Dodge City, Kansas
114560
220699691
2008-06-21T03:48:03Z
Kbh3rd
88976
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 220408877 by [[Special:Contributions/82.3.218.29|82.3.218.29]] ([[User talk:82.3.218.29|talk]]) consistent American spelling for thoroughly Amercian article.
{{Geobox City
<!-- *** Name section *** -->
| name = City of Dodge City
| native_name =
| other_name =
| other_name1 =
| category = [[List of cities in Kansas|City]]
<!-- *** Image *** -->
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
<!-- *** Symbols *** -->
| flag =
| flag_size =
| symbol =
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| nickname =
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<!-- *** Country etc. *** -->
| country = United States
| state = Kansas
| region = [[Ford County, Kansas|Ford]]
| region_type = County
<!-- *** Geography *** -->
| area_imperial = 12.7
| area_land_imperial = 12.6
| area_water_imperial = 0.1
| area_water_percentage = auto
| area_percentage_round = 2
| area_round = 1
| area_metro_imperial =
| location =
| lat_d = 37
| lat_m = 45
| lat_s = 35
| lat_NS = N
| long_d = 100
| long_m = 01
| long_s = 06
| long_EW = W
| elevation_imperial = 2550
| elevation_round = 1
<!-- *** Population *** -->
| population_as_of = 2000
| population = 25176
| population_density_imperial = 2069
| population_density_round = 1
| population_metro_as_of =
| population_metro =
| population_density_metro_imperial =
<!-- *** Government *** -->
| government =
| established_type = Founded
| established = 1872
| leader = Jeff Pederson
<!-- *** Various codes *** -->
| timezone = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset = -6
| timezone_DST = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = -5
| postal_code =
| postal_code_type =
| area_code = [[Area code 620|620]]
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| code2 =
<!-- *** Free fields *** -->
| free_type = Named after
| free = Colonel Richard Irving Dodge
| free1_type =
| free1 =
<!-- *** Map section *** -->
| map = KSMap-doton-Dodge_City.png
| map_size =
| map_caption = Location of Dodge City in Kansas
| map1 = Map of USA KS.svg
| map1_caption = Location of Kansas in the United States
<!-- *** Website *** -->
| website = http://www.dodgecity.org/
}}
:''For the 1939 [[western movie]], see [[Dodge City (1939 film)]]''.
'''Dodge City''' is a [[city]] and [[county seat]] of [[Ford County, Kansas|Ford County]], [[Kansas]], [[United States]]. It was named after Colonel [[Richard Irving Dodge]].<ref>Wright, Robert M. ''Dodge City, The Cowboy Capital'', 1913.</ref><ref>Schmidt, Heinie, ''Fort Dodge State Soldiers' Home'', High Plains Jounal, [[15 January]] [[1948]].</ref> The population was 25,176 at the [[United States Census 2000|2000 census]].
The city's name is well known to generations of Americans, as the long-running [[old-time radio]] and [[television]] [[Western (genre)|Western]] drama program ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' was set in Dodge City.
Dodge City has a minor-league basketball team, The [[Dodge City Legend]]. The Legend is a member of the United States Basketball League ([[USBL]]). The legend have won three championship titles in the USBL.
Dodge City is sometimes called the meat packing capital of the United States, with close to 11,000 cattle being processed a day.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} It is home to one of the largest beef processing plants in the United States, [[Excel Dodge City]].
==Geography and climate==
Dodge City is located at {{coor dms|37|45|35|N|100|1|6|W|city}} (37.759671, -100.018212){{GR|1}}.
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 12.7 [[square mile]]s (32.9 [[km²]]), of which, 12.6 square miles (32.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.86%) is water.
Dodge City is served by two commercial airlines at [[Dodge City Regional Airport]].
{| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;"|Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
|-
! style="background: #F3552E; color: #000000" height="17" | Month
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Jan
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Feb
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Mar
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Apr
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | May
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Jun
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Jul
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Aug
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Sep
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Oct
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Nov
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" | Dec
|-
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec High °F
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 80
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 85
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 93
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 100
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 105
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 110
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 109
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 107
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 106
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 96
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 91
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 86
|-
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm High °F
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 41.4
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 48.3
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 57.3
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 67.1
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 75.9
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 86.9
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 92.8
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 90.8
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 82
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 70.4
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 54.5
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 44.4
|-
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm Low °F
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 18.7
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 23.6
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 31.2
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 40.7
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 51.7
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 61.6
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 66.8
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 65.6
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 56.5
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 43.8
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 30.2
| style="text-align:center; background: #F4FFC0; color:#000000;" | 21.7
|-
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec Low °F
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -13
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -15
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -15
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 14
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 26
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 41
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 46
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 47
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 29
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 14
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | 0
| style="text-align:center; background: #FEE040; color:#000000;" | -21
|-
! style="background: #F3552E; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Precip (in)
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 0.62
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 0.66
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 1.84
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 2.25
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 3
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 3.15
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 3.17
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 2.73
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 1.7
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 1.45
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 1.01
| style="text-align:center; background: #FB9B13; color:#000000;" | 0.77
|-
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|''Source: USTravelWeather.com [http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-kansas/dodge-city-weather.asp]''
|}
==Demographics==
{{USCensusPop
|1880= 996
|1890= 1763
|1900= 1942
|1910= 3214
|1920= 5061
|1930= 10059
|1940= 8487
|1950= 11262
|1960= 13520
|1970= 14127
|1980= 18001
|1990= 21129
|2000= 25176
|estyear=
|estimate=
}}
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 25,176 people, 8,395 households, and 5,968 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,995.8 people per square mile (770.9/km²). There were 8,976 housing units at an average density of 711.6/sq mi (274.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.43% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.94% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.69% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.37% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.15% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 20.82% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.61% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 42.87% of the population.
There were 8,395 households out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.46.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.
<br />[[Image:Dodge City Meat.jpg|thumb|350px|Dodge City is an important center for meat packing.]]
The median income for a household in the city was $37,156, and the median income for a family was $41,672. Males had a median income of $26,881 versus $22,064 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,538. About 11.1% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
== Early history ==
The early history of Dodge city is as colorful as any town in the [[American West]].
===Origins===
The first settlement in the area that became Dodge City was '''Fort Mann'''. Built by civilians in 1847, Fort Mann was intended to provide protection for travelers on the [[Santa Fe Trail]]. Fort Mann collapsed in 1848 after an [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] attack. 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 reestablished further north and east at [[Fort Larned National Historic Site|Fort Larned]] in 1859, but the area around what would become Dodge City remained vacant until after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. In 1865, as the [[Indian Wars]] in the West began heating up, the army constructed '''Fort Dodge''' to assist Fort Larned in providing protection on the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Dodge remained in operation until 1882.
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]], Sitler's house quickly became a stopping point for travelers. With the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Santa Fe Railroad]] rapidly approaching from the east, others saw the commercial potential of the region. In 1872, just five miles west of Fort Dodge, settlers platted out and founded the town of Dodge City. '''George M. Hoover''' established the first bar in a tent to service 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 [[American Bison|buffalo]] bones and hides and provided a civilian community for Fort Dodge. However, with the arrival of the railroad, Dodge City soon became involved in the cattle trade.
===Cattle trade===
[[Image:Dodge City Center.jpg|thumb|350px|Today, Dodge City maintains part of its downtown as a tourist attraction.]]
The idea of driving [[Texas longhorn (cattle)|Texas longhorn]] cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas originated in the late 1850s{{Fact|date=April 2008}} but was cut short by the Civil War. In 1866, the first Texas cattle started arriving in [[Baxter Springs, Kansas|Baxter Springs]] in southeastern Kansas by way of the [[Shawnee Trail]]. However, Texas longhorn cattle carried a [[tick]] that spread [[Anthrax|splenic fever]] among other breeds of cattle. Known locally as '''Texas Fever''', alarmed Kansas farmers persuaded the [[Kansas Legislature|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.
With the cattle trade forced west, Texas longhorns began moving north along the [[Chisholm Trail]]. In 1867, the main '''Cow Town''' was [[Abilene, Kansas]]. Profits were high, and other towns quickly joined in the cattle boom. [[Newton, Kansas|Newton]] in 1871; [[Ellsworth, Kansas|Ellsworth]] in 1872; and [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]] in 1872. However, in 1876 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 Cow Towns from the cattle trade. With no place else to go, Dodge City suddenly became '''Queen of the Cow Towns'''.
