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Hutchinson, Kansas

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Hutchinson, Kansas
City
Reno County Courthouse in Hutchinson
Reno County Courthouse in Hutchinson
Official seal of Hutchinson, Kansas
Seal
Nickname(s): 
The Salt City, Hutch
Location of Hutchinson, Kansas
Location of Hutchinson, Kansas
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyReno
Area
[1]
 • Total22.75 sq mi (58.92 km2)
 • Land22.69 sq mi (58.77 km2)
 • Water0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation
1,535 ft (468 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total42,080
 • Estimate 
(2012[3])
41,962
 • Density1,854.6/sq mi (716.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code620
FIPS code20-33625 Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0477947 Template:GR
Websitewww.HutchGov.com

Hutchinson is the largest city and county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States,Template:GR and located on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42,080.[4]

Each year, Hutchinson hosts the Kansas State Fair, and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Basketball Tournament. It is the home of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center aerospace museum and Strataca (formerly known as Kansas Underground Salt Museum).

History

The Bisonte Hotel, built in 1906 and closed in 1946. It was the Harvey House and Santa Fe Railroad station in Hutchinson.
1915 Railroad Map of Reno County

The city of Hutchinson was founded in 1871, when Indian Agent Clinton "C.C." Hutchinson contracted with the Santa Fe Railway to make a town at the railroad's crossing over the Arkansas River. The community was known to be called "Temperance City".[5] Hutchinson was incorporated on August 15, 1872.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Hutchinson to Pratt.[6] In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. It foreclosed in 1891 and taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

In 1943, German and Italian prisoners of World War II were used in Kansas and other Midwest states as a means of solving the labor shortage caused by American men serving in the war effort. Large prisoner-of-war camps were established in Kansas: Camp Concordia, Camp Funston (at Fort Riley), Camp Phillips (at Salina under Fort Riley). Fort Riley established 12 smaller branch camps, including Hutchinson.[7][8]

On January 17, 2001, 143 million cubic feet (4,000,000 m3) of compressed natural gas leaked from the nearby Yaggy storage field.[9] It sank underground, then rose to the surface through old brine, or salt wells making around 15 gas blowholes. An explosion in the downtown area at 10:45 a.m. destroyed 2 businesses and damaged 26 others. An explosion the next day in a mobile-home park took the lives of two people. The Kansas National Guard was called in to help evacuate parts of the city because of the gas leaks, and a team of specialists looked over all the city for leaks after the event. These events were broadcast on nationally televised news stations across the country.[10][11][12]

The Hutchinson High School football team (the Salthawks) has had seven straight appearances, including six straight wins, in the 6A & 5A State Championship Game. In 2011-2012 school year, all Hutchinson High School athletics are 6A.

Hutchinson is home to the Prairie Dunes Country Club, a golf course frequently ranked among the best golf courses in the U.S., and has hosted several United States Golf Association national championship tournaments. The club was founded by Emerson Carey and his four sons in the mid-1930s. The course was designed by Perry Maxwell, and the first nine holes opened on September 13, 1937. Twenty years later in 1957, a second 9 holes were opened, designed by Press Maxwell (Perry's son).

Geography

Hutchinson is located at 38°3′56″N 97°55′25″W / 38.06556°N 97.92361°W / 38.06556; -97.92361 (38.065503, −97.923519)Template:GR at an elevation of 1,535 feet (468 m).Template:GR It lies on the northeast side of the Arkansas River in the Great Bend Sand Prairie region of the Great Plains. Cow Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas, runs southeast through the city. Located in south-central Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 50, K-96, and K-61, Hutchinson is approximately 39 miles (63 km) northwest of Wichita and 200 mi (320 km) southwest of Kansas City.[13]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.75 square miles (58.92 km2), of which, 22.69 square miles (58.77 km2) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) is water.[1]

