SchoolGreat Bend High SchoolGreat Bend High School is a public high school located in Great Bend, Kansas, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is in the Unified School District No. 428...
(9-12)
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City is a Roman Catholic diocese covering twenty-eight counties in Kansas. Pope Pius XII created the diocese on May 19, 1951.John B...
oversees one school in Great Bend, Holy Family School (Pre-K-6). In addition, there is one non-denominational Christian school
Christian school
A Christian school is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization.The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country, according to the religious, educational, and political cultures...
in the city, Central Kansas Christian Academy (K-8).
Colleges and universities
Barton Community College, a two-year public college, is located approximately three miles northeast of Great Bend.Transportation
Great Bend was located on the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, that was established in 1912. Currently, two U.S. Highways and two Kansas state highways pass through the city. U.S. Route 281U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281 is a north–south United States highway. At 1,872 miles long it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route....
runs north-south through Great Bend, intersecting U.S. Route 56
U.S. Route 56
U.S. Route 56 is an east–west United States highway that runs for in the Midwestern United States. The highway's eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 71 in Kansas City, Missouri. Its western terminus is at Interstate 25 Business in Springer, New Mexico. Much of it follows the Santa Fe...
, K-96
K-96 (Kansas highway)
K-96 is a state highway in central and southern Kansas. Its western terminus is at the Colorado state line east of Towner, Colorado, where it continues as Colorado State Highway 96; its eastern terminus since 1999 is at U.S. Route 54/U.S. Route 400 east of Wichita.The eastern terminus was once at...
, 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.
Great Bend Municipal Airport
Great Bend Municipal Airport
Great Bend Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located four nautical miles west of the central business district of Great Bend, a city in Barton County, Kansas, United States. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by one commercial airline...
is located approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the city. Used primarily for general aviation, it hosts one commercial airline with daily flights to Denver.
A Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad
Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad
The Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad is a shortline railroad operating in the western United States.The tracks Kansas and Oklahoma operate on include the Kansas City-Colorado main line formerly operated by the Missouri Pacific and later Union Pacific railways....
line runs east-west through the city with a second line branching off to the northwest, paralleling K-96.
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. Waste water is treated and recycled at the city's Wastewater Treatment Facility and then emptied into the Arkansas River. Two regional energy cooperatives, Midwest Energy, Inc. and Wheatland Electric, provide electric power. Local residents primarily use natural gas for heating fuel; Midwest Energy and Kansas Gas ServiceKansas Gas Service
Kansas Gas Service is the largest natural gas distribution company in Kansas, operating in 82 counties. It is a regulated public utility which serves 642,000 customers in 341 communities, employing more than 1,100 employees. In addition to owning seven interstate pipeline connections and three...
both provide natural gas service.
Health care
There are two primary medical facilities in the city. Great Bend Regional Hospital, a 33-bed general medical and surgical facility, is the city's sole hospital. St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center, formerly Central Kansas Medical Center, is an outpatient care facility affiliated with Catholic Health InitiativesCatholic Health Initiatives
Catholic Health Initiatives is a faith-based, non-profit health system. It is the second largest Catholic health system in the United States and the fifth largest US health system overall....
.
Media
The Great Bend Tribune is the city's daily newspaper with a circulation of over 6,200.Great Bend is a center of broadcast media for central Kansas. Two AM and ten FM radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from the city. Two television stations, one NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate and one ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate, also broadcast from the city. Both are satellite stations of their respective affiliates in Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
as Great Bend lies within the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
television market.
Arts and music
From 1947 to 1989, Great Bend was the home of the Argonne RebelsArgonne Rebels
The Argonne Rebels were a Division I drum and bugle corps from Great Bend, Kansas.-Early history:The Argonne Rebels were founded in 1947 by the Saint Rose Catholic Church and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus....
Drum and Bugle Corps
Drum and bugle corps (modern)
A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...
