Dodge City, Kansas
City and County seat
El Capitan cattle drive monument (2008)
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "Cowboy Capital of The World"; "Wicked Little City"; "King of Cowtowns"
Motto(s):  "Get The Heck Into Dodge"; "The Wickedest Little City in America"
Location within Ford County and Kansas
KDOT map of Ford County (legend)
Coordinates: 37°45′40″N 100°01′06″W / 37.76111°N 100.01833°W / 37.76111; -100.01833[1]
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Ford
Founded	1872[2]
Incorporated	1875[3]
Named for	Fort Dodge
Government
• Mayor	Chuck Taylor[4]
Area [5]
• Total	14.77 sq mi (38.24 km2)
• Land	14.66 sq mi (37.97 km2)
• Water	0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2)
Elevation [1]	2,559 ft (780 m)
Population  (2020)[6][7]
• Total	27,788
• Density	1,900/sq mi (730/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	67801, 67843
Area code	620
FIPS code	20-18250
GNIS ID	485563[1]
Website	dodgecity.org

Dodge City is the county seat of Ford County, Kansas, United States.^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 27,788.^[6][7] It was named after nearby Fort Dodge, which was named in honor of Grenville Dodge. The city is known in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West.^[8][9][10]

History

The first settlement in the area that became Dodge City was Fort Mann, built by civilians in 1847. At that time, the territory was part of Mexico, and the fort was built to provide protection for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Mann collapsed in 1848 after an attack by Natives. In 1850, the U.S. Army arrived to provide protection in the region and constructed Fort Atkinson on the old Fort Mann site. The army abandoned Fort Atkinson in 1853. Military forces on the Santa Fe Trail were re-established farther north and east at Fort Larned in 1859, but the area remained vacant around what would become Dodge City until the end of the Civil War. In April 1865, the American Frontier Wars in the West began heating up, and the army constructed Fort Dodge to assist Fort Larned in providing protection on the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Dodge remained in operation until 1882.^{[citation needed]}

The town of Dodge City can trace its origins to 1871, when rancher Henry J. Sitler built a sod house west of Fort Dodge to oversee his cattle operations in the region, conveniently located near the Santa Fe Trail and Arkansas River, and Sitler's house quickly became a stopping point for travelers. Others saw the commercial potential of the region with the Santa Fe Railroad rapidly approaching from the east. In 1872, Dodge City was staked out on the 100th meridian and the legal western boundary of the Fort Dodge reservation. The town site was platted and George M. Hoover established the first bar in a tent to serve thirsty soldiers from Fort Dodge. The railroad arrived in September to find a town ready and waiting for business. The early settlers in Dodge City traded in buffalo bones and hides and provided a civilian community for Fort Dodge. With the arrival of the railroad, Dodge City soon became involved in the cattle trade.

The idea of driving Texas Longhorn cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas originated in the late 1850s,^[11] but was cut short by the Civil War. In 1866, the first Texas cattle started arriving in Baxter Springs in southeastern Kansas by way of the Shawnee Trail. Texas Longhorn cattle carried a tick that spread Texas cattle fever, among other breeds of cattle. Alarmed Kansas farmers persuaded the Kansas State Legislature to establish a quarantine line in central Kansas. The quarantine prohibited Texas Longhorns from the heavily settled, eastern portion of the state.^[12]

With the cattle trade forced west, Texas Longhorns began moving north along the Chisholm Trail. In 1867, the main cowtown was Abilene, Kansas. Profits were high, and other towns quickly joined in the cattle boom: Newton in 1871, Ellsworth in 1872, and Wichita in 1872. In 1876, however, the Kansas State Legislature responded to pressure from farmers settling in central Kansas and once again shifted the quarantine line westward, which essentially eliminated Abilene and the other cowtowns from the cattle trade. With no place else to go, Dodge City suddenly became the "queen of the cow towns."^[13]

