Great Bend, Kansas

{{See 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.{{cite web | last = Sturtevant | first = William C. | title = Early Indian Tribes, Culture Areas, and Linguistic Stocks [Map] | publisher = Smithsonian Institution | year = 1967 | url = http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/united_states/early_indian_west.jpg | access-date = July 31, 2014}} 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.{{cite web | title = Louisiana Purchase | work = Kansapedia | publisher = Kansas Historical Society | date = Aug 2012 | url = http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/louisiana-purchase/17876 | access-date = March 5, 2014}}{{cite web | title = Kansas Territory | work = Kansapedia | date = Mar 2013 | url = http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/kansas-territory/14701 | access-date = March 5, 2013}} Kansas became a state in 1861, and the state government delineated the surrounding area as Barton County in 1867.

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.{{cite web | last = Weiser | first = Kathy | title = Great Bend, Kansas – History and Information | work = Legends of Kansas | url = http://www.legendsofkansas.com/greatbend.html | access-date = November 19, 2011}} 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.{{cite web | last = Cutler | first = William G. | title = Barton County | work = History of the State of Kansas | publisher = A. T. Andreas | location = Chicago | year = 1883 | url = http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/barton/barton-co-p1.html#GENERAL_HISTORY | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030105105231/http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/barton/barton-co-p1.html#GENERAL_HISTORY | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 5, 2003 | access-date = November 19, 2011}} They named the settlement after its location at the "great bend" in the Arkansas River where the river's course turns eastward.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ | title=Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society | publisher=Kansas State Printing Plant | author=Kansas State Historical Society | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ/page/n252 145]}} The town began to grow as more settlers arrived over the following year and opened several businesses.

File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Barton County.png]]

The railroad reached Great Bend in July 1872, and an election at about the same time declared the town the permanent county seat.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C/page/n782 786]}} Great Bend was incorporated as a city soon thereafter. The county courthouse and the city's first public school were built the following year.

In 1873, following the arrival of the railroad, Great Bend became a shipping point for cattle. This stimulated local business but also transformed the city into a rowdy, violent cowtown. 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.

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.{{cite web | title = History | publisher = Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau | url = http://www.visitgreatbend.com/history.asp | access-date = November 20, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111124225734/http://www.visitgreatbend.com/history.asp | archive-date = November 24, 2011 }} 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 training facility for B-29 bomber aircraft personnel during World War II.{{cite journal | title = U.S. Army and Air Force Wings Over Kansas, Part One | journal = Kansas Historical Quarterly | publisher = Kansas Historical Society | volume = 25 | issue = 2 | pages = 129–157 | date = Summer 1959 | url = https://archive.org/stream/kansashistorical25kansrich/kansashistorical25kansrich_djvu.txt | access-date = November 20, 2011}} After the war, the City of Great Bend acquired the base and repurposed it for civilian use as Great Bend Municipal Airport.{{cite web | title = Great Bend Municipal Airport – History | publisher = City of Great Bend | url = http://www.greatbendks.net/index.aspx?NID=256 | access-date = November 20, 2011}}

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.

Great Bend is located at the intersection of U.S. routes 56 and 281. Driving by highway, it is approximately {{convert|116|mi|km}} northwest of Wichita and {{convert|60|mi|km}} southwest of Hays.{{cite web |title=Official Transportation Map |publisher=Kansas Department of Transportation |url=https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/state-pdf/StateMap.pdf |access-date=February 3, 2023}}