Climate

Lying in the transition zone between North America's humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) and humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), Hutchinson experiences hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature for the year is 56 °F (13 °C), and the average relative humidity is 65%. Temperatures exceed 90 °F (32 °C) an average of 65 days a year and drop below 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 121 days a year. On average, Hutchinson experiences 46 rainy days a year. Snowfall averages 14.1 inches (35 cm) per year.[14] Total precipitation averages 30.3 inches (770 mm) per year. On average, January is the coolest month, July is the warmest month, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Hutchinson was 111 °F (44 °C) in 1964; the coldest temperature recorded was -19 °F (-28 °C) in 1982.[15]

Climate data for Hutchinson, Kansas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 79
(26) 		84
(29) 		89
(32) 		98
(37) 		102
(39) 		110
(43) 		110
(43) 		111
(44) 		108
(42) 		95
(35) 		88
(31) 		76
(24) 		112
(44)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 40
(4) 		47
(8) 		56
(13) 		66
(19) 		75
(24) 		87
(31) 		93
(34) 		91
(33) 		82
(28) 		70
(21) 		54
(12) 		43
(6) 		67
(19)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 17
(−8) 		22
(−6) 		32
(0) 		41
(5) 		52
(11) 		62
(17) 		67
(19) 		65
(18) 		56
(13) 		43
(6) 		31
(−1) 		21
(−6) 		42
(6)
Record low °F (°C) −16
(−27) 		−19
(−28) 		−6
(−21) 		16
(−9) 		28
(−2) 		42
(6) 		46
(8) 		46
(8) 		29
(−2) 		12
(−11) 		1
(−17) 		−18
(−28) 		−19
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.70
(18) 		1.08
(27) 		2.70
(69) 		2.83
(72) 		4.36
(111) 		3.97
(101) 		3.70
(94) 		2.97
(75) 		3.02
(77) 		2.43
(62) 		1.56
(40) 		1.00
(25) 		30.32
(771)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 3.5
(8.9) 		2.9
(7.4) 		2.5
(6.4) 		0.6
(1.5) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1.6
(4.1) 		2.1
(5.3) 		13.2
(34)
Source: Weatherbase[14]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18801,540—
18908,682463.8%
19009,3798.0%
191016,36474.5%
192023,29842.4%
193027,08516.3%
194030,01310.8%
195033,57511.9%
196037,57411.9%
197036,885−1.8%
198040,2849.2%
199039,308−2.4%
200040,7873.8%
201042,0803.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 42,080 people, 16,981 households, and 10,352 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,854.6 inhabitants per square mile (716.1/km2). There were 18,580 housing units at an average density of 818.9 per square mile (316.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.9% White, 4.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 3.4% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.6% of the population.

There were 16,981 households of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 37.8 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 16.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

2000 census

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 40,787 people, 16,335 households, and 10,340 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,932.6 inhabitants per square mile (746.2/km2). There were 17,693 housing units at an average density of 838.3 per square mile (323.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.57% White, 4.28% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.65% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.67% of the population.

There were 16,335 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $32,645, and the median income for a family was $40,094. Males had a median income of $30,994 versus $21,190 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,964. About 9.8% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Industry

Salt was discovered in Reno County by Benjamin Blanchard on September 26, 1887.[16] This gave rise to the first salt-processing plants west of the Mississippi River. Salt was originally extracted using the evaporation method by pumping water into brine wells. In 1923, the Carey Salt[17] Company opened the only salt mine in Hutchinson, which then produced rock salt. That mine is still in use today and is now operated by Hutchinson Salt Company. Cargill and Morton Salt also have evaporative salt plants in Hutchinson.

Excavated portions of the mine are used for archival storage of movie and television masters, data tapes, and permanent business records. Underground Vaults & Storage[18] currently houses the masters for The Wizard of Oz (1939), Gone with the Wind (1939), and Star Wars, (1977) among many others.[19]

The world's longest grain elevator was built in Hutchinson in 1961.

Dillon's grocery stores was established in Hutchinson by J.S. Dillon in the 1920s (originated in Sterling, Kansas). Dillon's was bought out by The Kroger Co. in 1983. The company still operates a distribution center and headquarters for Dillons and Kwik Shop in town.

