City of Arkansas City
Location of Arkansas City in Kansas.
Coordinates: 37°3′55″N 97°2′23″W / 37.06528, -97.03972
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Cowley
Founded	1870
Area
- Total	7.5 sq mi (19.5 km²)
- Land	7.5 sq mi (19.5 km²)
- Water	0.04 sq mi (0.1 km²)  0.27%
Elevation	1,119 ft (341 m)
Population (2005)
- Total	11,581
- Density	1,544.1/sq mi (593.9/km²)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	67005
Area code(s)	620
FIPS code	20-02300GR2
GNIS feature ID	0470061GR3
Website: www.arkcity.org

Arkansas City is a city situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers in the southwestern part of Cowley County, located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. The population was estimated to be 11,581 in the year 2005.^[1] It is the second most populous city of Cowley County. Image File history File links Cowley_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Arkansas_City_Highlighted. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This is a listing of counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Cowley County (standard abbreviation: CL) is a county located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Mr. ... Area Code 620 is the area code for telephone exchanges in most of southern Kansas, with the exception of the city of Wichita and the surrounding area. ... Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the U.S. Federal government for use by all (non-military) government agencies and by government contractors. ... GNIS (The Geographic Names Information System) contains name and locative information about almost two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its Territories. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ... The Walnut River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in the Flint Hills region of Kansas in the United States. ... Cowley County (standard abbreviation: CL) is a county located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

The name of this city is not pronounced like the nearby state of Arkansas, but rather as "Ar-Kansas" (the final "s" is pronounced). Over the years there has been much confusion about the regional pronunciation of "Arkansas," which locals render as "Ar-KAN-zus" rather than "AR-ken-saw." Throughout much of Kansas, residents use this alternate pronunciation when referring to the Arkansas River, as well as Arkansas Street in the city of Wichita. Very few people from other states, and even much less from the state of Arkansas (which has a law that mandates the French pronunciation), use or have ever heard the anglicized pronunciation. Because of this, and for the sake of brevity, Arkansas City is most often referred to as simply Ark City. Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Largest metro area Little Rock Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... For other uses, see Wichita (disambiguation). ...

History

White settlers first congregated in the area where Arkansas City now stands in the 1860s. The natives referred to the place as "Nichonka," which roughly translates as "place between the waters" — a reference to the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers. // The First Transcontinental Railroad in the USA was built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ...

The settlers established a town in around 1870, but had difficulty choosing a name; at first they hoped to flatter U.S. Postmaster General John A. J. Creswell (and win a highly-sought-after post office) by naming the town Cresswell in his honor. Unfortunately, numerous other cities had already taken that tack. Next the town fathers, swooning with high expectations for their nascent community, briefly contemplated naming the city Delphi. Walnut City was considered and discarded. Finally, Arkansas City was chosen as the official name of the town. The United States Postmaster General is the executive head of the United States Postal Service. ... John Angel James Creswell (November 18, 1828 – December 23, 1891) was an American politician. ...

Though the people of the young settlement believed their community should be the county seat, neighboring Winfield just 10 miles away was given the honor. A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Winfield is a city situated along the Walnut River in the west-central part of Cowley County, located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. ...

Arkansas City grew steadily through the latter part of the 19th century, and enjoyed a population explosion starting in 1891, when thousands of people moved into the area in anticipation of the Cherokee Strip Land Run. It has been estimated that the city's population swelled from 5,000 to 150,000 (most living in temporary encampments) as the nationally-hyped federal land giveaway approached, and shrank back to 5,000 in its aftermath. Alternate meaning: Cherokee Strip, Kansas United States. ...

The James-Younger Gang of outlaws famously hid out in a cave west of town when they rode through the area. Jesse and Frank James, 1872 The James-Younger Gang was a legendary 19th century gang of American outlaws that included Jesse James. ...

At the turn of the century, Arkansas City was a rival to Wichita in size and enterprise, boasting several busy rail lines, an elegant opera house, numerous fine hotels, a manufacturing base and a bustling agricultural economy. There was even a famous sanitarium (health spa) at nearby Geuda Springs, served by an electric railway running a triangular route from there to Ark City and Winfield. A popular swimming hole called Paris Lake was located west of downtown; the lake — and the hot springs at Geuda as well — was mired with silt in a flood in around 1919. Nearly 20 years later the WPA would build the Paris Park pool in the same spot. African Americans were not allowed to swim in the Paris Park pool during segregation and used a separate facility colloquially referred to as "the black pool" by local residents. Trains can travel at very high speed, are heavy, are unable to deviate from the track and require a great distance to stop. ... Geuda Springs is a city located in Cowley and Sumner counties in Kansas. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

In 1928, the city's official fall festival, Arkalalah, was inaugurated. This annual event still draws thousands of visitors each October, and features a queen, a carnival, dozens of homegrown fair food vendors and a spectacular parade typically lasting three hours or more. During the 1955 Arkalalah celebration, a retired Santa Fe locomotive was driven on temporary tracks down the city's main street, Summit, to the spot in Wilson Park where it remains today. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AAR reporting marks ATSF), often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the largest railroads in the United States. ...

