Smith Center, Kansas
Smith Center is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States.[5] It is also the county seat of Smith County. In 2020, 1,571 people lived there.[3]
Smith Center, Kansas | |
|---|---|
City and County seat | |
.jpg) First National Bank building | |
 Location within Smith County and Kansas | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 39°46′26″N 98°47′00″W / 39.77389°N 98.78333°W[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Smith |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Incorporated | 1886 |
| Named for | Maj. J. Nelson Smith |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.27 sq mi (3.28 km2) |
| • Land | 1.27 sq mi (3.28 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,808 ft (551 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,571 |
| • Density | 1,200/sq mi (480/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 66967 [4] |
| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-65925 |
| GNIS ID | 2395900[1] |
| Website | smithcenterks.com |
History
changeSmith Center was created in 1871.[6] The first post office in Smith Center was created in January 1873.[7] Like Smith County, Smith Center was named after Maj. J. Nelson Smith of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry. He was a pre-war native of Elwood, Kansas, who died leading his regiment on October 21, 1864 at the Battle of the Little Blue River. [8] [9]
Geography
changeSmith Center is at 39°46′43″N 98°47′7″W / 39.77861°N 98.78528°W (39.778550, -98.785141).[10] The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 1.27 square miles (3.29 km2). All of it is land.[2]
Smith Center is at the junction of U.S. Routes 281 and 36, about 100 miles south of Grand Island, Nebraska and 77 miles north of Russell and Interstate 70.
People
change| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 254 | — | |
| 1890 | 767 | 202.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,142 | 48.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,292 | 13.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,567 | 21.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,736 | 10.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,686 | −2.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,026 | 20.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,379 | 17.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,389 | 0.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,240 | −6.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,016 | −10.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,931 | −4.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,665 | −13.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,571 | −5.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
changeThe 2020 census says that there were 1,571 people, 727 households, and 398 families living in Smith Center. Of the households, 76.1% owned their home and 23.9% rented their home.
The median age was 49.4 years. Of the people, 94.3% were White, 0.5% were Native American, 0.3% were Black, 0.2% were Asian, 1.3% were from some other race, and 3.5% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the people.[3][11]
2010 census
changeThe 2010 census says that there were 1,665 people, 779 households, and 470 families living in Smith Center.[12]
Education
changeSmith Center is part of Unified School District 237.[13]
Famous people
change- Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, silent film star
- Nolan Cromwell, NFL defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams
- Mitch Holthus, radio announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Mark Simoneau, College Football Hall of Fame linebacker for Kansas State University; played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs
- Steve Tasker, NFL wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills
- Albert F. "Jud" Wagner, Kansas' last confirmed World War I veteran
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Smith Center, Kansas
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ↑ United States Postal Service (2012). "USPS – Look Up a ZIP Code". Retrieved 2012-02-15.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. p. 300.
- ↑ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "Profile for Smith Center, Kansas". ePodunk. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- ↑ "Rebel Invasion of Missouri and Kansas". 1865. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ USD 237
Other websites
change
- City
- Schools
- USD 237, local school district
- Historical
- Smith Center - History
- Saving Miss Liberty In Rural Kansas on YouTube, from Hatteberg's People on KAKE TV news
- Historic Images - Wichita State University Libraries
- Maps
- Smith Center City Map, KDOT