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, Kansas|Caldwell]]. For a few years the competition between the towns was fierce, but there were enough cattle for both towns to prosper. Nevertheless, it was Dodge City that became famous, and rightly so because no town could match Dodge City's reputation as a true frontier settlement of the [[American Old West|Old West]]. Dodge City had more famous (and infamous) 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 also boasted the usual array of saloons, gambling halls, and brothels established to separate a lonely cowboy from his hard-earned cash, including the famous [[Long Branch Saloon]] and '''China Doll''' brothel. For a time in 1884, Dodge City even had a [[bullfighting]] ring where Mexican [[Matador|bullfighters]] imported from [[Mexico]] would put on a show with specially chosen longhorn bulls.
As more agricultural settlers moved into western Kansas, pressure on the Kansas State Legislature to do something about splenic fever increased. Consequently, in 1885 the quarantine line was extended across the state and the Western Trail was all but shut down. By 1886, the cowboys, saloon keepers, gamblers, and brothel owners moved west to greener pastures, and Dodge City became a sleepy little town much like other communities in western Kansas.
==Demolition of historic Front Street==
The 19th century buildings of historic Front Street were demolished in an "urban renewal" project in 1970.
== Transportation ==
*[[Dodge City (Amtrak station)]]
*[[Dodge City Regional Airport]]
*[[U.S. Route 50]]
*[[U.S. Route 283]]
== Notable natives ==
* [[Dennis Hopper]], [[actor]] and [[film]]-maker
* [[Lila Leeds]], actress
* [[David Laurin Ricken]], bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne]]
==Historical visitors and temporary residents==
A number of famous names associated with the American West have either passed through Dodge City, or made it a temporary residence. Some of these include:
* [[Clay Allison]]
* [[Charlie Bassett (lawman)|Charlie Bassett]]
* [[Chalkley Beeson]], state legislator
* [[William L. Brooks]]
* [[Robert H. Chilton]]
* [[Jim Courtright]]
* [[George Armstrong Custer]]
* [[James Earp]]
* [[Morgan Earp]]
* [[Virgil Earp]]
* [[Wyatt Earp]]
* [[Eddie Foy, Sr.|Eddie Foy]]
* [[Charles Goodnight]]
* [[Doc Holliday]]
* [[Jack Johnson (gunfighter)|Turkey Creek Jack Johnson]]
* [[Nat Love]]
* [[Frank Loving]]
* [[Bat Masterson]]
* [[Ed Masterson]]
* [[James Masterson]]
* [[Mysterious Dave Mather|Dave Mather]]
* [[Tom Pickett (outlaw)|Tom Pickett]]
* [[Levi Richardson]]
* [[Dave Rudabaugh]]
* [[Luke Short]]
* [[Charlie Siringo|Charles Siringo]]
* [[Bill Tilghman]]
* [[Libby Thompson]]
* [[Texas Jack Vermillion]]
* [[John Joshua Webb]]
==Fictional visitors and temporary residents==
Dodge City's historical reputation as a wild and woolly cattle town have made the town fodder for purveyors of popular fiction. Some of the fictionalized names (or historical names used for fictional purposes) who have been written into Dodge City lore include:
* '''Steve Braddock''' from the [[1936]] film, ''Dodge City Trail''.
* '''[[Buffalo Bill|Buffalo Bill Cody]]''' from the 1920s novel ''Dandy of Dodge City'' (London: Aldine Publishing).
* '''Lane Collier''' from the '''Randy D. Smith''' novel, ''Dodge City'' ISBN 0-917990-34-X.
* [[Marshal Matt Dillon|Matt Dillon]] from the radio and television program, ''[[Gunsmoke]]''.
* [[Wyatt Earp]] from the [[2005]] [[Moonstone Books|Moonstone]] comic book series, ''Wyatt Earp: Dodge City''.