. Under the direction individuals including Glenn and Sandra Opie, the corps achieved national fame, most notably, American Legion national championships in 1971, 1972, and 1973. They were also ranked 3rd at the American Legion contest in 1956, and 5th at the Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...
contest in 1972.
Sports
Greyhound racingGreyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
got its start in the United States in the bottoms in 1887 during a formal coursing
Coursing
Coursing is the pursuit of game or other animals by dogs—chiefly greyhounds and other sighthounds—catching their prey by speed, running by sight and not by scent. Coursing was a common hunting technique, practised by the nobility, the landed and wealthy, and commoners with sighthounds and lurchers...
event.
In popular culture and the arts
In November 1959, Perry Smith and Richard Hickok stopped for dinner in Great Bend on their 400 mile journey to Holcomb, KS, where they murdered the Clutter family. Author Truman CapoteTruman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
wrote a ground breaking book In Cold Blood
In Cold Blood
In Cold Blood is a 1966 book by Truman Capote.In Cold Blood may also refer to:* In Cold Blood , a 1967 film and 1996 miniseries, both based on the book* In Cold Blood...
about the murder. In 1967, part of the movie, by the same name, was filmed in Great Bend.
In the 1993 novel, The Death and Life of Superman by Roger Stern
Roger Stern
Roger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.-Early career:In the early 1970s, Stern and Bob Layton published the fanzine CPL , one of the first platforms for the work of John Byrne...
, Jonathan and Martha Kent fly from the Metropolis airport to the Great Bend airport and proceed to drive to Smallville, which would put Smallville somewhere in central Kansas.
Notable people
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Great Bend include:- Karrin AllysonKarrin AllysonKarrin Allyson is an American jazz vocalist. She has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, and has received positive reviews from several prominent sources, including The New York Times, which has called her a "singer with a feline touch and impeccable intonation."-Career:Allyson grew up in...
, jazz singer, pianist - Damian JohnsonDamian Johnson (American football)Damian Curtis Johnson is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for five seasons for the New York Giants and the New England Patriots....
, NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
offensive lineman - John KellerJohn KellerJohn Frederick Keller was an American basketball player who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.He competed in three games as a member of the American basketball team, which won the gold medal....
, 1952 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic basketball player - Jack KilbyJack KilbyJack St. Clair Kilby was an American physicist who took part in the invention of the integrated circuit while working at Texas Instruments in 1958. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 2000. He is credited with the invention of the integrated circuit or microchip...
, inventor, 2000 Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureate in physics - Oscar MicheauxOscar MicheauxOscar Devereaux Micheaux was an American author, film director and independent producer of more than 44 films...
, author, film director - Jerry MoranJerry MoranJerry Moran is the junior U.S. Senator from Kansas and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing ....
, U.S. SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Kansas - Roy StrykerRoy StrykerRoy Emerson Stryker was an American economist, government official, and photographer. He is most famous for heading the Information Division of the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression and launching the documentary photography movement of the FSA.After serving in the infantry...
, economist, photographer - Ted WelchTed WelchFloyd John "Ted" Welch was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He appeared in three games as a relief pitcher for the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal League in .-Sources:...
, MLBMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Further reading
Kansas- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
USA
- The Story of the Marking of the Santa Fe TrailSanta Fe TrailThe Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
by the Daughters of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American RevolutionThe Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
in Kansas and the State of Kansas; Almira Cordry; Crane Co; 164 pages; 1915. (Download 4MB PDF eBook) - The National Old Trails Road To Southern California, Part 1 (LA to KC); Automobile Club Of Southern California; 64 pages; 1916. (Download 6.8MB PDF eBook)
External links
City- City of Great Bend
- Great Bend - Directory of Public Officials
- Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Great Bend Chamber of Commerce
Schools
- USD 428, local school district
- Barton Community College
Attractions
Historical
Maps
- Great Bend City Map, KDOT
- Barton County Map, KDOT