Great Bend, Kansas Explained

Great Bend, Kansas
Settlement Type:City and County seat
Image Map1:Map of Barton Co, Ks, USA.png
Map Caption1:KDOT map of Barton County (legend)
Coordinates:38.3644°N -98.7647°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Kansas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Barton
Subdivision Type3:Township
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1871
Established Title1:Platted
Established Title2:Incorporated
Established Date2:1872
Named For:Bend in Arkansas River
Leader Title:Mayor
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Sq Mi:10.63
Area Land Sq Mi:10.50
Area Water Sq Mi:0.13
Area Total Km2:27.54
Area Land Km2:27.19
Area Water Km2:0.35
Unit Pref:Imperial
Elevation Ft:1850
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:14733
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CST
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:67530
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:620
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:20-28300
Blank1 Name:GNIS ID
Blank1 Info:475650

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.[2] [3] It is home to Barton Community College.

History

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.[4] 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.[5] [6] Kansas became a state in 1861, and the state government delineated the surrounding area as Barton County in 1867.[6]

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.[7] 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.[7] [8] They named the settlement after its location at the "great bend" in the Arkansas River where the river's course turns eastward.[9] 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.[10] Great Bend was incorporated as a city soon thereafter. The county courthouse and the city's first public school were built the following year.[8]

In 1873, following the arrival of the railroad, Great Bend became a shipping point for cattle.[8] This stimulated local business but also transformed the city into a rowdy, violent cowtown.[7] 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.[8]

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.[8] 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.[11] More than 3,000 wells produced during the 1930s, and the influx of workers dramatically increased the city's population.[7]

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.[12] After the war, the City of Great Bend acquired the base and repurposed it for civilian use as Great Bend Municipal Airport.[13]

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.[7]

Geography

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 116miles northwest of Wichita and 60miles southwest of Hays.[14]

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.[15] [16] Dry Walnut Creek, a tributary of nearby Walnut Creek, flows east along the northern edge of the city.[17] Cheyenne Bottoms, a large inland wetland, is located approximately 6miles to the northeast.[18]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.71sqmi, of which 10.6sqmi is land and 0.11sqmi is water.[19]

Climate

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.[20] The hottest temperature recorded in Great Bend was 111F on July 11–13, 1954, June 27, 1980, June 30, 1980, and July 14, 1980, while the coldest temperature recorded was -21F on December 22, 1989.

The high temperature reaches or exceeds an average of 69.7 days a year and reaches or exceeds an average of 12 days a year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point an average of 119.5 days a year.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 14,733 people, 6,136 households, and 3,690 families in Great Bend.[21] The population density was 1,403.4 per square mile (541.9/km). There were 7,081 housing units at an average density of 674.5 per square mile (260.4/km).[22] [23] 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.[24] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 23.5% (3,462) of the population.[25]

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.[26] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 14.8% of the population.[27]

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).[28] 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).[29] 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.[30] [31]

2010 census

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 1509PD/sqmi. There were 7,113 housing units at an average density of 671/sqmi. 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.[32]

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.[32]

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.[32]

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.[32]

Economy

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%).[32] 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.[33]

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.[34] 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.[32]

Government

Great Bend is a city of the second class with a mayor-council form of government.[35] 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.[36] The council meets on the first and third Monday of each month.[35]

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.[37]

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.[35]

Education

Colleges

Barton Community College, a two-year public college, is located approximately three miles northeast of Great Bend.[38] [39]

Public schools

Great Bend USD 428 public school district serves approximately 3,000 students and operates eight schools in the city:[40]

Private schools

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City oversees the Holy Family School (PreK–6).[41] There is also one non-denominational Christian school in the city, Central Kansas Christian Academy (K-8).[42]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Great Bend was located on the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, that was established in 1912. 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.[43]

Great Bend Municipal Airport is located approximately 2miles west of the city.[43] Used primarily for general aviation.[44] [45]

A Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line runs east–west through the city with a second line branching off to the northwest, paralleling K-96.[17]

Utilities

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.[46] Waste water is treated and recycled at the city's Wastewater Treatment Facility and then emptied into the Arkansas River.[47] Two regional energy cooperatives, Midwest Energy, Inc. and Wheatland Electric, provide electric power.[48] Local residents primarily use natural gas for heating fuel; Midwest Energy and Kansas Gas Service both provide natural gas service.[48]

Health care

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.[49] St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center, formerly Central Kansas Medical Center, was an outpatient care facility affiliated with Catholic Health Initiatives.[50] St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center was closed and demolished in 2015.