*'''Dan Ember''' from the [[Ralph Compton]] novel, ''Dodge City Trail'' ISBN 0-312-95380-1
* [[Clark Griswold|Clark W. Griswold]] from the [[1983]] film, ''[[National Lampoon's Vacation]]''.
* '''Harry Gryden''' from the [[Matt Braun]] novel, ''Dodge City'' ISBN 0-312-93816-0
* '''July Johnson''' from the book ''[[Lonesome Dove]]'' ISBN 0-671-68390-X
* '''Wade Hatton''' from the [[1939]] film, ''[[Dodge City (1939 film)|Dodge City]]''.
* [[Wild Bill Hickok]] from the [[1941]] film, ''King of Dodge City''.
* '''Rocky Lane''' from the [[1948]] film, ''Desperadoes of Dodge City''.
* [[The Lone Ranger]] from the [[1941]] radio broadcast ''Dodge City or Bust,'' and the [[1943]] radio broadcast ''The Stage to Dodge City''.
*'''Lin McAdam''' from the [[1950]] film, ''[[Winchester '73 (1950 film)|Winchester '73]]''.
* '''Penn Malone''' from the [[Cameron Judd]] novel, ''Mr. Littlejohn'' ISBN 0843952822
* [[Bat Masterson]] from the [[1958]] film, ''The Gunfight at Dodge City''.
* '''Meredith''' from the [[1966]] film, ''[[A Big Hand for the Little Lady]] (aka, ''Big Deal at Dodge City'').
* '''Steve Ramsey (The Durango Kid)''' from the [[1947]] film, ''West of Dodge City''.
* '''Red Ryder''' from the [[1944]] film, ''Vigilantes of Dodge City''.
* '''Ben Wade''' from the [[2007]] film ''[[3:10 to Yuma (2007 film)|3:10 to Yuma]]''.
* '''Colton "Cole" White''' from the Video Game ''[[GUN]]''.
==Links with other cities==
* In 2002 a Friendship Charter was formally signed between [[Stockport]], UK and Dodge City in recognition of a common heritage.[http://www.stockport.gov.uk/content/communitypeopleliving/towntwinning/otherinternationalconnections/dodgecity/?a=5441]
==Education==
Dodge City is served by the [[Dodge City Public Schools]] district [http://www.usd443.org/schools.cfm].
==Sports==
From [[1970]] to [[1980]], the annual [[Boot Hill Bowl]] post-season [[college football]] game was played in Dodge City. The bowl was sanctioned by the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] and featured schools such as [[Washburn University]] and [[Emporia State University]]. The last game was played on [[November 21]], [[1980]].<ref>[http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/bowl_results.php?bowlid=37 Games<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Trivia==
The phrase having the basic form get [the hell] out of Dodge is a reference to Dodge City, Kansas. Dodge City was the setting of innumerable Wild-West movies and books and, most prominently, the CBS-TV series Gunsmoke, which ran from 1955 to 1975. After being defeated by the good guys, badmen might stereotypically be commanded to "get the hell out of Dodge."{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
==References==
* Dykstra, Robert R. ''The Cattle Towns''. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1968. ISBN 0-8032-6561-1
* Miner, Craig. ''West of Wichita: Settling the High Plains of Kansas, 1865-1890''. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1988. ISBN 0-7006-0364-6
* Vestal, Stanley. ''Dodge City: Queen of Cowtowns: "the Wickedest Little City in America" 1872-1886''. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1998. ISBN 0-8032-9617-7
==External links==
*[http://www.DodgeBoard.com Dodge City Community Discussion Site]
*[http://www.dodgecity.org/ Dodge City Official Website]
*[http://www.skyways.org/orgs/fordco/urbanren.html Demolition of Front Street]
*[http://www.skyways.org/orgs/fordco/ Ford County KS History]
*[http://www.skyways.org/orgs/fordco/dodgecity.html Dodge City History]
*[http://www.skyways.org/orgs/fordco/wright Dodge City, the Cowboy Capital] by Robert M. Wright, town founder, 1913
==Cited references==
{{reflist}}
{{Ford County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Wild West}}
[[Category:Dodge City, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Ford County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:County seats in Kansas]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1847]]
[[Category:American Old West]]
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