Sci., 11, 16331644, doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007, 2007. [35], Dodge City lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District. Kansas is also a cultural place of interest, with Kansas City (both the Kansas and Missouri sides) barbecue being known for its amazingness around the world. [98] The Ford County Historical Society maintains the Mueller-Schmidt House, called the "Home of Stone." Take a waterfall-themed road trip across the state, or maybe a small-town road trip is more your style. Theres no denying it (no matter how hard you try): Kansas is a gorgeous state with some of the kindest, most welcoming people youll ever meet. If you can dream it, you can probably do it. [87], The Depot Theater Company, based in the former Santa Fe Railroad Depot, puts on theatrical productions throughout the year. There were 4.9% of families and 5.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including 7.9% of under eighteens and none of those over 64. [19] On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and June is the wettest month. [30], Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef are the two largest employers. After all, its subjective! Fort Dodge was established in 1865 on the Santa Fe Trail near the present site of the city, offering protection to wagon trains, the U.S. mail service, and serving as a supply base for troops engaged in the Indian wars. The bones were used in the manufacture of china and fertilizer. [citation needed] Located at the intersection of U. S. Routes 50, 56 and 283 in southwestern Kansas, Dodge City is 151mi (243km) west of Wichita, 199mi (320km) northeast of Amarillo, and 301mi (484km) southeast of Denver. [11] For a time in 1884, Dodge City had a bullfighting ring where Mexican bullfighters would put on a show with specially chosen Longhorn bulls. There were 42 households, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 2 were here. [22] The minimum temperature falls to or below 0F (18C) an average of 3.0 days a year. [13][15], According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.55 square miles (37.68km2), of which 14.44 square miles (37.40km2) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28km2) is water. Business houses, dance halls, and saloons catered to the Texas trade. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: manufacturing (33.0%); educational services, health care, and social assistance (18.1%); and retail trade (9.4%). [63] The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., part of the Mid-Kansas Electric Company, delivers electricity to the city. Wyatt was skeptical about talking to Holliday, as it was well known that Doc hated lawmen. A 100-bed hospital accredited by the Joint Commission, it serves as a referral center for southwestern Kansas. "It's really reached a point where it needs. Cutler, William G.;Kansas: History of the State of Kansas, 1883 Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef both operate large facilities in the city. Business houses, dance halls, and saloons catered to the Texas trade. There were 51 housing units at an average density of 274.7 per square mile (106.1/km2). On August 15, 1872, a group of businessmen from Forts Dodge, Riley, and Leavenworth, Kansas, organized the Dodge City Town Company and began the planning and development of the townsite. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. The bowl was sanctioned by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and featured schools such as Washburn University and Emporia State University. [112] The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City is based in the city. During those first years, the population varied according to the season, swelling during the summer with the influx of cowboys, cattle buyers, gamblers, and prostitutes. [88], Each summer, the Dodge City Chamber of Commerce holds Dodge City Days, the city's annual community festival. Just six years later in 1871, five miles west of the Fort at the foot of a hill along the Trail, a ranger by the name of Henry L. Sutler constructed a three-room sod house. [40], Dodge City Community College (DCCC), a two-year public college with approximately 2,000 students, is located in the northwestern part of the city. For those willing to risk the dangers of waterless sand hills, a shorter route called the Cimarron Cutoff, crossed the river near Dodge City and went southwest to the Cimarron River. Dodge City was founded the next year, 1872, just five miles west of Fort Dodge on the edge of the military reservation, with the Sutler's home as the first building. Aside from the lovely scenery and residents, we are also home to these 10 charming small towns (with populations of less than 30,000 people) that you will want to visit! [52][57] Using the BNSF trackage, Amtrak provides passenger rail service on its Southwest Chief line between Chicago and Los Angeles. There was no local law enforcement, and the military had no jurisdiction over the town. Dodge City in 1878 had growing pains and had wanted to tax the residents of Pinkytown, a hamlet of shacks and shanties beyond the city limits. [84], Two galleries support an arts community in the city. United states Kansas Republic county Courtland 2023-04-30. The