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.{{cite web | title = Ecoregions of Nebraska and Kansas | publisher = Environmental Protection Agency | year = 2001 | url = ftp://ftp.epa.gov/wed/ecoregions/ks_ne/ksne_front.pdf | access-date = March 14, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web | title = Barton County, Kansas | work = Kansapedia | publisher = Kansas Historical Society | url = http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/barton-county-kansas/15261 | access-date = May 23, 2011}} Dry Walnut Creek, a tributary of nearby Walnut Creek, flows east along the northern edge of the city.{{cite web | title = General Highway Map - Barton County, Kansas | publisher = Kansas Department of Transportation | date = September 1, 2009 | url = http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/county-pdf/barton.PDF | access-date = May 23, 2011}} Cheyenne Bottoms, a large inland wetland, is located approximately {{convert|6|mi|km}} to the northeast.[http://www.cheyennebottoms.net/about_cheyenne_bottoms.html Cheyenne Bottoms: Jewel of the Prairie - cheyennebottoms.net - Retrieved February 10, 2009]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|10.71|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|10.60|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.11|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}

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.{{cite journal | last1 = Peel | first1 = M. C. | last2 = Finlayson | first2 = B. L. | last3 = McMahon | first3 = T. A. | year = 2007 | title = Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification | url = http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.html | journal = Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume = 11 | issue = 5 | pages = 1633–1644 | doi = 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 | bibcode = 2007HESS...11.1633P | doi-access = free }} The hottest temperature recorded in Great Bend was {{convert|111|F|C|1}} on July 11–13, 1954, June 27, 1980, June 30, 1980, and July 14, 1980, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-21|F|C|1}} on December 22, 1989.

The high temperature reaches or exceeds {{convert|90|°F}} an average of 69.7 days a year and reaches or exceeds {{convert|100|°F}} an average of 12 days a year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point {{convert|32|°F}} an average of 119.5 days a year.

