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96-619: Dodge City, Kansas had previously had an indoor football team in the Dodge City Law , which played through 2017 in Champions Indoor Football (CIF) before returning in 2021 as a replacement team for the Oklahoma Flying Aces , which had dropped out due to "unforseen workman's compensation insurance issues." The Southwest Kansas Storm were announced as a CIF expansion team on September 30, 2021, with

192-573: A branch campus on St. Mary of the Plains' former grounds. Dodge City Public Library , located north of downtown, is the city's main library. A member of the Southwest Kansas Library System, it has a collection of approximately 123,000 volumes, and it circulates more than 189,000 items annually. It was founded as a Carnegie library in 1905 and moved to its current facility in 1981. The library offers several services to

288-416: A commission-manager form of government. The city commission consists of five members who serve either two-year or four-year terms, depending on the number of votes they receive. Every year, the commission selects one commissioner to serve as mayor and another to serve as vice-mayor . The commission meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. Appointed by the commission, the city manager leads

384-446: A bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 9.2% of the population. 31.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 98.1 males. The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that

480-659: A commission to intercept Mexican caravans along the Santa Fe Trail, similar to that received by Warfield the year prior. After disbanding the volunteers under his command, Warfield located and joined the 190-man, Texas "Battalion of Invincibles", under the command of Snively. New Mexico Governor Manuel Armijo led Mexican troops out of Santa Fe to protect incoming caravans. But, after the Invincibles destroyed much of an advance party led by Captain Ventura Lovato,

576-485: A family was $ 49,957. Males had a median income of $ 31,400 versus $ 27,884 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,350. About 16.7% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over. Meat packing is the primary industry in Dodge City. Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef both operate large facilities in

672-457: A former coach at Dodge City Community College , as head coach of the Storm. On October 5, 2023, it was announced that the Storm would join the revived Arena Football League (AFL) for its 2024 season along with the remaining CIF teams. On September 4, 2024, the Storm jumped from the ill-fated AFL to the newly-created Arena Football One . They will play in the league's Central Division along with

768-527: A full-service pro shop, driving range, and putting green. Dodge City Country Club, the private course, is an 18-hole course built in 1916 and expanded in 1982. Two galleries support an arts community in the city. Located in the original public library building, The Carnegie Center for the Arts provides gallery space to local artists and houses the Dodge City Arts Council. The second gallery,

864-550: A record of 5–5 and lost 27–21 in the opening round of the playoffs to the Omaha Beef . Valerie Heston became the team's general manager for the 2023 season. Venson continued as their head coach as the Storm went 3–7 and reached the playoffs as the sixth seed, losing in the first round to the Gillette Mustangs by a score of 40–35. After the 2023 season, it was announced that Venson would be replaced by Gary Thomas,

960-612: A satellite station of Smoky Hills Public Television , the Public Broadcasting Service member network covering western Kansas; and KDDC-LD a sister station of KDGL-LD in Sublette, Kansas . The city's Parks and Recreation Department maintains 21 parks in the city. The largest is Wright Park, located immediately south of downtown and home to the Dodge City Zoo. Legends Park, in the northern part of

1056-547: A small band of men in the proximate vicinity of St. Louis, giving McDaniel the rank of a Texas captain. After Warfield headed toward the Rockies with a companion, McDaniel led a robbery in April 1843 (in present-day Rice County, Kansas ) of a lightly defended Santa Fe Trail trading caravan. This resulted in the murder of its leader Antonio José Chávez, the son of a former governor of New Mexico, Francisco Xavier Chávez . Warfield

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1152-824: A variety of exhibits portraying the culture of the city's early years. The museum's larger exhibits include: Front Street, a partial reconstruction of downtown Dodge City as it existed in 1876; the Long Branch Saloon and the Long Branch Variety Show ; the Saratoga Saloon; the Hardesty House, a period-typical home built in 1879; the city's original Boot Hill Cemetery; and the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame . The Santa Fe Trail Remains , located 9 miles (14 km) west of

