City Town Info

Great Bend, KS


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Great Bend, Kansas

Introduction to Great Bend, Kansas

Great Bend, Kansas, in Barton county, is located 90 miles NW of Wichita, Kansas. There are approximately 15,345 people in the city.

Great Bend History

The city of Great Bend derived its name from the Great Bend of Arkansas River. The early settlers arrived in Great Bend in the year 1870 and practiced farming for their livelihood. D. N. Heiser and E. J. Dodge made the first settlement in Great Bend township in the year 1871. The land began to be developed after the Civil War by the easterners. Gradually, with the growth of the oil industries, the city emerged as a center of regional trade and service center. Great Bend was an important Army Air Corps training base during World War II. Since the year 1973, Fuller Brush Company has set up its factories here.

Great Bend and nearby Attractions

  • Fort Larned National Historic Site
  • Nicodemus National Historic Site
  • Barton County Historical Society Museum
  • Brit Spaugh Zoo
  • Santa Fe Trail Center

Things To Do In Great Bend

Visitors interested in wild life can take a trip to the Brit Spaugh Zoo. They may also view the facilities provided by the Veterans Memorial Park and Heizer Park. The Church of Christ, Church of the Nazarene, and First Congregational United Church of Christ are among the beautiful churches in the city. Tourists can also visit the Kansas Oil & Gas Museum. One can enjoy the annual festivals including the Barton County Fair, which is held in the month of July; and Polka Days, which takes place in the month of August.

Great Bend Transportation

Great Bend Muni Airport provides air transportation facilities.

Great Bend Higher Education

Students can avail higher education from Barton County Community College, Fort Hays State University, and Hutchinson Community College.

High Points

Great Bend strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Kansas):

CategoryTrophy
Short Commute Times
(vs. Peers)		Top 6%Great Bend Short Commute Times
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)		Top 10%Great Bend Racial Diversity
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 13%Great Bend Affordability of Rents

Comparative Profile of Great Bend, KS

Comparing Great Bend to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Kansas (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Senior Citizens96
Children Under 5 Years Old77
Racial Diversity710
Age of the Population76
Female Share of the Population65
Male Share of the Population56
Well-Paid Single Men45
Well-Paid Single Women36

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married53
Average Household Size35

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
College Educated Adults57
People Above Poverty31
Median Family Income34
People in Middle Class or Better32

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times108
Walking and Biking to Work57
Public Transportation Use38
Working at Home22

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Affordability of Rents96
People Living Alone97
Affordability of Property Taxes73
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals58
Seasonal and Vacation Housing34
Housing Recently Built36

Detailed pages on related topics: Great Bend colleges • Great Bend travel • Great Bend mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Great Bend CollegesGreat Bend Colleges
Great Bend colleges and trade schools.
Great Bend Hotels & TravelGreat Bend Hotels & Travel
Great Bend hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Great Bend MortgageGreat Bend Mortgage
Great Bend property, mortgage, and real estate.

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