{{Weather box

|location = Great Bend, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 79

|Feb record high F = 88

|Mar record high F = 93

|Apr record high F = 101

|May record high F = 102

|Jun record high F = 111

|Jul record high F = 111

|Aug record high F = 110

|Sep record high F = 106

|Oct record high F = 98

|Nov record high F = 80

|Dec record high F = 79

|Jan avg record high F = 66.0

|Feb avg record high F = 72.9

|Mar avg record high F = 80.7

|Apr avg record high F = 88.3

|May avg record high F = 92.7

|Jun avg record high F = 98.8

|Jul avg record high F = 102.7

|Aug avg record high F = 100.8

|Sep avg record high F = 97.1

|Oct avg record high F = 89.3

|Nov avg record high F = 76.2

|Dec avg record high F = 65.6

|year avg record high F = 103.9

|Jan high F = 42.5

|Feb high F = 47.0

|Mar high F = 57.7

|Apr high F = 67.6

|May high F = 76.4

|Jun high F = 86.7

|Jul high F = 91.3

|Aug high F = 89.0

|Sep high F = 81.7

|Oct high F = 69.4

|Nov high F = 55.1

|Dec high F = 43.5

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 30.3

|Feb mean F = 34.0

|Mar mean F = 43.9

|Apr mean F = 53.5

|May mean F = 63.5

|Jun mean F = 73.8

|Jul mean F = 78.3

|Aug mean F = 76.2

|Sep mean F = 68.3

|Oct mean F = 55.7

|Nov mean F = 42.2

|Dec mean F = 31.9

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 18.2

|Feb low F = 21.0

|Mar low F = 30.0

|Apr low F = 39.3

|May low F = 50.7

|Jun low F = 60.9

|Jul low F = 65.2

|Aug low F = 63.4

|Sep low F = 54.9

|Oct low F = 41.9

|Nov low F = 29.3

|Dec low F = 20.3

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 2.4

|Feb avg record low F = 5.6

|Mar avg record low F = 13.3

|Apr avg record low F = 24.9

|May avg record low F = 37.7

|Jun avg record low F = 50.3

|Jul avg record low F = 57.4

|Aug avg record low F = 54.8

|Sep avg record low F = 40.6

|Oct avg record low F = 26.0

|Nov avg record low F = 14.4

|Dec avg record low F = 5.7

|year avg record low F = -2.8

|Jan record low F = -17

|Feb record low F = -19

|Mar record low F = -7

|Apr record low F = 14

|May record low F = 25

|Jun record low F = 39

|Jul record low F = 45

|Aug record low F = 45

|Sep record low F = 29

|Oct record low F = 10

|Nov record low F = -4

|Dec record low F = -21

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.71

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.89

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.56

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.15

|May precipitation inch = 4.83

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.66

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.86

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.69

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.98

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.96

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.00

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.01

|year precipitation inch = 27.30

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 3.4

|Feb precipitation days = 3.9

|Mar precipitation days = 6.0

|Apr precipitation days = 6.8

|May precipitation days = 9.1

|Jun precipitation days = 7.6

|Jul precipitation days = 8.5

|Aug precipitation days = 8.4

|Sep precipitation days = 5.9

|Oct precipitation days = 6.0

|Nov precipitation days = 4.2

|Dec precipitation days = 3.6

|Jan snow inch = 2.2

|Feb snow inch = 2.6

|Mar snow inch = 2.3

|Apr snow inch = 0.3

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.1

|Nov snow inch = 1.7

|Dec snow inch = 2.3

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 1.9

|Feb snow days = 1.7

|Mar snow days = 0.9

|Apr snow days = 0.2

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 0.7

|Dec snow days = 1.4

|Jan snow depth inch =

|Feb snow depth inch =

|Mar snow depth inch =

|Apr snow depth inch =

|May snow depth inch =

|Jun snow depth inch =

|Jul snow depth inch =

|Aug snow depth inch =

|Sep snow depth inch =

|Oct snow depth inch =

|Nov snow depth inch =

|Dec snow depth inch =

|year snow depth inch =

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00143218&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Great Bend 3W, KS

|access-date = November 21, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ict

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Wichita

|access-date = November 21, 2023

}}

}}

{{US Census population

| align =

| 1880 = 1071

| 1890 = 2450

| 1900 = 2470

| 1910 = 4622

| 1920 = 4460

| 1930 = 5548

| 1940 = 9044

| 1950 = 12665

| 1960 = 16670

| 1970 = 16133

| 1980 = 16608

| 1990 = 15427

| 2000 = 15345

| 2010 = 15995

| 2020 = 14733

| estyear = 2023

| estimate = 14372

| estref = {{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

| align-fn = center

| footnote = [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
2010-2020

}}

The 2020 United States census counted 14,733 people, 6,136 households, and 3,690 families in Great Bend.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} The population density was 1,403.4 per square mile (541.9/km{{sup|2}}). There were 7,081 housing units at an average density of 674.5 per square mile (260.4/km{{sup|2}}).{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/geo/gazetter-file.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Census.gov}} The racial makeup was 77.34% (11,395) white or European American (70.47% non-Hispanic white), 1.55% (228) black or African-American, 0.64% (95) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.36% (53) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 10.96% (1,615) from other races, and 9.14% (1,346) from two or more races.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} Hispanic or Latino of any race was 23.5% (3,462) of the population.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}

Of the 6,136 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18; 42.3% were married couples living together; 30.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 35.0% of households consisted of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 14.8% of the population.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}

24.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 106.9 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $46,659 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,811) and the median family income was $64,453 (+/- $6,131).{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1903?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} Males had a median income of $39,595 (+/- $4,131) versus $26,684 (+/- $4,324) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $32,273 (+/- $2,536).{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S2001?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}} Approximately, 8.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under the age of 18 and 10.7% of those ages 65 or over.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1702?q=Great%20Bend%20city,%20Kansas%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}

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 {{convert|1509.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 7,113 housing units at an average density of {{convert|671.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. 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.{{cite web | title = U.S. Census website | publisher = United States Census Bureau | url = https://www.census.gov | access-date = August 13, 2021}}

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.

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.

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.