Media

See main article: Media in Great Bend, Kansas. The Great Bend Tribune is the city's daily newspaper with a circulation of over 6,200 copies.[51]

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.[52] [53] Two AM and ten FM radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from the city.[52] Two television stations, one NBC affiliate and one ABC affiliate, also broadcast from the city.[53] Both are satellite stations of their respective affiliates in Wichita as Great Bend is part of the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market.[53] [54]

Parks and recreation

The city government's Park Department maintains 10 parks in the city.[55] 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 43acres fishing lake immediately south of the city.[56] [57]

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 5miles north of the city.[58]

Culture

Arts and music

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.[59] The Rebels were one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International, finishing in 5th place in 1972 and 11th in 1973.[59]

Points of interest

Sports

Greyhound racing got its start in the United States in the bottoms in 1886 during a formal coursing event.[62]

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.[63] In 2016, the Great Bend Boom played as members of the Independent level Pecos League.[64] [65]

The first nationwide NHRA sponsored event called "the Nationals" was held in 1955, in Great Bend, Kansas at the Great Bend Municipal Airport.[66]

Notable people

See main article: List of people from Great Bend, Kansas.

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Great Bend include jazz singer and pianist Karrin Allyson (1963–),[67] co-inventor of the integrated circuit (IC) and 2000 Nobel Prize laureate in physics Jack Kilby (1923–2005),[68] and 1952 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic basketball player John Keller (1928–2000).[69]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 24, 2020.
  2. Web site: Profile of Great Bend, Kansas in 2020 . United States Census Bureau . March 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320190211/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2028300 . March 20, 2022 . live.
  3. Web site: QuickFacts; Great Bend, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 . United States Census Bureau . August 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210826030253/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/greatbendcitykansas/POP010220 . August 26, 2021 . live.
  4. Web site: Sturtevant . William C. . Early Indian Tribes, Culture Areas, and Linguistic Stocks [Map] ]. . 1967 . July 31, 2014.
  5. Web site: Louisiana Purchase . Kansapedia . . Aug 2012 . March 5, 2014.
  6. Web site: Kansas Territory . Kansapedia . Mar 2013 . March 5, 2013.
  7. Web site: Weiser . Kathy . Great Bend, Kansas – History and Information . Legends of Kansas . November 19, 2011.
  8. Web site: Cutler . William G. . Barton County . History of the State of Kansas . A. T. Andreas . . 1883 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030105105231/http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/barton/barton-co-p1.html#GENERAL_HISTORY . dead . January 5, 2003 . November 19, 2011.
  9. Book: Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society . Kansas State Printing Plant . Kansas State Historical Society . 1916 . 145.
  10. Book: Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. . Standard Publishing Company . Blackmar, Frank Wilson . 1912 . 786.
  11. Web site: History . Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau . November 20, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111124225734/http://www.visitgreatbend.com/history.asp . November 24, 2011 .
  12. U.S. Army and Air Force Wings Over Kansas, Part One . Kansas Historical Quarterly . . 25 . 2 . 129–157 . Summer 1959 . November 20, 2011.
  13. Web site: Great Bend Municipal Airport – History . City of Great Bend . November 20, 2011.
  14. Web site: Official Transportation Map . . February 3, 2023.
  15. Web site: [ftp://ftp.epa.gov/wed/ecoregions/ks_ne/ksne_front.pdf Ecoregions of Nebraska and Kansas ]. . 2001 . March 14, 2010 .
  16. Web site: Barton County, Kansas . Kansapedia . . May 23, 2011.
  17. Web site: General Highway Map - Barton County, Kansas . . September 1, 2009 . May 23, 2011.
  18. http://www.cheyennebottoms.net/about_cheyenne_bottoms.html Cheyenne Bottoms: Jewel of the Prairie - cheyennebottoms.net - Retrieved February 10, 2009
  19. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . July 6, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . January 12, 2012 .
  20. Peel . M. C. . Finlayson . B. L. . McMahon . T. A. . 2007 . Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification . Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. . 11 . 5 . 1633–1644 . 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . 2007HESS...11.1633P . free .
  21. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  22. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  23. Web site: Gazetteer Files . 2023-12-30 . Census.gov.
  24. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  25. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  26. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  27. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  28. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  29. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  30. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  31. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES . 2024-01-03 . data.census.gov.