A new route known as the Great Western Cattle Trail or Western Trail branched off from the Chisholm Trail to lead cattle into Dodge City. Dodge City became a boomtown, with thousands of cattle passing annually through its stockyards. The peak years of the cattle trade in Dodge City were from 1883 to 1884, and during that time the town grew tremendously. In 1880, Dodge City got a new competitor for the cattle trade from the border town of Caldwell. For a few years, the competition between the towns was fierce, but enough cattle were available for both towns to prosper.^{[citation needed]}

Dodge City became known as a true frontier settlement of the Old West. Dodge City had more gunfighters working at one time or another than any other town in the West, many of whom participated in the Dodge City War of 1883. It had saloons, gambling halls, and brothels, including the Long Branch Saloon and China Doll brothel.^[14] For a time in 1884, Dodge City had a bullfighting ring where Mexican bullfighters would put on a show with specially chosen Longhorn bulls. As more agricultural settlers moved into western Kansas, pressure increased on the Kansas State Legislature to do something about splenic fever, known today as anthrax. Consequently, in 1885, the quarantine line was extended across the state and the Western Trail was all but shut down.

By the mid-1880s, Dodge City began working to change its image away from that of a violent western town and towards that of a more peaceful and civilized location. In 1878, for example, the bodies in the notorious "Boot Hill" cemetery were moved to the newly established Prairie Grove Cemetery, and a new schoolhouse was built on Boot Hill.^[15] In 1907 Andrew Carnegie donated money for the construction of a new public library in Dodge City.

Dodge City was also a significant hub for racing for many years, and it held the first World Championship 300 Mile Motorcycle Race on July 4, 1914.^[16] Notable attendees included William Harley and Walter Davidson, who adopted the "hog" as a mascot after one of their riders, Ray Weishaar, brought a piglet from his farm with him to the race. Motorcycle races continued in Dodge City into the 1950s, and attracted significant talent throughout this time, though Dodge's prominence as a hub for motorcycle racing would gradually fade over time.^[17] Dodge City was also a site for automobile races, with racers such as Carroll Shelby taking part in the events.^[18]

Geography

Dodge City lies on the Arkansas River in the High Plains region of the Great Plains.^[19] The city sits above one of the world's largest underground water systems, the Ogallala Aquifer,^[20] and is 25 miles (40 km) from the eastern edge of the Hugoton Natural Gas Area.^{[citation needed]} Located at the intersection of U. S. Routes 50, 56 and 283 in southwestern Kansas, Dodge City is 151 mi (243 km) west of Wichita, 199 mi (320 km) northeast of Amarillo, and 301 mi (484 km) southeast of Denver.^[19][21]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.55 square miles (37.68 km²), of which 14.44 square miles (37.40 km²) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km²) is water.^[22]

Climate

Dodge City lies at the intersection of North America's semi-arid (Köppen BSk) and humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) zones,^[23] with hot summers, highly variable winters, both warm and very cold periods, and low to moderate humidity and precipitation throughout the year; it is part of USDA Hardiness zone 6b.^[24] Areas to the west are drier and more strongly semi-arid. Severe weather, including tornadoes, is common in the area, especially in the spring months. Dodge City is often cited as the windiest city in the United States with an average speed of 13.9 mph (22.4 km/h), which results in occasional blizzards in the winter, even when snowfall does not accumulate much.^[25] On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and June is the wettest month.^[26]

The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32.2 °C) an average of 71 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 °F (37.8 °C) an average of 14 days a year; the last year that failed to reach 100 °F (37.8 °C) was 1958.^[27] The minimum temperature falls to or below 0 °F (−18 °C) an average of 2.1 days a year.^[28] The highest officially recorded temperature was 111 °F (44 °C) on June 27, 2012, while the lowest temperature officially recorded was −26 °F (−32 °C) on February 12, 1899.^[27] The record cold daily maximum is −13 °F (−25 °C) on January 13, 1875, and conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 83 °F (28 °C) last set June 13, 2022.^[27]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	996		—
1890	1,763		77.0%
1900	1,942		10.2%
1910	3,214		65.5%
1920	5,061		57.5%
1930	10,059		98.8%
1940	8,487		−15.6%
1950	11,262		32.7%
1960	13,520		20.0%
1970	14,127		4.5%
1980	18,001		27.4%
1990	21,129		17.4%
2000	25,176		19.2%
2010	27,340		8.6%
2020	27,788		1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 2010-2020[7]