The city prospered through much of the 20th century, but by the 1980s, the community was facing economic challenges. The railroads shifted many of their crews to other stops, the old Rodeo meat packing plant closed. In 1991 Total Petroleum was bought by UltraMar Diamond Shamrock, after Total Petroleum was found to be illegally dealing with Iraq and was forced out of the United States. In 1995 UltraMar Diamond Shamrock was purchased by Valero Energy Corporation. Valero began the process of cleaning up the soil and water. By 2003 other large employers in Cowley County, Binney & Smith (Crayola plant) and Winfield State Hospital in nearby Winfield, Montgomery KONE Elevator, Strother Field were also shuttered. However, the community is resilent and entrepreneurial, we have eached learned that with the Free Enterprise system you are guaranteed two things: Success and Failure. This meaning that your are allowed to succeed in business and become as large as you want. However, you are also allowed to fail and file Bankruptcy. The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Binney & Smith Inc. ... Crayola logo 2002-present Crayola past logo, 1997-2002 Crayola is a brand of crayons and other writing and drawing utensils, such as markers, chalk, and colored pencils manufactured by Binney & Smith, Inc. ...

Arkansas City is now home to state-of-the-art meat processor Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC which employees over 700 workers. Several smaller manufacturing companies are expanding their operations while new start ups are finding a home in Cowley County due to the great workforce supplied by the two local colleges in the county. Both cities, only eleven miles apart, now have large Wal-Mart stores (A new Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in Ark City in March 2006, and another is being constructed in Winfield); conversely, both towns' movie theaters recently closed and were replaced by a single facility halfway between the cities, just south of the Strother Field industrial park. B & B Theatres donated the two downtown buildings to non-profit organizations in each of the respective communities. The Ark City Burford Theatre and Commercial Building is undergoing a transformation/renovation that will become a new community arts center and gathering space. Construction began in Spring 2006 on the planned downtown revitalization streetscape. In 2006 the local physicians in Arkansas City banned together with the South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center (SCKRMC) board and the City of Ark City to build a new hospital. However, progress is slow moving as financing the construction is found to be difficult to obtain. And now in November of 2007, the City Commissioners will meet to decide if they will approve the annexation of land just North of Arkansas City, to facilitate the construction of a new "Big Box Store"...rumor is that it will be a Lowe's Home Center. With that in mind, many of the small town shopkeepers are worried about being ran out of business. Woods Lumberyard and Bryant's Hardware will feel the noose being slipped over their heads. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ...

Geography

Arkansas City is located at 37°3′55″N, 97°2′23″W (37.065267, -97.039608).^[2] The city is situated along the northern bank of the Arkansas River and to the west of its confluence with the Walnut River. It is located at the junction of U.S. Route 77 and U.S. Route 166, only four miles north of the Kansas-Oklahoma state border. Winfield, the county seat, is 13 miles north of Arkansas City along US-77, and Strother Field, a general aviation airport, is about eight miles north. The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ... Confluence of Rhine and Mosel at Koblenz In geography, a confluence describes the point where two rivers meet and become one, usually when a tributary joins a more major river. ... The Walnut River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in the Flint Hills region of Kansas in the United States. ... U.S. Route 77 is a north-south United States highway. ... U.S. Highway 166 is an east-west United States highway. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... Winfield is a city situated along the Walnut River in the west-central part of Cowley County, located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Strother Field (IATA: WLD, ICAO: KWLD, FAA LID: WLD) is a public airport located in Cowley County, Kansas, five miles (8 km) southwest of the central business district of Winfield and north of Arkansas City. ... General aviation (abbr. ...

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.5 km²), of which 7.5 square miles (19.5 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.27%, is water.^[2] The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ...

