Salina, Kansas

Salina, Kansas
—  City  —
A water tower bearing the city's name on the south-east side of Salina.
Location of Salina, Kansas
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Kansas
County Saline
Founded 1858
Incorporated 1870
Government
 - Type Commission-manager
 - City manager Jason Gage
 - Mayor Aaron Peck
Area
 - Total 22.8 sq mi (59.0 km2)
 - Land 22.7 sq mi (58.9 km2)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 1,224 ft (373 m)
Population (2008)
 - Total 46,483
 - Density 2,033/sq mi (783.4/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 67401-67402
Area code(s) 785
FIPS code 20-62700[1]
GNIS feature ID 0476808[2]
Website http://ci.salina.ks.us

Salina (pronounced /səˈlaɪnə/) is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States.[3] Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, it is the largest city in north-central Kansas and a regional trade center.[4] As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 46,483.[1]

Contents

History

Settlers led by journalist and lawyer William A. Phillips founded Salina in 1858. In the next two years, the territorial legislature chartered the town company, organized the surrounding area as Saline County, and named Salina the county seat. The westernmost town on the Smoky Hill Trail, Salina established itself as a trading post for westbound immigrants, prospectors bound for Pikes Peak, and area Native tribes. The town's growth halted with the outbreak of the American Civil War when much of the male population left to join the U.S. Army. In 1862, local residents fended off Native raiders only to fall victim to a second assault by bushwhackers later that year. Growth returned with the soldiers after the war, and, with the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1867, the town expanded rapidly. Salina was incorporated as a city in 1870.[5][6]

The cattle trade arrived in 1872, transforming Salina into a cowtown. The trade brought the city further prosperity, but also a rowdy culture that agitated local residents, and thus relocated westward just two years later.[7] During the 1870s, wheat became the dominant crop in the area, steam-powered flour mills were built, and agriculture became the engine of the local economy. In 1874, Salina resident E. R. Switzer introduced alfalfa to area farmers, and its cultivation began to spread throughout the state. By 1880, the city was an area industrial center with several mills, a carriage and wagon factory, and a farm implement works. Over the following decade, three railroads were built through the city.[8] The success of the wholesale and milling industries drove Salina's growth into the early 1900s such that, at one point, it was the third-largest producer in the state and the sixth-largest in the United States.[9]

In 1943, the U.S. Army established Smoky Hill Army Airfield southwest of the city. The installation served as a base for strategic bomber units throughout World War II. Renamed Smoky Hill Air Force Base in 1948, the base closed the following year only to be reopened in 1951 as Schilling Air Force Base, part of Strategic Air Command.[10] The re-opening of the base triggered an economic boom in Salina, causing the city's population to increase by nearly two-thirds during the 1950s.[9] The U.S. Department of Defense closed the base permanently in 1965, but the city of Salina subsequently acquired it and converted it into Salina Municipal Airport and an industrial park.[10] This led to substantial industrial development, attracting firms such as Beechcraft, and made manufacturing a primary driver of the local economy.[11]

In the decades since, Salina has continued to be the commercial hub of north-central Kansas, serving as a regional center for trade, transportation, and industry.[9][11]

Geography

Salina is located at (38.824267, -97.607205) at an elevation of 1,224 feet (373 m).[2][12] It lies in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains approximately 4 miles (6 km) west-southwest of the confluence of the Saline and Smoky Hill Rivers. The Smoky Hill River runs north then northeast through the eastern part of the city; the Saline River flows southeast immediately north of the city. Mulberry Creek, a tributary of the Saline, flows northeast through the far northern part of the city. Located in north-central Kansas at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Interstate 135, Salina is approximately 81 miles (131 km) north of Wichita and 164 miles (265 km) west of Kansas City.[13]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.8 square miles (59.0 km²), of which, 22.7 square miles (58.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.18%) is water.

Climate

Lying in the transition zone between North America's humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) and humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), Salina experiences hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature in Salina is 55 °F (13 °C), and the average relative humidity is 64%. Temperatures drop below 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 135 days per year. On average, Salina experiences 52 rainy days per year.[14] Precipitation averages 32.3 inches (820 mm) per year, and snowfall averages 18.4 inches (467 mm) per year.[15] On average, January is the coolest month, July is the warmest month, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Salina was 117 °F (47 °C) in 1936; the coldest temperature recorded was −28 °F (−33 °C) in 1913.[16] Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to an average high of 93 °F (34 °C) in July.[17]

On September 25, 1973 a tornado measuring F3 passed through the southeast part of town injuring 6 people, destroying 2 houses and the Sundowner East trailer park.[18] On June 11, 2008 another EF3 tornado passed on the south side of the town severely damaging several buildings.[19]