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 27,788 people, 9,000 households, and 6,399 families in Dodge City.^[29][30] The population density was 1,888.3 per square mile (729.1/km²). There were 9,869 housing units at an average density of 670.6 per square mile (258.9/km²).^[30][31] The racial makeup was 44.58% (12,387) white or European American (29.25% non-Hispanic white), 3.39% (943) black or African-American, 2.43% (675) Native American or Alaska Native, 1.38% (383) Asian, 0.05% (13) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 27.68% (7,692) from other races, and 20.49% (5,695) from two or more races.^[32] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 63.91% (17,759) of the population.^[33]

Of the 9,000 households, 43.8% had children under the age of 18; 48.2% were married couples living together; 25.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 23.3% of households consisted of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[30] The average household size was 3.1 and the average family size was 3.7.^[34] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 9.2% of the population.^[35]

31.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males.^[30] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 98.1 males.^[30]

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $52,654 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,947) and the median family income was $61,993 (+/- $5,366).^[36] Males had a median income of $35,569 (+/- $3,963) versus $25,217 (+/- $2,969) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $31,089 (+/- $1,012).^[37] Approximately, 9.7% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under the age of 18 and 9.9% of those ages 65 or over.^[38][39]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 27,340 people, 8,777 households, and 6,241 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,893.6 inhabitants per square mile (731.1/km²). There were 9,378 housing units at an average density of 649.5 per square mile (250.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.5% White, 2.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 19.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 57.5% of the population.^[40]

There were 8,777 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.9% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05, and the average family size was 3.60.^[40]

The median age in the city was 28.9 years. 31.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 19.6% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.^[40]

The median income for a household was $43,994, and the median income for a family was $49,957. Males had a median income of $31,400 versus $27,884 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,350. About 16.7% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.^[40]

Economy

Meat packing is the primary industry in Dodge City. Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef both operate large facilities in the city.^[41] The city also hosts farm implement manufacturing and serves as a supply center for area agriculture. Livestock-raising is a major activity while wheat and sorghum are the area's main crops.^[10] In addition, a local tourism industry, including a casino resort, has developed to capitalize on Dodge City's history as an Old West cowtown.^[42] The service sector accounts for much of the rest of the local economy.^[41]

As of 2010, 70.9% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.3% was in the armed forces, and 70.5% was in the civilian labor force with 66.9% being employed and 3.6% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was: 23.3% in management, business, science, and arts; 16.4% in sales and office occupations; 10.9% in service occupations; 15.2% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 34.2% in production, transportation, and material moving. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: manufacturing (33.0%); educational services, health care, and social assistance (18.1%); and retail trade (9.4%).^[40]

The cost of living in Dodge City is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the city is 79.3.^[43] As of 2010, the median home value in the city was $83,300, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,013 for housing units with a mortgage and $450 for those without, and the median gross rent was $571.^[40]

In late 2023, Hilmar Cheese is scheduled to open a new $550 million cheese and whey protein processing plant in Dodge City.^[44]

Top employers

Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef are the two largest employers. Other major employers include local government, schools, retail stores, and health care providers.^[41]

Largest employers (100+ Employees)[45]
Employer	Employees
National Beef Packing Company	2,950
Cargill Meat Solutions	2,700
Unified School District #443	1,292
Wal-Mart Super Center	400
Western Plains Medical Complex	295
Boot Hill Casino & Resort	288
Dodge City Community College	284
Ford County Government	263
City of Dodge City	238
CrustBuster/Speed King, Inc.	150
Dillon's Super Store	140
Dodge City Medical Center	125
Kansas Soldiers' Home	115
Arrowhead West, Inc.	101

Government

Dodge City has a commission-manager form of government.^[46] The city commission consists of five members who serve either two-year or four-year terms, depending on the number of votes they receive. Every year, the commission selects one commissioner to serve as mayor and another to serve as vice-mayor.^[47] The commission meets on the first and third Mondays of each month.^[46] Appointed by the commission, the city manager leads the city administration, executes the commission's policies, and develops operational programs to meet the city's needs.^[48]