The Eaton Corporation operates a hydraulics plant in Hutchinson. On August 22, 2006, Eaton announced it would keep the Hutchinson plant open because of a $1 million economic incentive from the City of Hutchinson and a $2 million incentive from the State of Kansas. 155 assembly jobs were moved to the Reynosa, Mexico plant in June 2007.[20]

On September 2, 2008, The Hutchinson Hospital changed its name to Promise Regional Medical Center. And in 2012,changed its name again to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.[21]

Lowen Corporation[22] was started in 1950 in a converted garage behind Mike Lowen's house in Hutchinson. Today Lowen Corporation has 2 operating divisions, Lowen Sign Company, the nation's largest manufacturer of signage for the real estate industry, and Lowen Color Graphics, the leading U.S. manufacturer of fleet, commercial, event and OEM graphics with manufacturing facilities in 3 states.

Collins Bus Corporation resides just outside Hutchinson, and is the leading[citation needed] small school bus manufacturer in North America.

StraightLine HDD, a leading directional drill tooling manufacturer, has a 70,000 sq ft (6,500 m2). manufacturing plant in Hutchinson.

In May 2009, Siemens announced it would open its American wind turbine nacelle assembly facility in Hutchinson. The facility will begin producing late in 2010 and create 400 jobs in Hutchinson.[23]

Education

Colleges and universities

Primary and secondary education

Hutchinson Public Schools (USD 308) operates twelve schools in the city:[24]

Buhler USD 313 operates four schools in and around Hutchinson:[25]

  • Obee Elementary School (K-6)
  • Union Valley Elementary School (K-3)
  • Prosperity Elementary School (4-6)
  • Prairie Hills Middle School (7-8)

USD 309 South Hutchinson operates one school just outside of Hutchinson, Reno Valley Middle School (7-8).[26]

There are also three private schools in Hutchinson:[27]

Transportation

2005 KDOT Map of Reno County

U.S. Route 50 runs east-west south of the city. K-96 approaches Hutchinson from the south, bypasses it to the west, and then turns northwest. Coming from the west, K-61 runs concurrently with U.S. 50, turns north and runs through the eastern part of the city, and then exits to the northeast.

Reno County Area Transit (RCAT) is responsible for public transportation in the city. The agency operates three bus routes colored Red, Blue, and Yellow.[28]

Hutchinson Municipal Airport is located on the eastern side of the city. The airport is primarily utilized for general aviation.

Three railroads serve Hutchinson. One is the La Junta Subdivision of the BNSF Railway which runs east-west through the city.[29] Amtrak uses the La Junta Subdivision to provide passenger rail service. Hutchinson is a stop on the Southwest Chief line. Another railroad serving Hutchinson is the Tucumcari Line of the Union Pacific Railroad which runs northeast-southwest through the city.[30] Lastly, Hutchinson is the terminus of two lines of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad: the Hutchinson Subdivision, which enters the city from the south, and the Great Bend Subdivision, which enters the city from the northwest.

In 2010, Greyhound Bus added a route through Hutchinson. It runs from Wichita to Pueblo with stops in Dodge City and Garden City.

Media

Main article: Media in Hutchinson, Kansas

The Hutchinson News is the city's main newspaper, published daily.[31] Hutchinson Community College publishes a weekly student newspaper, the Collegian.[32]

Hutchinson is a center of broadcast media for south-central Kansas. One AM and 12 FM radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from the city.[33] Hutchinson is also the second principal city of the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market.[34] The market's primary CBS, MyNetworkTV, and PBS affiliates are licensed to the city, but all three stations broadcast from Wichita.[35][36][37]

Culture

Points of Interest

Film

Television

  • Dirty Jobs, Season 2 Episode 42, an episode in Hutchinson focusing on mining salt.
  • Modern Marvels, Season 17 Episode 7, (time code: 29:40 - 34:26, first aired 12/10/2010), contained a segment on The Hutchinson Salt Mine.[39]
  • Rocket Power, Samuel "Squid" Dullard is said to have moved from Hutchinson to Ocean Shores, California.