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%). 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.{{cite web | title = Great Bend Area Manufacturers & Major Employers | publisher = Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development | url = http://www.greatbend.org/MajorEmployerList.pdf | access-date = July 31, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050314/http://www.greatbend.org/MajorEmployerList.pdf | archive-date = August 8, 2014 | url-status = dead }}

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.{{cite web | title = Great Bend, Kansas | publisher = City-Data.com | url = http://www.city-data.com/city/Great-Bend-Kansas.html | access-date = July 31, 2014}} 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.

File:Barton county courthouse kansas.jpg

Great Bend is a city of the second class with a mayor-council form of government.{{cite web | title = Great Bend | work = Directory of Kansas Public Officials | publisher = The League of Kansas Municipalities | url = http://www.lkm.org/directory/cities.php?ID=75 | access-date = November 20, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111213104331/http://www.lkm.org/directory/cities.php?ID=75 | archive-date = December 13, 2011 }} 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.{{cite web | title = Governing Body | publisher = City of Great Bend | url = http://www.greatbendks.net/index.aspx?nid=60 | access-date = February 15, 2010}} The council meets on the first and third Monday of each month.

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.{{cite web | title = Offices/Departments | publisher = Barton County, Kansas | url = http://www.bartoncounty.org/Offices.htm | access-date = February 25, 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120309060037/http://www.bartoncounty.org/Offices.htm | archive-date = March 9, 2012 }}

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.

Barton Community College, a two-year public college, is located approximately three miles northeast of Great Bend.{{cite web | title = Programs of Study | publisher = Barton Community College | url = http://www.bartonccc.edu/pdf/publications/catalog/Catalog0809_Pt2.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100527105844/http://www.bartonccc.edu/pdf/publications/catalog/Catalog0809_Pt2.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = May 27, 2010 | access-date = January 27, 2010 }}{{cite web | title = About Our Campuses | publisher = Barton Community College | url = http://www.bartonccc.edu/community/aboutbarton/aboutbarton.html | access-date = January 27, 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120718164503/http://www.bartonccc.edu/community/aboutbarton/aboutbarton.html | archive-date = July 18, 2012 }}

Great Bend USD 428 public school district serves approximately 3,000 students and operates eight schools in the city:{{cite web | title = USD 428 Great Bend | publisher = USD 428 Great Bend Public Schools | url = http://www.usd428.net/school_tour_page.htm | access-date = January 27, 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100116071131/http://usd428.net/school_tour_page.htm | archive-date = January 16, 2010 }}

• 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)

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City oversees the Holy Family School (PreK–6).{{cite web | title = Holy Family School | publisher = Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City | url = http://www.dcdiocese.org/directory/departments/diocesan-schools/99-diocesan-schools/405-holy-family-school | access-date = November 20, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110921093522/http://dcdiocese.org/directory/departments/diocesan-schools/99-diocesan-schools/405-holy-family-school | archive-date = September 21, 2011 | url-status = dead }} There is also one non-denominational Christian school in the city, Central Kansas Christian Academy (K-8).{{cite web | title = Central Kansas Christian Academy | publisher = Central Kansas Christian Academy | url = http://ckcacademy.com/Home.html | access-date = November 20, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120425233909/http://ckcacademy.com/Home.html | archive-date = April 25, 2012 }}

Image:Great Bend Train Station Grain Elevator.jpg]]

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|date = November 2011}} 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.{{cite web | title = City of Great Bend (Map) | publisher = Kansas Department of Transportation | url = http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/city-pdf/great%20bend.pdf | access-date = November 22, 2011}}

Great Bend Municipal Airport is located approximately {{convert|2|mi|km}} west of the city and is used primarily for general aviation.{{cite web | title = KGBD - Great Bend Municipal Airport | publisher = AirNav.com | url = http://www.airnav.com/airport/KGBD | access-date = November 22, 2011}}{{cite web | title = Great Bend Municipal Airport - FAQs | publisher = City of Great Bend | url = http://www.greatbendks.net/FAQ.aspx | access-date = November 22, 2011}}

