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Pittsburg, KS

Frequently asked questions

Pittsburg, KS

Pittsburg is a city in Crawford County, Kansas, United States, located in southeast Kansas near the Missouri state border. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and southeast Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 20,646. It is the home of Pittsburg State University.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.90 square miles (33.41 km²), of which, 12.80 square miles (33.15 km²) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km²) is water. Pittsburg sits in the Ozark Highlands region, a mix of prairie and forests. It lies 90 miles (140 km) west of Springfield, Missouri, 124 miles (200 km) south of Kansas City, Missouri, and 137 miles (220 km) northeast of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

On October 23, 1864, a wagon train of refugees had come from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and was escorted by troops from the 6th Kansas Cavalry under the command of Col. William Campbell. These were local men from Cherokee, Crawford, and Bourbon counties. Their enlistment was over, and they were on their way to Fort Leavenworth to be dismissed from service. They ran into the 1st Indian Brigade led by Maj. Andrew Jackson Piercy near the current Pittsburg Waste Water Treatment Plant. They continued to the north when a small group of wagons broke away in an unsuccessful rush to safety. The Confederate troops caught up with them and burned the wagons. The death toll was three Union soldiers and 13 civilian men who had been with the wagon train. It was likely that one of the Confederates had also been killed. A granite marker memorial for the "Cow Creek Skirmish" was placed near the Crawford County Historical Museum on October 30, 2011.

Pittsburg sprang up in the fall of 1876 on a railroad line being built through the neighborhood. It was named after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and maps of the time give the town's name "New Pittsburgh". George Hobson and Franklin Playter are credited with being the city's founders, establishing a government after its beginnings as a coal mining camp in the 1870s. The city was incorporated in 1879. The “New” was dropped upon incorporation of the city as a third-class city on June 21, 1880, with M. M. Snow as its first Mayor. In 1892 it was advanced to a city of the second class, in 1905 Pittsburg attained the rank of first class.

The first dwelling was built by J. T. Roach in July 1876. The first post office in Pittsburg was established in August 1876. The post office's name was shortened from "New Pittsburgh" to "Pittsburgh" in 1881 and to "Pittsburg" in 1894. The latter renaming came after the United States Board on Geographic Names, in the interest of standardization, recommended that the 'h' be dropped from place names ending in "burgh".

In the realm of health and wellness, Pittsburg prioritizes the well-being of its residents. Via Christi Hospital serves as a cornerstone in providing comprehensive healthcare services to the community. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Pittsburg 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 CrossFit 620, MAC Fitness, and Tri Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Pittsburg, such as the Caseletto Loop and Watco Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Pittsburg, KS are Kiddieland Amusement Park, Miner's Memorial, Crawford County Historical Museum, and Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.

Population: 20,504 (2023). ZIP code: 66762. Area code: 620. Elevation: 925 ft (282 m). Area: 13.16 sq mi (34.09 km²).

FAQs

What is Pittsburg, KS famous for?

Besides strip coal mining operations, it has large plants that produce coal-preparation equipment and ammonium nitrate. Pittsburg State University was founded in 1903. The city is also the site of the Personal Census Service Branch of the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Nearby are several wildlife areas on land reclaimed from strip mining. Inc. 1880. Pop. (2000) 19,243; (2010) 20,233.

What are the demographics of Pittsburg, KS?

Pittsburg, KS is home to a population of 20.7k people, of which 97.6% are citizens. As of 2021, 5.21% of Pittsburg, KS residents were born outside of the country (1.08k people). In 2021, there were 9.37 times more White (non-Hispanic) residents (16.5k people) in Pittsburg, KS than any other race or ethnicity.

Is Pittsburg, KS safe?

With a crime rate of 50 per one thousand residents, Pittsburg has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 20. Within Kansas, more than 99% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Pittsburg.

Sources

Wikipedia 

City of Pittsburg

Via Christi Hospital 

Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department 

CrossFit 620

MAC Fitness 

Tri Fitness

Caseletto Loop 

Watco Trail

Kiddieland Amusement Park

Miner's Memorial

Crawford County Historical Museum

Bicknell Family Center for the Arts

Britannica

Data USA

Neighborhood Scout

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