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Great Bend, KS

Frequently asked questions

Great Bend, KS

Great Bend is a city in and the county seat of Barton County, Kansas, United States. It is named for its location at the point where the course of the Arkansas River bends east then southeast. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 14,733. It is home to Barton Community College.

Great Bend is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 281 and U.S. Route 56 highways in Kansas. Driving by highway, it is approximately 116 miles (187 km) northwest of Wichita and 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Hays.

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. Dry Walnut Creek, a tributary of nearby Walnut Creek, flows east along the northern edge of the city. Cheyenne Bottoms, a large inland wetland, is located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) to the northeast. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.71 square miles (27.74 km²), of which 10.60 square miles (27.45 km²) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km²) is water.

Before American settlement of the area, the site of Great Bend was located in the northern reaches of Kiowa territory. 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. 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. 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. They named the settlement after its location at the "great bend" in the Arkansas River where the river's course turns eastward. The town began to grow as more settlers arrived over the following year and opened several businesses.

The railroad reached Great Bend in July 1872, and an election at about the same time declared the town the permanent county seat. Great Bend was incorporated as a city soon thereafter. The county courthouse and the city's first public school were built the following year.

Great Bend places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, with the Great Bend Regional Hospital serving as a cornerstone for comprehensive healthcare services. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Great Bend Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Club 1 Fitness and Anytime Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Great Bend, such as the Barton Lake and George Stumps Memorial Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top Sites in Great Bend, KS are Barton County Historical Society Museum, Brit Spaugh Park, and Kansas Oil & Gas Museum.

Population: 14,306 (2024). ZIP code: 67530. Area code: 620. Elevation: 1,850 ft (560 m). Area: 10.63 sq mi (27.54 km²).

FAQs

What is Great Bend, KS famous for?

Wheat processing and oil refining are the chief industries. Great Bend is the site of the Central Kansas Medical Center and Barton County Community College (1965). The city also has a free municipal zoo. Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and Pawnee Rock State Historic Site are nearby.

Is Great Bend, KS a good place to live?

Living in Great Bend offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many families live in Great Bend and residents tend to be conservative. The public schools in Great Bend are above average.

What is the crime rate in Great Bend, KS?

The crime rate in Great Bend is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 27 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Great Bend is 1 in 37. Based on FBI crime data, Great Bend is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Kansas, Great Bend has a crime rate that is higher than 90% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Great Bend

Great Bend Regional Hospital 

Great Bend Parks and Recreation Department 

Club 1 Fitness 

Anytime Fitness

Barton Lake 

George Stumps Memorial Trail

Barton County Historical Society Museum

Brit Spaugh Park

Kansas Oil & Gas Museum

Britannica

Niche

Neighborhood Scout

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