Literature

Elected officials

  • Mike O'Neal, Republican, State Representative - 104th District
  • Terry Bruce, Republican, State Senator - 34th District

Local government

The city council holds meetings at City Hall on the first and third Tuesdays of every month.

  • City Hall, 125 East Avenue B.
  • Local Government-access television cable TV - Channel 7[40]
  • City Manager - John Deardoff[41]
  • City Council[42]
    • Mayor - Ron Sellers (Northwest District)[42]
    • Vice Mayor - David Razo (Southwest District)[42]
    • Councilmember - Bob Bush (Northeast District)[42]
    • Councilmember - Cindy Proett (Southeast District)[42]
    • Councilmember - Dean Brigman (City At Large)[42]

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Hutchinson, Kansas

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  3. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  4. ^ "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  5. ^ "Introduction". Hutchinson. 2001-01-09. Retrieved 2007-08-26. [dead link]
  6. ^ Rock Island Rail History
  7. ^ List of Prisoner Of War (POW) Camps in Kansas
  8. ^ Kansas State Fair history; Reno County Genealogical Society.
  9. ^ "KGS-Hutchinson Response-Gas Storage". Kgs.ku.edu. 2001-05-11. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  10. ^ "UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES RELATING TO GAS EXPLOSIONS IN HUTCHINSON". Archived from the original on 2006-12-15.
  11. ^ "Kansas Natural Gas Explosion Update". Archived from the original on 2006-01-14.
  12. ^ "KGS-Hutchinson Response Web Site".
  13. ^ "City Distance Tool". Geobytes. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  14. ^ a b "Historical Weather for Hutchinson, Kansas, United States of America". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2010-07-18. Cite error: The named reference "Weatherbase" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Average weather for Hutchinson, KS". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  16. ^ "Kansas and Kansans Ch. p. 996-1009".
  17. ^ "Emerson Carey". Skyways.lib.ks.us. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  18. ^ http://www.undergroundvaults.com/
  19. ^ "Hollywood's Underground Treasures - Classic Film".
  20. ^ "Eaton Corporation announces they will maintain Hutchinson plant".
  21. ^ "Hutchinson Hospital Name Change".
  22. ^ "Lowen Corporation Home Page". Lowen.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  23. ^ McCoy, Daniel (May 4, 2009). "Siemens plans wind turbine facility in Hutchinson". bizjournals.com. Retrieved May 27, 2009.
  24. ^ "Schools". USD 308 - Hutchinson Public Schools. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  25. ^ "Buhler USD 313". Buhler USD 313. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  26. ^ "Reno Valley Middle School". USD 309 - South Hutchinson. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  27. ^ "Private Schools". Reno County 2020 Growth Coalition, Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  28. ^ "Route map" (PDF). Reno County RCAT. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  29. ^ "Kansas Operating Division" (PDF). BNSF Railway. 2005-01-01. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  30. ^ "UPRR Common Line Names" (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  31. ^ "Hutchinson News". Mondo Times. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
  32. ^ "Record Details - Collegian". Kansas Press Association. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
  33. ^ "Radio Stations in Hays, Kansas". Radio-Locator. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
  34. ^ "TV Market Maps". EchoStar Knowledge Base. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
  35. ^ "About Us - kwch.com". KWCH. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  36. ^ "Contact Us". KMTW. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  37. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". KPTS. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  38. ^ "City of Hutchinson, Kansas | Parks & Recreation". Hutchgov.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  39. ^ Modern Marvels coverage of the Hutchinson Salt Mine
  40. ^ "City of Hutchinson, Kansas | channel 7". Hutchgov.com. 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  41. ^ "City of Hutchinson, Kansas | City Manager". Hutchgov.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  42. ^ a b c d e f "City of Hutchinson, Kansas | City Council". Hutchgov.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2010-06-02.

Further reading

Reno County
Kansas
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