Great Bend, Kansas

city in and the county seat of Barton County, Kansas, United States

Great Bend is a city in Barton County, Kansas, United States.[4] It is also the county seat of Barton County. It is named for its location at the place where the Arkansas River bends east then southeast.[5] In 2020, 14,733 people lived there.[3]

Great Bend, Kansas
Downtown Great Bend (2012)
Downtown Great Bend (2012)
Location within Barton County and Kansas
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; -98.76472[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
GNIS ID475650 [1]
Websitegreatbendks.net

Geography

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Great Bend is at 38°21′52″N 98°45′53″W / 38.36444°N 98.76472°W / 38.36444; -98.76472 (38.3644567, -98.7648073). It has an elevation of 1,850 feet (564 m).[6] It is in central Kansas, and it is at the intersection of U.S. Route 281 and U.S. Route 56. Great Bend is 95 miles (153 km) northwest of Wichita, 235 miles (378 km) west-southwest of Kansas City, and 345 miles (555 km) east-southeast of Denver.[7][8]

The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 10.63 square miles (27.53 km2). Of that, 10.50 square miles (27.19 km2) is land and 0.13 square miles (0.34 km2) is water.[2]

People

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Historical population
Census Pop.
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

2020 census

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In 2020, there were 14,733 people, 6,136 households, and 3,690 families living in Zurich. Of the households, 61.0% owned their home and 39.0% rented their home.

The median age was 38.6 years. Of the people, 77.3% were White, 1.5% were Black, 0.6% were Native American, 0.4% were Asian, 11.0% were from some other race, and 9.1% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.5% of the people.[3][9]

Education

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Primary and secondary education

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Great Bend Public Schools (USD 428) has about 3,000 students. It runs eight schools in Great Bend:[10]

Colleges and universities

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Barton Community College is a two-year community college. It is about three miles northeast of Great Bend.[11][12]

The Great Bend Tribune is the city's daily newspaper. It makes over 6,200 copies.[13]

Parks and recreation

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The city government's Park Department maintains 10 parks in Great Bend.[14]

Culture

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Sports

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Greyhound racing started in the United States in the bottoms in 1886 during a formal coursing event.[15]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Great Bend, Kansas". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. p. 145.
  6. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. "2003-2004 Official Transportation Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. 2003. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  8. "City Distance Tool". Geobytes. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  9. "P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  10. "USD 428 Great Bend". USD 428 Great Bend Public Schools. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  11. "Programs of Study" (PDF). Barton Community College. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  12. "About Our Campuses". Barton Community College. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  13. "Great Bend Tribune". Mondo Times. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  14. "Park Department". City of Great Bend. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  15. "History of the Greyhound and Greyhound Racing - The Greyhound Review, February 2006". Archived from the original on 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2019-07-12.

Other websites

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City
Schools
Attractions
Historical
Maps