1248-517: A year. The highest officially recorded temperature was 111 °F (44 °C) on June 27, 2012 , while the lowest temperature officially recorded was −26 °F (−32 °C) on February 12, 1899 . The record cold daily maximum is −13 °F (−25 °C) on January 13, 1875, and conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 83 °F (28 °C) last set June 13, 2022. The 2020 United States census counted 27,788 people, 9,000 households, and 6,399 families in Dodge City. The population density

1344-641: Is also published in the city. Along with Garden City , Dodge City is a center of broadcast media for southwestern Kansas. Two AM radio stations, seven FM radio stations, and four television stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from the area. Dodge City is located in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market . The four stations that broadcast from the city include: one CBS and one FOX network affiliate , both of which are satellite stations of their respective affiliates in Wichita;

1440-438: Is located downtown. Fixed-route bus service provided by D-TRAN operates between 6am and 7pm Monday-Friday. The Utilities Division of the city government's Public Works Department operates and maintains the city's water and waste water distribution systems. The department's Sanitation Division provides trash pickup. Operations Management International, Inc. (OMI), a private contractor, provides waste water treatment, pumping

1536-419: Is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and June is the wettest month. The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32.2 °C) an average of 71 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 °F (37.8 °C) an average of 14 days a year; the last year that failed to reach 100 °F (37.8 °C) was 1958. The minimum temperature falls to or below 0 °F (−18 °C) an average of 2.1 days

1632-639: The American Southwest , leading to the construction of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway . As the name suggests, the intended eastern terminus was to be Atchison, Kansas . In Kansas, the AT&;SF roadbed roughly paralleled the Santa Fe Trail west of Topeka as it expanded between 1868 and 1874. When a railroad bridge was built across the Missouri River to connect eastern markets to

1728-828: The Arkansas River . Branches of the trail followed both sides of the river upstream to Dodge City and Garden City . West of Garden City in southwestern Kansas the trail splits into two branches. One of the branches, called the Mountain Route or the Upper Crossing continues up the Arkansas River to the confluence with the Purgatoire River near La Junta continuing along the Purgatoire River to Trinidad , then south through

1824-593: The Boonslick region along the Missouri River , the trail served as a vital commercial highway until 1880, when the railroad arrived in Santa Fe. Santa Fe was near the end of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro which carried trade from Mexico City . The trail was later incorporated into parts of the National Old Trails Road and U.S. Route 66 . The route skirted the northern edge and crossed

1920-579: The Comanche nor the Apache of the southern high plains tolerated trespassers. In 1825, Congress voted for federal protection for the Santa Fe Trail, even though much of it lay in the Mexican territory. Lack of food and water also made the trail very risky. Weather conditions, like huge lightning storms, gave the travelers even more difficulty. If a storm developed, there was often no place to take shelter and

2016-491: The Corpus Christi Tritons , Salina Liberty and Wichita Regulators . Running backs Wide receivers Defensive linemen Defensive backs Special teams Front office Head coaches Offensive coaches Dodge City, Kansas Dodge City is a city in, and the county seat of, Ford County, Kansas , United States. As of the 2020 census ,

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2112-594: The Joint Commission , it serves as a referral center for southwestern Kansas. The Dodge City Daily Globe is the city's daily newspaper with a circulation of approximately 7,000 copies. In addition, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City publishes a weekly newspaper, The Southwest Kansas Catholic , formerly known as The Southwest Kansas Register . The High Plains Journal , a weekly trade journal covering regional agricultural news,

2208-739: 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. Using the BNSF trackage, Amtrak provides passenger rail service on its Southwest Chief line between Chicago and Los Angeles . Amtrak's Dodge City station

2304-589: The National Register of Historic Places . In Missouri, this includes the 85th and Manchester "Three Trails" Trail Segment , Arrow Rock Ferry Landing , Santa Fe Trail – Grand Pass Trail Segments , and Santa Fe Trail – Saline County Trail Segments . The longest clearly identifiable section of the trail, Santa Fe Trail Remains , near Dodge City, Kansas , is listed as a National Historic Landmark . In Colorado, Santa Fe Trail Mountain Route – Bent's New Fort