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

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.{{cite web | title = Water Division | publisher = City of Great Bend | url = http://www.greatbendks.net/index.aspx?NID=119 | access-date = November 22, 2011}} Waste water is treated and recycled at the city's Wastewater Treatment Facility and then emptied into the Arkansas River.{{cite web | title = Wastewater Treatment Facility | publisher = City of Great Bend | url = http://www.greatbendks.net/index.aspx?NID=134 | access-date = November 22, 2011}} Two regional energy cooperatives, Midwest Energy, Inc. and Wheatland Electric, provide electric power.{{cite web | title = Utilities | publisher = Great Bend Chamber of Commerce | url = http://www.greatbend.org/eco_utilities.cfm | access-date = November 22, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120407015614/http://www.greatbend.org/eco_utilities.cfm | archive-date = April 7, 2012 }} Local residents primarily use natural gas for heating fuel; Midwest Energy and Kansas Gas Service both provide natural gas service.

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.{{cite web | title = Great Bend Regional Hospital | work = U.S. News Best Hospitals | publisher = U.S. News & World Report | url = http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/great-bend-regional-hospital-6670041 | access-date = November 22, 2011}} St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center, formerly Central Kansas Medical Center, was an outpatient care facility affiliated with Catholic Health Initiatives.{{cite web | title = CKMC Announces New Direction | publisher = St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center | date = January 3, 2011 | url = http://www.ckmc.org/index.php?option=com_news&id=287 | access-date = November 22, 2011}} St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center was closed and demolished in 2015.

{{main|Media in Great Bend, Kansas}}

The Great Bend Tribune is the city's daily newspaper with a circulation of over 6,200 copies.{{cite web | title = Great Bend Tribune | publisher = Mondo Times | url = http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/16/915/2374 | access-date = November 20, 2011}}

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.{{cite web | title = Radio Stations in Great Bend, Kansas | publisher = Radio-Locator | url = http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Great+Bend%2C+KS&x=0&y=0&sid= | access-date = May 23, 2011}}{{cite web | title = Stations for Hays, Kansas | publisher = RabbitEars.Info | url = http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_market&mktid=85 | access-date = November 1, 2011}} 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 is part of the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market.{{cite web | title = Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas TV market | publisher = EchoStar Knowledge Base | url = http://dishuser.org/TVMarkets/City%20Maps/Wichita.gif | access-date = November 20, 2011}}

The city government's Park Department maintains 10 parks in the city.{{cite web | title = Park Department | publisher = City of Great Bend | url = http://www.greatbendks.net/index.aspx?NID=213 | access-date = August 15, 2016}} 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 {{convert|43|acre|ha|adj=on}} fishing lake immediately south of the city.{{cite web | title = Great Bend [Map] | publisher = Great Bend Chamber of Commerce | url = http://www.greatbendks.net/DocumentCenter/Home/View/278 | access-date = August 15, 2016}}{{cite web | title = Resource Directory | publisher = City of Great Bend | url = http://www.greatbendks.net/BusinessDirectoryII.aspx?lngBusinessCategoryID=22 | access-date = August 15, 2016}}

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 {{convert|5|mi|km}} north of the city.{{cite web | title = Visitor Information | publisher = Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development | url = http://www.greatbend.org/visitorInfoMaps.aspx | access-date = August 15, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160914222831/http://www.greatbend.org/visitorInfoMaps.aspx | archive-date = September 14, 2016 | url-status = dead }}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://corpsreps.com/index.cfm|title=corpsreps.com - The Drum Corps Repertoire Database|website=corpsreps.com}} The Rebels were one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International, finishing in 5th place in 1972 and 11th in 1973.