Demographics

Arkansas City's population was estimated to be 11,581 in the year 2005, a decrease of 392, or -3.3%, over the previous five years.^[1] 1880 US Census The United States Census of 1880 was the tenth United States Census. ... The Eleventh United States Census was taken June 1, 1890. ... 1900 US Census The Twelfth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 76,212,168, an increase of 21. ... The Thirteenth United States Census was taken in 1910. ... The Fourteenth United States Census was taken in 1920. ... The Fifteenth United States Census was taken in 1930. ... The Sixteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 132,164,569, an increase of 7. ... The Seventeenth United States Census was taken in 1950. ... The Eighteenth United States Census was taken in 1960. ... The Nineteenth United States Census was taken in 1970. ... The Twentieth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805, an increase of 11. ... The Twenty-first United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9. ... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ...

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,^[3] there were 11,963 people, 4,855 households, and 3,102 families residing in the city. The population density was 615.0/km² (1,592.5/mi²). There were 5,628 housing units at an average density of 289.3/km² (749.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.15% White, 4.51% Black or African American, 2.69% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.95% from other races, and 3.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.47% of the population. 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Native Americans redirects here. ... Alaskan Natives are Aboriginal Americans who live in Alaska. ... Asian people[1] is a demonym for people from Asia. ... // Demographics in 2000 US Census Pacific Islander Americans represent the smallest group counted on the 2000 US Census. ... Actress Halle Berry was born to a white mother of British extraction and a black father of American extraction. ... Hispanic (Spanish: ; Portuguese: ; Latin: , adjective from Hispānia, the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula) is a term that historically denoted relation to the ancient Hispania and its peoples. ... For the Brazilian pop singer, see Latino (singer). ...

There were 4,855 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97. Marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a contract, or through civil process. ...

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,158, and the median income for a family was $39,962. Males had a median income of $30,665 versus $19,919 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,933. About 12.4% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over. The median household income is commonly used to provide data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more. ... The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Cowley College

The main campus of Cowley College, formerly Cowley County Community College, is located between 1st and 4th streets and Washington and Central in Ark City. Cowley is a community college and vocational/technical school with more than 68 majors and degree possibilties. Cowley College celebrates 85 years of innoaion and excellence in 2007. (Beginning in 1922 in the basement of Arkansas City High School.) Other campuses include: Southside Campus (Wichita, KS) Aviation Tech Center (Wichita, KS), Allied Health Center (Winfield, KS), Career & Technical Education Center (Mulvane, KS), and Bloomenshine Center (Mulvane, KS). Its primary buildings are the Brown Center Theatre, W.S. Scott Auditorium, Renn-Memorial Library, Kerr Buildling, Walker Industrial Technology Building, Ben Cleveland Wellness Center, Kerr Building, Galle-Johnson Hall and four separate dormitories: Storbeck, Kirke W. Dale, Docking, and Kimmell. The college also owns one of the old high school buildings (Ireland Hall), which houses its cosmotology classes. The most recent building, Webb-Brown, is located on the Eastern corner of 3rd and Washington.

Notable residents

Actress Elizabeth Taylor's parents both "hailed" from Arkansas City. Her mother, Sara Sothern, was born in Arkansas City on October 8, 1895. Taylor's father, Francis Lenn Taylor was born on December 28, 1897 in Springfield, Missouri and the family moved to Arkansas City. Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... For other persons named Elizabeth Taylor, see Elizabeth Taylor (disambiguation). ...

Darren Daulton (played baseball for the Philadelphia Philies)--Born January 3, 1962 in Arkansas City, KS

Frank Denton (whose childhood home was at one time the town's Arts Center) lived in Arkansas City. He was chosen by Andrew W. Mellon, then Secretary of the Treasury, as the youngest bank examiner in the United States.^{[citation needed]} Frank later became Chairman of Mellon National Bank in the 1960s.[1] Andrew William Mellon (March 24, 1855 — August 27, 1937) was an American banker, industrialist, philanthropist, art collector and Secretary of the Treasury from March 4, 1921 until February 12, 1932. ... The United States Secretary of the Treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, concerned with finance and monetary matters, and, until 2003, some issues of national security and defense. ... A Chairman is the presiding officer of a meeting, organization, committee, or other deliberative body. ... This company has completed its merger with Bank of New York for current information, See The Bank of New York Mellon Corporate headquarters, One Mellon Center in Pittsburgh, at night. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Automobile businessman Robert James Eaton grew up in Arkansas City. Robert James Eaton (born 1940) was a U.S. automobile businessman. ...

Travis Wyckoff, originally from Arkansas City, was a First Team All American at Wichita State University. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins.

External links

Official sites

• Arkansas City
• Arkansas City Public Schools USD 470
• The Arkansas City Traveler (local newspaper)

Additional information Coordinates: 37.065267° N 97.039608° W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...