2400-749: The Raton Pass into New Mexico. The other main branch, called the Cimarron Cutoff or Cimarron Crossing or Middle Crossing cut southwest across the Cimarron Desert (also known as the Waterscrape or La Jornada ) to the valley of the Cimarron River near the town of Ulysses and Elkhart then continued toward Boise City, Oklahoma , to Clayton, New Mexico , joining up with northern branch at Fort Union . This route

2496-486: The Santa Fe Trail . Fort Mann collapsed in 1848 after an attack by Natives . 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 re-established farther north and east at Fort Larned in 1859, but the area remained vacant around what would become Dodge City until

2592-557: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 14.55 square miles (37.68 km ), of which 14.44 square miles (37.40 km ) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km ) is water. Dodge City lies at the intersection of North America's semi-arid ( Köppen BSk ) and humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa ) zones, with hot summers, highly variable winters, both warm and very cold periods, and low to moderate humidity and precipitation throughout

2688-477: The United Wireless Arena being named their home venue. The initial coaching staff featured Mark Timberlake at head coach , Brandon Venson at offensive coordinator , Marquis George at defensive coordinator and Jamar Seard as an assistant. Laura Tawater was also announced as general manager . Seven games into the season, Venson was promoted to head coach. They finished the regular season with

2784-837: The lucrative overland fur trade in ports on the Pacific Coast. Santa Fe was near the northern terminus of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro , which led overland between Mexico City to San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico . Cargo mule trains were run from Fort Bernard in Wyoming to the Santa Fe Trail at Fort Bent in Colorado . In 1825, the merchant Manuel Escudero of Chihuahua was commissioned by New Mexico governor Bartolome Baca to negotiate in Washington, D.C., for opening U.S. borders to traders from Mexico. Beginning in 1826, prominent aristocratic families of New Mexicans, such as

2880-420: The "hog" as a mascot after one of their riders, Ray Weishaar , brought a piglet from his farm with him to the race. Motorcycle races continued in Dodge City into the 1950s, and attracted significant talent throughout this time, though Dodge's prominence as a hub for motorcycle racing would gradually fade over time. Dodge City was also a site for automobile races, with racers such as Carroll Shelby taking part in

2976-935: The 19th century after the Louisiana Purchase . Traders and settlers crossed the southwest of North America by the route connecting Independence, Missouri , with Santa Fe, New Mexico . Its major market in Missouri was St. Louis , with its port on the Mississippi River. In 1719, the French officer Claude Charles Du Tisne was tasked by French authorities to establish a route to trade with the Spanish colony of Santa Fe in New Mexico. This first expedition, which started in Kaskaskia, Illinois , failed, as it

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3072-599: The Arkansas Valley was so numerous that bison herds were cut off from important seasonal grazing land. This habitat disruption , on top of overhunting, contributed to the collapse of the species. Comanche power declined in the region when they lost their most important game. In 1846, during the Mexican–American War , the United States Army used the Santa Fe Trail to invade New Mexico. After

3168-463: The Chávezes, Armijos, Pereas, and Oteros, entered into the commerce along the trail. By 1843, traders from New Mexico and Chihuahua had become the majority of traders involved in the traffic of goods over the Santa Fe Trail. In 1835, Mexico City had sent Albino Pérez to govern the department of New Mexico as Jefe Politico (political chief or governor) and as commanding military officer. In 1837,

3264-542: The Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, a parade, a beauty pageant, music concerts, a golf tournament, arts and craft shows, and other activities. Several other community events are held throughout the year. In early May, the city's sizable Mexican community celebrates Cinco de Mayo in Wright Park with live music, folk dance performances, and traditional Mexican cuisine . To celebrate Independence Day ,

3360-413: The Dodge City cattle trail and Colorado coal mines, the railroad spurred the growth of Kansas City, Missouri . Building the railway westwards beyond the New Mexico border was delayed and placed the railroad under financial pressure. In response, they offered packaged "Shopping Excursion deals" to potential real estate buyers. The railroad began to discount such trips to visit its land offices and gave back