• The Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village is located in Great Bend.{{Cite web|title=Home | Barton County Historical Society|url=https://www.bartoncountymuseum.org/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407192119/http://www.bartoncountymuseum.org/|url-status=dead|archivedate=April 7, 2013|website=Barton County History}}
• The Great Bend Zoo and Raptor Center, founded in 1952, contains over 60 species of animals.{{cite web | title = Britt Spaugh Park & Great Bend Zoo | url = http://www.bartoncounty.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Health%20Department%7CHeartland%20Walking%20Trails%3E%3EBritt%20Spaugh%20Park%20%26%20Great%20Bend%20Zoo | access-date = June 15, 2016}}

Greyhound racing got its start in the United States in the bottoms in 1886 during a formal coursing event.{{Cite web|author=Tim Horan |date=February 2006|title=History of the Greyhound and Greyhound Racing|publisher=National Greyhound Association |url=https://www.ngagreyhounds.com/History.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620150442/https://www.ngagreyhounds.com/History.asp}}

Great Bend was home to minor league baseball. The Great Bend Millers team was based in Great Bend in 1905 and from 1909 to 1914. The Millers played as members of the Class D level Kansas State League in 1905 and from 1909 to 1911, the Central Kansas League in 1912 and the Kansas State League in 1913 and 1914. Great Bend won three consecutive league championships from 1911 to 1913.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor-first1=Lloyd |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first2=Miles |editor-last2=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}} In 2016, the Great Bend Boom played as members of the Independent level Pecos League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/t-gb11883|title=Great Bend Boom minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.greatbendboom.com/boom.asp?page=10|title=Welcome to Great Bend Boom Professional Baseball Team!|website=www.greatbendboom.com}}

The first nationwide NHRA sponsored event called "the Nationals" was held in 1955, in Great Bend, Kansas at the Great Bend Municipal Airport.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhra.com/nhra-101/nhra-history |title=NHRA History |website=NHRA |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117084917/http://www.nhra.com/%28S%28vl5h3145bvkajunbvol2ty45%29%29/nhra101/history.aspx|url-status=dead|archivedate=January 17, 2013}}

{{main|List of people from Great Bend, Kansas}}

{{See also|Barton Community College#Notable alumni|l1=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– ),{{cite web | title = Karrin Allyson Electronic Press Kit | publisher = AMS Artists | url = http://www.karrin.com/pdfs/KarrinAllyson_EPK_2008.pdf | page = 3 | access-date = May 22, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111003032651/http://www.karrin.com/pdfs/KarrinAllyson_EPK_2008.pdf | archive-date = October 3, 2011 }} co-inventor of the integrated circuit (IC) and 2000 Nobel Prize laureate in physics Jack Kilby (1923–2005),{{cite web | title = TI People - Jack Kilby | publisher = Texas Instruments | url = http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/kilbyctr/jackstclair.shtml | access-date = May 22, 2011}} and 1952 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic basketball player John Keller (1928–2000).{{cite web | title = John Keller | publisher = University of Kansas | url = http://www.jayhawks.org/kuhoa-dev/full.php?action=personDetail&id=15621 | access-date = May 22, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120324134420/http://www.jayhawks.org/kuhoa-dev/full.php?action=personDetail&id=15621 | archive-date = March 24, 2012 }}

• Great Bend Zoo
• Santa Fe Trail
• National Old Trails Road

{{Reflist}}

{{Portal|Kansas}}

{{Kansas books}}

{{See also|Barton County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Barton County, Kansas}}

{{Commons category|Great Bend, Kansas}}

{{NIE Poster|Great Bend}}

• [https://www.greatbendks.net/ City of Great Bend]
• [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260731 Great Bend - Directory of Public Officials]
• [http://bartoncountymuseum.org/ Barton County Historical Museum]
• [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/great%20bend.pdf Great Bend city map], KDOT

{{Barton County, Kansas}}

{{Kansas}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Kansas

Category:County seats in Kansas

Category:Cities in Barton County, Kansas

Category:Micropolitan areas of Kansas

Category:Kansas populated places on the Arkansas River