Climate data for Salina, Kansas, USA
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Source: The Weather Channel;[17] National Weather Service [16][20]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1870 918
1880 3,111 238.9%
1890 6,149 97.7%
1900 6,074 −1.2%
1910 9,688 59.5%
1920 15,085 55.7%
1930 20,155 33.6%
1940 21,073 4.6%
1950 26,176 24.2%
1960 43,202 65.0%
1970 37,714 −12.7%
1980 41,843 10.9%
1990 42,303 1.1%
2000 45,679 8.0%
Est. 2008 46,483 1.8%

As of the U.S. Census in 2000, there were 45,679 people, 18,523 households, and 11,873 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,009.6 people per square mile (775.9/km²). There were 19,599 housing units at an average density of 862.2/sq mi (332.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.76% White, 3.57% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 1.96% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.78% from other races, and 2.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.71% of the population.

There were 18,523 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,066, and the median income for a family was $45,433. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $21,944 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,593. About 6.7% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.[1]

Salina's population was estimated to be 46,140 in the year 2006, an increase of 368, or +0.8%, over the previous six years.[21]

Salina is the principal city of the Salina Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Saline and Ottawa counties.[22]

Economy

Downtown Salina grain elevators

Manufacturing is the predominant industry in Salina.[23] Agriculture transportation is also a major industry,[24] and Salina's grain elevators are visible from miles away. This agrarian emphasis is even reflected in a local Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Cathedral, which is built in white cylindrical shapes intriguingly like grain silos.[25] However, Salina has several other important employers. The city also has a strong manufacturing base. Tony's Pizza, a Schwan Food Company brand, has operations in Salina.[26] Tony's makes consumer retail frozen pizzas as well as food intended for school cafeterias and other institutions.[26] Additionally, Philips Lighting,[27] Exide Battery,[28] Great Plains Manufacturing (farm equipment),[29] and ElDorado National (commercial bus manufacturer)[30] all have a presence in the community.

Government

Since 1921, Salina has had a commission-manager form of government. The city commission consists of five members elected at large, one of whom the commission annually selects to serve as mayor. Commission candidates who receive the most and second most votes are elected for a four-year term; the candidate who receives the third most votes is elected for a two-year term.[31] The commission sets policy and appoints the city manager. The city manager is the city's chief executive, responsible for administering the city government and appointing all city employees.[32]

Education

Colleges and universities

Primary and secondary education

Salina Public Schools (Unified School District 305) operates twelve schools in Salina:[33][34]

  • Coronado Elementary School (Grades K-5)
  • Cottonwood Elementary School (K-5)
  • Grace E. Stewart Elementary School (K-5)
  • Heusner Elementary School (K-5)
  • Meadowlark Ridge Elementary School (K-5)
  • Oakdale Elementary School (K-5)
  • Schilling Elementary School (K-5)
  • Sunset Elementary School (K-5)
  • Lakewood Middle School (6-8)
  • Salina South Middle School (6-8)
  • Salina High School Central (9-12)
  • Salina High School South (9-12)

There are also four private schools in Salina:[33]

Transportation

The Salina "CityGo" service

Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 run concurrently east-west north of Salina. Interstate 135 and U.S. Route 81 run concurrently north-south along the west side of the city. The I-70/I-135 interchange northwest of the city is the northern terminus of I-135. K-140, which approaches Salina from the southwest, formally ends at its interchange with I-135 before entering the city as State Street. North of Salina, the city's main north-south thoroughfare, Ninth Street, becomes K-143 at its interchange with I-70.

CityGo is the local public transport bus service, operating three routes in the city. CityGo also provides intercity bus service to surrounding communities as NCK Express. Greyhound Lines provides long-distance bus service.[37]

Salina Municipal Airport is located immediately southwest of the city. Used primarily for general aviation, it hosts one commercial airline under the Essential Air Service program.