3456-530: The French explorer Pierre Vial made another pioneering trip on the route in 1792, and French traders and trappers from St. Louis gained progressively a fur trading dominance from the Spanish in Santa Fe as well as with the Indian tribes living in this vast region. Other French traders and trappers made trips on the trail from St. Louis, such as Auguste Pierre Chouteau and Jules de Mun in 1815, who were arrested by Spanish authorities in Santa Fe. After Louisiana

3552-551: The Kansas State Legislature to do something about splenic fever , known today as anthrax. Consequently, in 1885, the quarantine line was extended across the state and the Western Trail was all but shut down. By the mid-1880s, Dodge City began working to change its image away from that of a violent western town and towards that of a more peaceful and civilized location. In 1878, for example, the bodies in

3648-461: The Missouri near Arrow Rock , after which it followed roughly the route of present-day U.S. Route 24 . It passed north of Marshall , through Lexington to Fort Osage , then to Independence . Independence was also one of the historic "jumping off points" for the Oregon and California Trails . West of Independence, it roughly followed the route of U.S. Route 56 from near the town of Olathe to

3744-585: The Republic of Texas and its president Mirabeau B. Lamar . Their intention was to persuade the people of Santa Fe and New Mexico to relinquish control over the territory under dispute with Mexico, and over associated Santa Fe Trail commerce. Knowing about recent political disturbances there, they hoped for a welcome by the rebellious faction in New Mexico. What was known as the Texan Santa Fe Expedition encountered many difficulties. The party

3840-675: The Second Avenue Art Guild, exhibits the work of regional artists in ceramics, photography, and other media. The Depot Theater Company, based in the former Santa Fe Railroad Depot, puts on theatrical productions throughout the year. Founded in 1984, the group performs in both the old depot and the Occident Theater. Each summer, the Dodge City Chamber of Commerce holds Dodge City Days, the city's annual community festival. Lasting ten days, it includes

3936-518: The Trail soon dropped to merely local trade. After World War I the trail gradually became a paved automobile road. The eastern end of the trail was in the central Missouri town of Franklin on the north bank of the Missouri River . The route across Missouri first used by Becknell followed portions of the existing Osage Trace and the Medicine Trails. West of Franklin, the trail crossed

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4032-625: The U.S. acquisition of the Southwest that ended the war, the trail was integral to the U.S. opening the region to economic development and settlement. It played a vital role in the westward expansion of the U.S. into these new lands. The road route is commemorated today by the National Park Service as the Santa Fe National Historic Trail . A highway route that roughly follows the trail's path, through

4128-514: The West, many of whom participated in the Dodge City War of 1883. It had saloons, gambling halls, and brothels, including the Long Branch Saloon and China Doll brothel. For a time in 1884, Dodge City had a bullfighting ring where Mexican bullfighters would put on a show with specially chosen Longhorn bulls. As more agricultural settlers moved into western Kansas, pressure increased on

4224-589: The age of 18 and 9.9% of those ages 65 or over. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 27,340 people, 8,777 households, and 6,241 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,893.6 inhabitants per square mile (731.1/km ). There were 9,378 housing units at an average density of 649.5 per square mile (250.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 72.5% White , 2.5% African American , 1.1% Native American , 1.6% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 19.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 57.5% of

4320-516: The cattle drives that once ended in the city; a bronze statue of famous Dodge City lawman Wyatt Earp; and the Santa Fe Depot, the largest extant train depot in Kansas. Santa Fe Trail The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri , with Santa Fe, New Mexico . Pioneered in 1821 by William Becknell , who departed from

4416-541: 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 . For a few years, the competition between the towns was fierce, but enough cattle were available for both towns to prosper. Dodge City became known as a true frontier settlement of the Old West . Dodge City had more gunfighters working at one time or another than any other town in

4512-708: The central role of agriculture in the local economy. The Ford County Fair is held in July and includes 4-H and FFA exhibits, competitions, and shows, as well as other activities. Also in July, the Western Kansas Manufacturers Association (WKMA) holds the 3i Show, an agri-business expo of agricultural products, technology, and services. Located in and around the city are a number of historical sites, museums, and landmarks dedicated to Dodge City's Old West heritage. The Boot Hill Museum, located downtown, contains thousands of artifacts and