  32. Web site: U.S. Census website . . August 13, 2021.
  33. Web site: Great Bend Area Manufacturers & Major Employers . Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development . July 31, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050314/http://www.greatbend.org/MajorEmployerList.pdf . August 8, 2014 . dead .
  34. Web site: Great Bend, Kansas . City-Data.com . July 31, 2014.
  35. Web site: Great Bend . Directory of Kansas Public Officials . The League of Kansas Municipalities . November 20, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111213104331/http://www.lkm.org/directory/cities.php?ID=75 . December 13, 2011 .
  36. Web site: Governing Body . City of Great Bend . February 15, 2010.
  37. Web site: Offices/Departments . Barton County, Kansas . February 25, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120309060037/http://www.bartoncounty.org/Offices.htm . March 9, 2012 .
  38. Web site: Programs of Study . Barton Community College . https://web.archive.org/web/20100527105844/http://www.bartonccc.edu/pdf/publications/catalog/Catalog0809_Pt2.pdf . dead . May 27, 2010 . January 27, 2010 .
  39. Web site: About Our Campuses . Barton Community College . January 27, 2010 . dead . https://archive.today/20120718164503/http://www.bartonccc.edu/community/aboutbarton/aboutbarton.html . July 18, 2012 .
  40. Web site: USD 428 Great Bend . USD 428 Great Bend Public Schools . January 27, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100116071131/http://usd428.net/school_tour_page.htm . January 16, 2010 .
  41. Web site: Holy Family School . . November 20, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110921093522/http://dcdiocese.org/directory/departments/diocesan-schools/99-diocesan-schools/405-holy-family-school . September 21, 2011 . dead .
  42. Web site: Central Kansas Christian Academy . Central Kansas Christian Academy . November 20, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120425233909/http://ckcacademy.com/Home.html . April 25, 2012 .
  43. Web site: City of Great Bend (Map) . . November 22, 2011.
  44. Web site: KGBD - Great Bend Municipal Airport . . November 22, 2011.
  45. Web site: Great Bend Municipal Airport - FAQs . City of Great Bend . November 22, 2011.
  46. Web site: Water Division . City of Great Bend . November 22, 2011.
  47. Web site: Wastewater Treatment Facility . City of Great Bend . November 22, 2011.
  48. Web site: Utilities . Great Bend Chamber of Commerce . November 22, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120407015614/http://www.greatbend.org/eco_utilities.cfm . April 7, 2012 .
  49. Web site: Great Bend Regional Hospital . U.S. News Best Hospitals . . November 22, 2011.
  50. Web site: CKMC Announces New Direction . St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center . January 3, 2011 . November 22, 2011.
  51. Web site: Great Bend Tribune . Mondo Times . November 20, 2011.
  52. Web site: Radio Stations in Great Bend, Kansas . Radio-Locator . May 23, 2011.
  53. Web site: Stations for Hays, Kansas . RabbitEars.Info . November 1, 2011.
  54. Web site: Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas TV market . EchoStar Knowledge Base . November 20, 2011.
  55. Web site: Park Department . City of Great Bend . August 15, 2016.
  56. Web site: Great Bend [Map] ]. Great Bend Chamber of Commerce . August 15, 2016.
  57. Web site: Resource Directory . City of Great Bend . August 15, 2016.
  58. Web site: Visitor Information . Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development . August 15, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160914222831/http://www.greatbend.org/visitorInfoMaps.aspx . September 14, 2016 . dead .
  59. Web site: corpsreps.com - The Drum Corps Repertoire Database. corpsreps.com.
  60. Web site: Home | Barton County Historical Society. https://web.archive.org/web/20130407192119/http://www.bartoncountymuseum.org/. dead. April 7, 2013. Barton County History.
  61. Web site: Britt Spaugh Park & Great Bend Zoo . June 15, 2016.
  62. Web site: Tim Horan . February 2006. History of the Greyhound and Greyhound Racing. National Greyhound Association . dead . 2009-06-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20090620150442/https://www.ngagreyhounds.com/History.asp.
  63. Book: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball . Lloyd . Johnson . Miles . Wolff . Third . . 2007 . 978-1932391176.
  64. Web site: Great Bend Boom minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com. www.statscrew.com.
  65. Web site: Welcome to Great Bend Boom Professional Baseball Team!. www.greatbendboom.com.
  66. Web site: NHRA History . NHRA . https://web.archive.org/web/20130117084917/http://www.nhra.com/%28S%28vl5h3145bvkajunbvol2ty45%29%29/nhra101/history.aspx. dead. January 17, 2013.
  67. Web site: Karrin Allyson Electronic Press Kit . AMS Artists . 3 . May 22, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111003032651/http://www.karrin.com/pdfs/KarrinAllyson_EPK_2008.pdf . October 3, 2011 .
  68. Web site: TI People - Jack Kilby . . May 22, 2011.
  69. Web site: John Keller . . May 22, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324134420/http://www.jayhawks.org/kuhoa-dev/full.php?action=personDetail&id=15621 . March 24, 2012 .