U.S. 50 business route runs concurrently with U.S. 56, U.S. 283, and U.S. 400 at different points through the southern part and around the eastern part of the city. Love Kansas? The unlikely pair formed a friendship in Shansseys that would last for years. Kiowa, Cheyenne, and other plains tribes inhabited the area, and wild game was abundant including vast herds of buffalo. Oklahoma! You'll receive your first newsletter soon! The population density was 1,893.6 inhabitants per square mile (731.1/km2). OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature, the city is located in the 38th district of the Kansas Senate and the 115th and 119th districts of the Kansas House of Representatives. [114] Also headquartered in the city is the Dodge City District of the United Methodist Church, which consists of 22 counties in southwestern Kansas. [8] In addition, a local tourism industry, including a casino resort, has developed to capitalize on Dodge City's history as an Old West cowtown. Despite Abbyville being such a small town, the rodeo has continued to this day, and it has kept Abbyville on the map. Unfortunately, none of the injuries will prove fatal.. [26], The median income for a household was $43,994, and the median income for a family was $49,957. Food is fresh. Denver, CO.[54][55][56], Three railroads serve Dodge City: the La Junta Subdivision of the BNSF Railway, which runs east-west; the main line of the Cimarron Valley Railroad of which Dodge City is the northeastern terminus; and the Boot Hill and Western Railway of which the city is the northwestern terminus. [70], Along with Garden City, Dodge City is a center of broadcast media for southwestern Kansas. The median age was 38 years. What about a trip to many of Kansass spookiest places, or you could take a small gamble and see how many places you can visit on one gas tank. 328 were here. [91] It begins with a formal Christmas tree lighting downtown, a chili cook-off, and the Parade of Lights, a parade of floats decorated with Christmas lights. As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 128 people, 47 households, and 36 families residing in the city. [133], In the television series Smallville, Metropolis is said to be southwest of Dodge City with Smallville, "Superman" / Clark Kent's childhood and adolescent residence, located 200 miles (320km) west of Wichita. [37] A lawsuit over the issue was dismissed after Debbie Cox, the county clerk, agreed to open two polling places in the next election. Big Springs - Leading the Free-Staters Black Wolf - Another Farm Town Ghost Town Brookville - Another Crazy Cowtown Bloom - Ford County Ghost Bushong - Faded Railroad Town Lindsborg (Population: 3,442) mom and dad/Wikimedia Even today, over 100,000 tourists relive the legend each year by visiting the Boot Hill Museum and the historic Front Street reconstruction. She was a graduate of. Dodge City is a pure definition of the West, a gateway to history that began with the opening of the Santa Fe Trail by William Becknell in 1821 and became a great commercial route between Franklin, Missouri, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, until 1880. Ghost Town List All Kansas Ghost Towns or Near Ghost Towns. Oh, boy, where do we begin? What are some of the mostbeautiful small towns in Kansas? "[citation needed], 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. There are many factors and reasons as to why a community becomes abandoned (or nearly abandoned). It is now a PRCA sanctioned event. Adjacent to the railroad tracks, hastily built frame buildings and tents sprang up, housing two grocery and general merchandise stores, a dance hall, a restaurant, a barbershop, and a blacksmith shop. Doc stirs up trouble when he tells Miss Pinky Dodge City can't collect taxes from them as they aren't part of the city. [111], There are 33 Christian churches in and around Dodge City. This brought Doc into conflict with Marshal Earp. [125] The show proved to be culturally influential and promoted the legend of Dodge City's Old West era. [92] To celebrate Independence Day, the city holds its Old-Fashioned Fourth of July, which includes a fireworks display and children's activities at Boot Hill. On the south side of the deadline, those who supported the lawlessness continued to operate as usual, with a host of saloons, brothels, and frequent gunfights. 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. A city can de-incorporate, but if citizens . America's favorite sandwiches and classic. www.facebook.com/Pinkys-Bar-Grill-in-Courtland-Kansas-178856808795052/ Well, just about anything, really! Earp steps in and promises Miss Pinky a school if Pinkytown joins Dodge City but there isn't enough money. As the nineteenth century ended, the bragging of the western pioneer furnished an abundance of materials for dime novels, nickelodeons, Hollywood films, radio, and television. By September of 1872, the shiny steel rails of the brand new Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad stretched into view - and a town was waiting. By the spring of 1876, the cattle trade had shifted west from Ellsworth and Wichita, Kansas, to Dodge City. The second rodeo was held on the third weekend of May in 1963, and it has continued yearly ever since. The history of the town is even more interesting than the series portrayed. Reasonably priced and a lot of food for what you pay for. During these rough times, the pioneers were often attacked by marauding Indians. Survival of a town also depended on if it won the. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 12.6% were from 25 to 44; 40.2% were from 45 to 64, and 23% were 65 years of age or older. The median age in the city was 53.5 years. In September 1872, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad arrived in Dodge City, which would initiate tremendous growth for many years. A hamlet of shacks and shanties beyond the city limits. Long Branch Saloon Shootout [68] In addition, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City publishes a weekly newspaper, The Southwest Kansas Catholic, formerly known as The Southwest Kansas Register. Dodge City had more 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. The character of Mater ("Cars") was inspired by an International Harvester L-170 truck that resides in the downtown area of. [46] The library offers several services to the public, including computer classes, public internet access, and programs for children and adults. The Dodge City Athletics, nicknamed the "A's", are a collegiate summer baseball team in the Jayhawk Collegiate League of the National Baseball Congress. Dodge is the Deadwood of Kansas. Across the street; however, the post office and a bank are still in business, Kathy Alexander. Popular Links. [26], The cost of living in Dodge City is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the city is 79.3. Gunfighters and lawmen such as Earp and his brothers and partners became celebrities, and sensationalized versions of their activities entered period popular culture as the subject of dime novels. Looking east on Dodge Citys Front Street, 1878. Today, 100,000 tourists relive the legend each year by visiting the Boot Hill Museum and historic Front Street reconstruction. What are some fun things to do in Kansas? Regarded in American folklore as the quintessential rough and rowdy Old West frontier town, Dodge City served as the setting for numerous works of Western-themed media, including later popular films and television series. [94], Two other annual events reflect the central role of agriculture in the local economy. With the Indians effectively lodged on reservations, there was no longer a need for a military presence, and Fort Dodge was closed in 1882. The peak years of the cattle trade in Dodge City were from 1883 to 1884, and during that time the town grew tremendously. This provider has not specified a telehealth appointment method. [21] The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90F (32C) an average of 67 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100F (38C) an average of 13 days a year; the last year that failed to reach 100F was 1958. Dodge City history, Queen of the Cowtowns, and the Cowboy Capital, Ford County, Kansas KS. Populating Boot Hill, Kansas has but one Dodge City, with a broad expanse of territory sufficiently vast for an empire; we have only room for one Dodge City; Dodge, a synonym for all that is wild, reckless, and violent; Hell on the Plains. A Kansas newspaper in the 1870s. The gun-toting rule was in effect around the clock, and anyone wearing a gun was immediately jailed. At first, the settlement was named Buffalo City until they learned there was already a town by that name, so it was changed to Dodge City after the fort. As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 27,340 people, 8,777 households, and 6,241 families residing in the city. Abilene and Dodge City are two more favorites of ours; both towns are rich in history, and their downtown areas are as beautiful as they are historic. And much more Visit this website for more. Ice usually was available so even beer could be served cold. [81] The city also maintains the St. Mary Soccer Complex, which includes six full-size game pads and three junior-sized fields, and the municipal pool. Kiowa, Cheyenne, and other plains tribes inhabited the area, and wild game was abundant including vast herds of buffalo. Her incorporate limits are the rendezvous of all the unemployed scallawagism in seven states. Long Branch Saloon, Dodge City Every year, the commission selects one commissioner to serve as mayor and another to serve as vice-mayor. [71][73][74] Dodge City is located in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market. The early settlers in Dodge City traded in buffalo bones and hides and provided a civilian community for Fort Dodge. [64][65] Local residents primarily use natural gas as their heating fuel; natural gas service is provided by Black Hills Energy. [6], The first post office in Abbyville was established in 1886 after it was moved from Salt Creek (an extinct town). "If the history of the West has been a mother lode of entertainment riches, Dodge City has been its touchstone. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Need a custom cake or dessert for your next event? It includes a full-service pro shop, driving range, and putting green. [139], Reconstructed shops on Front Street at the Boot Hill Museum (2010), Hanging Tree at the Boot Hill Cemetery (1972), "Dodge City" redirects here. [citation needed], With the cattle trade forced west, Texas Longhorns began moving north along the Chisholm Trail. Share it with friends or find your next meal. Others saw the commercial potential of the region with the Santa Fe Railroad rapidly approaching from the east. [1] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 83. Dodge City Boot Hill Museum, by Kathy Alexander. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 57.5% of the population. Settling in room 24 of the Dodge House, Doc mostly drank and gambled, but occasionally, he provided professional services to the townspeople. Stacks of buffalo hides towered along Front Street - filthy buffalo hunters and traders filled the town's establishments - and the term "stinker" was coined. The old Brookville Hotel, Kathy Alexander. However, when Wyatt found him that evening at Shansseys, he was surprised at Hollidays willingness to talk. Latest reviews, photos and ratings for Pinky's Grilled Cheestro at 2204 E Kansas Ave #1 in Garden City - view the menu, hours, phone number, address and map. U.S. 400, which also runs east-west, runs through the southern part of the city. Hell-Raising Dodge Would you still like to make an appointment with Dr. Kingrani, or would you like to choose another provider and have an online appointment right now? [16], Dodge City lies at the intersection of North America's semi-arid (Kppen BSk) and humid subtropical climate (Kppen Cfa) zones,[17] with hot summers, highly variable winters, both warm and very cold periods, and low to moderate humidity and precipitation throughout the year; it is part of USDA Hardiness zone 6b. Popular Links. [105][106], Dodge City Civic Center and United Wireless Arena are the city's two main indoor event venues. [82][83], There are two golf courses in the city, one public and one private. [39], The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City oversees one Catholic school in the city: Sacred Heart Cathedral School (Pre-K-8). W;Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History,Standard Publishing Company; Chicago, Illinois;1912 Famous for its rich history as a frontier cowtown, Dodge City offers up a wide array of legends, lore, and history to travelers in western Kansas. [132] In the 1939 film Dodge City the fictional lawman Wade Hatton, played by Errol Flynn, was modeled on Earp. Named for the agreement between European Americans and the Osage Nation that allowed settlers' wagon trains to pass through the area and proceed to the West, If you've ever traveled along I-70, you have probably passed. Texas Longhorn cattle carried a tick that spread Texas cattle fever, among other breeds of cattle. Need more ideas? Soon, four assistant deputies were hired Bat Masterson, Wyatts old buffalo hunting friend; Charlie Basset; Bill Tilghman; and Neal Brown. In a letter in the Washington D.C.s Evening Star of January 1, 1878, stated, Dodge City is a wicked little town. When Kansas became a free state in 1861, pro-slavery towns died out. They sang and danced, and fought and bit, and cut and had a good time generally, making music for the entire settlement. Earp steps in and promises Miss Pinky a school if Pinkytown joins Dodge City but there isn't enough money.Doc stirs up trouble when he tells Miss Pinky Dodge City can't collect taxes from them as they aren't part of the city. With the arrival of the railroad, Dodge City soon became involved in the cattle trade. [53] Used primarily for general aviation, it hosts one commercial airline with daily flights to Pinky's Grilled Cheestro. In the fall of 1876, Wyatt Earp and his brother Morgan left Dodge City for a while, traveling for the Black Hills outside of Deadwood, South Dakota, in search of gold. All incorporated communities in Kansas are called cities, unlike in some states where some are called towns or villages. [47] Other libraries in the city include the DCCC Library, which holds more than 30,000 volumes and serves as a federal depository library, and the Kansas Heritage Center, a non-profit resource center and research library operated by Dodge City USD 443 and dedicated to the history of Kansas, the Great Plains, and the Old West. Beeson also organized and led the famous Cowboy Band which entertained all over the west at cattlemen's conventions, concerts, dances, and in Washington, D.C. at the inauguration of President Harrison. The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 1.1% Native American, and 2.3% from two or more races. An old cafe in Monument, Kansas by Kathy Alexander. Buffalo hunters, railroad workers, drifters, and soldiers scrapped and fought, leading to the shootings where men died with their boots on. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. Pinkytown resisted and Doc Holliday, noted for his cantankerous humor, joined the Pinkytown citizens in their rebellion. Dodge City Peace Commission 1883. Popular Links. [27], Dodge City has a commission-manager form of government. [102] Visitors can tour the district by trolley or by taking the Dodge City Trail of Fame walking tour. Of the Santa Fe Trail and its many wagon trains, Sitler would later say, If you stood on the hill above Dodge City, there was traffic as far as you could see, 24-hours a day, seven days a week on the Santa Fe Trail.. Locals, both from Abbyville and from nearby towns, ran every aspect of the rodeo and took great pride in it. [123], Dodge City was the setting of the long-running radio and television series Gunsmoke. He directed Wyatt to Doc Holliday, who had played cards with Rudabaugh. [32] Appointed by the commission, the city manager leads the city administration, executes the commission's policies, and develops operational programs to meet the city's needs. Pinky Blitz $12.00. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [79] The largest is Wright Park, located immediately south of downtown and home to the Dodge City Zoo. BluHawk Dental Group. [36] While the county provided transportation, voters had to arrange for it in advance. By the late 1870s, Dodge Citys reputation for lawlessness had spread as far as Washington, D.C. In those days, safety from marauding Indians was essential. 0.1 miles away from Pinky's Grilled Cheestro. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 19 days a year. The quarantine prohibited Texas Longhorns from the heavily settled, eastern portion of the state. The average window for overnight freezes is October 17 through April 21,[22] allowing a growing season of 178 days. This trail was much more dangerous due to the vast spaces of waterless sand hills and increased risk of Indian attacks. Find the latest city agendas and minutes. But the cowboys brought even more lawlessness to Dodge City, and soon the mayor contacted Wyatt Earp, who was working as a Wichita lawman. [1][12] It lies on the Arkansas River in the High Plains region of the Great Plains. Historic Trolly Tours Offered Memorial Weekend through Labor Day. Thousands of wagons traveled the Mountain Branch of the trail which went west from Dodge City along the north bank of the Arkansas River into Colorado. The event was such a great success for Abbyville that Pinky worked to continue the rodeo as an annual event. Her principal business is polygamy without the sanction of religion, her code of morals is the honor of thieves, and decency she knows not., In 1878, Doc Holliday arrived in Dodge City with Big Nose Kate Elder, posing as his wife. [115], Dodge City Community College's athletic teams, the Dodge City Conquistadors (or "Conqs" for short), compete in several sports in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC). It seemed inevitable that the two fastest guns on the western prairie meet in a showdown with .45s. [85][86] The second gallery, the Second Avenue Art Guild, exhibits the work of regional artists in ceramics, photography, and other media. [citation needed]. The racial makeup of the city was 97.66% White, and 2.34% from two or more races. Dodge City Kansas 1874, courtesy Ford County Historical Society, The Beginnings of Dodge City Things to do and experience in Dodge City: Boot Hill Museum The museum is open 362 days a year, but plan your trip during the summer months for historical interpreters, exciting gunfights, and other re-enactments. Were also particularly fond of Pratt, which feels like the definition of an adorable small town where everyone knows your name. [62] Operations Management International, Inc. (OMI), a private contractor, provides waste water treatment, pumping the city's waste water to treatment holding ponds 12 miles south of the city. She was the beloved wife of Arthur Kase. In 1866, the first Texas cattle started arriving in Baxter Springs in southeastern Kansas by way of the Shawnee Trail. Across the street; however, the post office and a bank are still in business, Kathy Alexander. Prices and visitors' opinions on dishes. With the gunfighters dying with their boots on, Dodge City developed the Boot Hill Cemetery, which was used until 1878. Some saloons advertised anchovies and Russian caviar on their cold menus. Dodge City was already setting a record for growth. Kathy Weiser-Alexander/Legends of America, updated April 2021. Farmers, during hard times, gathered the buffalo bones and sold them for six to eight dollars a ton. Kansas is filled with interesting and epic things to do, and that includes road trips! Filthy buffalo hunters and traders filled the towns establishment, and the term stinker was coined. Earth Syst. Your FOUR-IN-ONE guide to managing your cancer treatment side effects PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY! A pink building on 43 rd and Troost called "A Splash of Life" is on the city's dangerous building list, and will likely be demolished, the city says. The army abandoned Fort Atkinson in 1853. The last game was played on November 21, 1980. Many saloons offered some type of musical entertainment - a piano player, a singer, or as in Chalk Beeson's Long Branch, a five-piece orchestra. List of ghost towns in Kansas Arvonia, located southeast of Reading, Kansas on the shoreline of Melvern Lake This is an incomplete list of ghost towns in the state of Kansas. Dodge City was the Buffalo capital for three years until mass slaughter destroyed the huge herds and left the prairie littered with decaying carcasses. [126] In honor of the series, the city government changed the name of Walnut Street, one of its downtown streets, to Gunsmoke Street, in 1959.

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