4608-452: The city administration, executes the commission's policies, and develops operational programs to meet the city's needs. As the county seat , Dodge City is the administrative center of Ford County. The county courthouse is located downtown, and all departments of the county government base their operations in the city. Dodge City lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District . For

4704-550: The city holds its Old-Fashioned Fourth of July, which includes a fireworks display and children's activities at Boot Hill. Christmas in Old Dodge City, the city's winter holiday festival, starts in late November and lasts until Christmas . 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. Two other annual events reflect

4800-455: The city's southern and eastern fringe. 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. Dodge City Regional Airport is located approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the city. Used primarily for general aviation , it hosts one commercial airline with daily flights to Denver, CO . Three railroads serve Dodge City:

4896-437: The city's waste water to treatment holding ponds 12 miles south of the city. The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., part of the Mid-Kansas Electric Company, delivers electricity to the city. Local residents primarily use natural gas as their heating fuel; natural gas service is provided by Black Hills Energy . The Western Plains Medical Complex is the sole hospital in Dodge City. A 100-bed hospital accredited by

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4992-414: The city, are preserved wagon tracks from a section of the Santa Fe Trail. The Ford County Historical Society maintains the Mueller-Schmidt House, called the "Home of Stone." Built from area limestone in 1881, it is the oldest building in the city still standing at its original site. Other historical landmarks include: El Capitan, a life-sized bronze sculpture of a Texas Longhorn steer built to commemorate

5088-467: The city, is a four-diamond, tournament-level baseball and softball complex that hosts both youth and adult league games. 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. There are two golf courses in the city, one public and one private. Mariah Hills Municipal Golf Course, the public course, is an 18-hole course built in 1974 and redesigned in 1990. It includes

5184-408: The city. The city also hosts farm implement manufacturing and serves as a supply center for area agriculture. Livestock -raising is a major activity while wheat and sorghum are the area's main crops. In addition, a local tourism industry, including a casino resort, has developed to capitalize on Dodge City's history as an Old West cowtown. The service sector accounts for much of the rest of

5280-419: The city: Sacred Heart Cathedral School (Pre-K-8). Dodge City Community College (DCCC) , a two-year public college with approximately 2,000 students, is located in the northwestern part of the city. From 1952 to 1993, Dodge City was also home to St. Mary of the Plains College , a private, four-year Catholic liberal arts college . Newman University , a Catholic university based in Wichita, now operates

5376-412: The end of the Civil War . In April 1865, the American Frontier Wars in the West began heating up, and 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 L. Sitler built a sod house west of Fort Dodge to oversee his cattle operations in

5472-403: The entire length of Kansas , the southeast corner of Colorado and northern New Mexico, has been designated as the Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway . The Santa Fe Trail was a transportation route opened by the Indigenous people of North America as well as European trappers and traders in the second half of the 18th century. It was later used extensively by people from the United States in

5568-561: The events. Dodge City lies on the Arkansas River in the High Plains region of the Great Plains . The city sits above one of the world's largest underground water systems, the Ogallala Aquifer , and is 25 miles (40 km) from the eastern edge of the Hugoton Natural Gas Area . Located at the intersection of U. S. Routes 50 , 56 and 283 in southwestern Kansas, Dodge City is 151 mi (243 km) west of Wichita , 199 mi (320 km) northeast of Amarillo , and 301 mi (484 km) southeast of Denver . According to

5664-449: The first bar in a tent to serve 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 buffalo bones and hides and provided a civilian community for Fort Dodge. With the arrival of the railroad, Dodge City soon became involved in the cattle trade. The idea of driving Texas Longhorn cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas originated in

5760-413: The forces of Rio Abajo (the lower Rio Grande, or southern New Mexico) led by Manuel Armijo . The Republic of Texas competed with Mexico in claiming Santa Fe, as part of the territory north and east of the Rio Grande which both nations claimed following Texas's secession from Mexico in 1836. In 1841, a small military and trading expedition departed from Austin, Texas , for Santa Fe. They represented