The Kansas Pacific (KP) Line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs northeast-southwest through the northern part of the city.[38] Salina is also the southeastern terminus of the Salina Subdivision of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad.[39]

Media

Print

Salina has one daily newspaper, The Salina Journal.[40]

Radio

AM

Frequency Callsign[41] Format[42] City of License Notes
550 KFRM News/Talk Salina, Kansas Broadcasts from Clay Center, Kansas
910 KINA News/Talk Salina, Kansas -
1150 KSAL News/Talk Salina, Kansas -

FM

Frequency Callsign[43] Format[42] City of License Notes
88.5 KAKA Christian Salina, Kansas AFR
89.5 KHCD Public Salina, Kansas NPR; Satellite of KHCC-FM, Hutchinson, Kansas
91.7 KCVS Christian Salina, Kansas -
92.7 KZUH Sports Minneapolis, Kansas Broadcasts from Salina
93.7 KYEZ Country Salina, Kansas -
95.5 KVOB Adult Hits Lindsborg, Kansas Jack FM; Broadcasts from Salina
96.5 K243BD Contemporary Christian Salina, Kansas Translator of KJRL-FM, Herington, Kansas[44]
99.9 KSKG Country Salina, Kansas -
101.7 KDJM Country Lindsborg, Kansas Broadcasts from Salina
104.9 KSAL-FM Classic Hits Salina, Kansas -
107.1 K296FD Christian Salina, Kansas Translator of KCCV-FM, Olathe, Kansas

Television

Salina is part of the Wichita television market, which covers much of the central and western part of Kansas. Cox Communications is the main cable system serving Salina. The following television stations are licensed to Salina:

Digital Channel Analog Channel Callsign[45] Network City of License Notes
- 15 K15CN TBN Salina, Kansas TBN satellite repeater
17 - KAAS-TV Fox Salina, Kansas Satellite of KSAS-TV, Wichita, Kansas
- 41 KSKV-LP - Salina, Kansas -
47 - KSNL-LD NBC Salina, Kansas Satellite of KSNW, Wichita, Kansas
- 51 KHDS-LP ABC Salina, Kansas Satellite of KAKE-TV, Wichita, Kansas

Culture

Religion

56% of Salina residents are affiliated with a religious congregation. The majority are Christian, and the Roman Catholic Church, United Methodist Church, and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are the three largest denominations in the city.[33] Salina has 90 churches and is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina, Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas, and the Presbytery of Northern Kansas.[46][47]

Sports

In popular culture

Notable natives and residents

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. "About Salina". City of Salina, Kansas. http://www.salina-ks.gov/content/120/default.aspx. Retrieved 2010-07-10. 
  5. Blackmar, Frank W., ed (1912). "Salina". Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc.. 2. Chicago: Standard. pp. 634-635. http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1912/s/salina.html. 
  6. Blackmar, Frank W., ed (1912). "Saline County". Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc.. 2. Chicago: Standard. pp. 635-639. http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1912/s/saline_county.html. 
  7. Cutler, William G. (1883), "Salina, Part 1", History of the State of Kansas, Chicago: A.T. Andreas, http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/saline/saline-co-p4.html#SALINA_P1 
  8. Works Projects Administration (1949). Kansas: A Guide to the Sunflower State. New York: Hastings House. p. 273. 
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  10. 10.0 10.1 "SAC Bases: Smokey Hill / Schilling AFB". Strategic-Air-Command.com. http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Schilling_AFB.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-17. 
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Narrative". Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. 2008. http://www.salinakansas.org/ecodevo/narrative.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-17. 
  12. "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
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  23. Saline County Emergency Management (2009-02). "It Can Happen Here". A Study of the Hazards affecting Saline County, Kansas and their effects on the Community. Saline county Emergency Management. p. 11. http://www.saline.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Z8P7udAKSbk%3d&tabid=4349&mid=7044. 
  24. Saline County Emergency Management (2009-02). "It Can Happen Here". A Study of the Hazards affecting Saline County, Kansas and their effects on the Community. Saline county Emergency Management. p. 17. http://www.saline.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Z8P7udAKSbk%3d&tabid=4349&mid=7044. 
  25. "Architecture". Sacred Heart Cathedral. http://www.shcathedral.com/Architecture.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-04. 
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  30. Web Creations and Consulting (2006). "About the Company". enconline.com. ElDorado National. http://www.enconline.com/company.cfm. Retrieved 2010-03-17. 
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  34. "Salina USD 305 School Websites and Handbooks". Salina USD 305. https://www.usd305.com/schoolweb/index.html. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
  35. "About St. John's Military School". St. John's Military School. http://www.sjms.org/about/. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
  36. "Welcome". Salina Christian Academy. http://www.salinachristianacademy.org/welcome.asp. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
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  38. "UPRR Common Line Names". Union Pacific Railroad. http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/maps/attachments/upcomnam.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-08. 
  39. "Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad - Detailed Map". Watco, Inc.. http://www.watcocompanies.com/railroads/ko/ko_map.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-08. 
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  47. "About Us". Presbytery of Northern Kansas. http://www.pnks.org/pAboutUs.aspx. Retrieved 2010-07-18. 
  48. Internet Movie Database

External links