As the county seat, Dodge City is the administrative center of Ford County. The county courthouse is located downtown, and all departments of the county government base their operations in the city.^[49]

Dodge City lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District. For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature, the city is located in the 38th district of the Kansas Senate and the 115th and 119th districts of the Kansas House of Representatives.^[46]

Dodge City was criticized by Johnny Dunlap, Ford County Democratic Party's chairman, for only having one polling place for 13,000 voters. For the 2018 election, it was moved outside the city limits one mile from the nearest bus stop.^[50] While the county provided transportation, voters had to arrange for it in advance.^[51] A lawsuit over the issue was dismissed after Debbie Cox, the county clerk, agreed to open two polling places in the next election.^[52]

Education

Primary and secondary education

Dodge City USD 443 public school district serves over 6,000 students and operates 14 schools in the city, including one early childhood center, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and one alternative school.^[53]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City oversees one Catholic school in the city: Sacred Heart Cathedral School (Pre-K-8).^[54]

Colleges and universities

Dodge City Community College (DCCC), a two-year public college with approximately 2,000 students, is located in the northwestern part of the city.^[55][56] From 1952 to 1993, Dodge City was also home to St. Mary of the Plains College, a private, four-year Catholic liberal arts college.^[57] Newman University, a Catholic university based in Wichita, now operates a branch campus on St. Mary of the Plains' former grounds.^[58]

Libraries

Dodge City Public Library, located north of downtown, is the city's main library. A member of the Southwest Kansas Library System, it has a collection of approximately 123,000 volumes, and it circulates more than 189,000 items annually.^[59] It was founded as a Carnegie library in 1905 and moved to its current facility in 1981.^[60] The library offers several services to the public, including computer classes, public internet access, and programs for children and adults.^[61] Another library in the city is the DCCC Library, which holds more than 30,000 volumes and serves as a federal depository library.^[62][63]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Originally a stop on the Santa Fe Trail, Dodge City was later located on the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, which followed the trail's path in western Kansas upon its establishment in 1912.^[64] Currently, four U.S. Highways meet in Dodge City: U.S. Route 50, U.S. Route 56, U.S. Route 283, and U.S. Route 400. U.S. 50, an east-west route, runs through the northern part of the city. U.S. 400, which also runs east-west, runs through the southern part of the city. U.S. 56, an east-west route, and U.S. 283, a north-south route, run concurrently around the city's southern and eastern fringe. The U.S. 50 business route runs concurrently with U.S. 56, U.S. 283, and U.S. 400 at different points through the southern part and around the eastern part of the city.^[65]

Dodge City Regional Airport is located approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the city.^[66] Used primarily for general aviation, it hosts one commercial airline with daily flights to Denver, CO.^[67][68][69]

Three railroads serve Dodge City: the La Junta Subdivision of the BNSF Railway, which runs east-west; the main line of the Cimarron Valley Railroad of which Dodge City is the northeastern terminus; and the Boot Hill and Western Railway of which the city is the northwestern terminus.^[65][70] Using the BNSF trackage, Amtrak provides passenger rail service on its Southwest Chief line between Chicago and Los Angeles.^[66][71] Amtrak's Dodge City station is located downtown.^[72]

Fixed-route bus service provided by D-TRAN operates between 6am and 7pm Monday-Friday.^[73]

Utilities

The Utilities Division of the city government's Public Works Department operates and maintains the city's water and waste water distribution systems.^[74] The department's Sanitation Division provides trash pickup.^[75] Operations Management International, Inc. (OMI), a private contractor, provides waste water treatment, pumping the city's waste water to treatment holding ponds 12 miles south of the city.^[76] The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., part of the Mid-Kansas Electric Company, delivers electricity to the city.^[77][78] Local residents primarily use natural gas as their heating fuel; natural gas service is provided by Black Hills Energy.^[43][79]

Health care

The Western Plains Medical Complex is the sole hospital in Dodge City. A 100-bed hospital accredited by the Joint Commission, it serves as a referral center for southwestern Kansas.^[80]

Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Dodge_City,_Kansas
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