Great Bend, Kansas

Great Bend is the largest city and county seat of Barton County, Kansas, United States. The population was 15,345 at the 2000 census.

History

Early settlers to the area came in about 1870. Most of the pioneer homes were rough dugouts and sod houses that barely protected their inhabitants from the severe weather often experienced in Kansas. They were fitted with holes in the wall to defend against the Indians. Early settlers killed buffalo to provide food for their family; plus they sent the tanned hides to the east for a cash income. A few settlers tried farming but were unsuccessful because the buffalo tramped down the crops. The first settlement in Great Bend township were made by E. J. Dodge and D. N. Heiser in 1871.

The town was named after the Great Bend of the Arkansas River, a feature noted as early as the first days of the Santa Fe Trail. It was here that a trading post was established and later a small military post, Fort Zarah.

After the Civil War the land began to be developed by easterners, and by the early 1870s a town had formed and Great Bend participated for a short time as a cow town, complete with shoot outs, Texas cowboys and saloons.

Following the close of the cow town phase, Great Bend took up its place as a regional trade and service center, a role that grew stronger during the growth of the oil industry and, later, when it served as a major World War II Army Air Corps training base.

Since then the community has continued to develop as a medical, legal and technical service center, as well as a regional shopping and entertainment provider.

Geography

Great Bend is located at (38.366056, -98.777958).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.8 km² (10.7 mi²). 27.5 km² (10.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.02%) is water.

Great Bend is served by one commercial airline at Great Bend Municipal Airport.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,345 people, 6,371 households, and 4,000 families residing in the city. The population density was 557.4/km² (1,443.7/mi²). There were 7,080 housing units at an average density of 257.2/km² (666.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.81% White, 1.62% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 5.77% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.20% of the population.

There were 6,371 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,841, and the median income for a family was $38,708. Males had a median income of $29,339 versus $19,647 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,085. About 11.5% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Famous persons

Jack Kilby, co-inventor of the integrated circuit and 2000 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics spent his childhood in Great Bend, graduating from Great Bend High School. ^*

Oscar Micheaux, independent African-American movie maker spent his childhood in Great Bend, Kansas. ^*

Argonne Rebels

From 1947 to 1989 Great Bend was the home of the nationally famous Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps. Under the direction of many dedicated 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.

Great Bend Public Library

The Great Bend Public Library was organized in 1908. The present library was built in 1971.

External links

Cities in Kansas | County seats in Kansas | Barton County, Kansas