5856-441: The forces of Rio Arriba (the upper Rio Grande , i.e., northern New Mexico) rebelled against Pérez's enforcement of the recent Mexican constitution, new revenue laws taxing Santa Fe commerce and entertainment, and the large grants of New Mexico land to wealthy Mexicans. New Mexicans appreciated the relative freedoms of a frontier, remote from Mexico City. The rebels defeated and executed governor Albino Perez, but were later ousted by

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5952-399: The governments in the Mexican provinces of New Mexico and Chihuahua and returning half of the spoils to the Republic of Texas . Houston agreed, provided the operation be conducted under the strictest secrecy. He commissioned Warfield as a colonel, who attempted to raise volunteers in Texas, St. Louis, Missouri; and the southern Rockies for a Warfield Expedition. He recruited John McDaniel and

6048-576: The governor retreated. Following this battle, many Americans resigned and Snively's force was reduced to little over 100 men. Snively planned to plunder Mexican merchant caravans on territory claimed by Texas, in retaliation for recent Texian executions and Mexican invasions, but his battalion was quickly arrested and disarmed by the US troops escorting the caravans. After disarming these men, Captain Philip St. George Cooke allowed them to return to Texas. In 1863, while railroad legislation underwent continual revisions, entrepreneurs grew more interested in

6144-465: 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 cowtown was Abilene, Kansas . Profits were high, and other towns quickly joined in the cattle boom: Newton in 1871, Ellsworth in 1872, and Wichita in 1872. In 1876, however, the Kansas State Legislature responded to pressure from farmers settling in central Kansas and once again shifted

6240-416: 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%). 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. As of 2010, the median home value in the city was $ 83,300, the median selected monthly owner cost

6336-439: The late 1850s, but was cut short by the Civil War. In 1866, the first Texas cattle started arriving in Baxter Springs in southeastern Kansas by way of the Shawnee Trail . Texas Longhorn cattle carried a tick that spread Texas cattle fever , among other breeds of cattle. Alarmed Kansas farmers persuaded the Kansas State Legislature to establish a quarantine line in central Kansas. The quarantine prohibited Texas Longhorns from

6432-453: The livestock could get spooked. Rattlesnakes often posed a threat, and many people died due to snakebites. The caravan size increased later on to prevent Indian raids. The travelers also harnessed more oxen instead of mules—primarily for the greater hauling power of oxen but also because they were less valued by Indians and thus less risk of being raided. Segments of this trail in Missouri , Kansas , Oklahoma , and New Mexico are listed on

6528-561: The local economy. As of 2010, 70.9% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.3% was in the armed forces, and 70.5% was in the civilian labor force with 66.9% being employed and 3.6% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was: 23.3% in management, business, science, and arts; 16.4% in sales and office occupations; 10.9% in service occupations; 15.2% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 34.2% in production, transportation, and material moving. The three industries employing

6624-421: The median household income was $ 52,654 (with a margin of error of +/- $ 2,947) and the median family income was $ 61,993 (+/- $ 5,366). Males had a median income of $ 35,569 (+/- $ 3,963) versus $ 25,217 (+/- $ 2,969) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $ 31,089 (+/- $ 1,012). Approximately, 9.7% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 17.0% of those under

6720-441: The murder of Chávez, Warfield began limited military hostilities in the region using recruits from the southern Rockies. He made an unprovoked attack on Mexican troops outside Mora, New Mexico , leaving five dead. Warfield lost his horses after an encounter in Wagon Mound , where the Mexican forces had made chase. After Warfield's men reached Bent's Fort on foot, they disbanded. In February 1843, Colonel Jacob Snively had received

6816-559: The nearest bus stop. While the county provided transportation, voters had to arrange for it in advance. A lawsuit over the issue was dismissed after Debbie Cox, the county clerk, agreed to open two polling places in the next election. Dodge City USD 443 public school district serves over 6,000 students and operates 14 schools in the city, including one early childhood center, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school , and one alternative school. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City oversees one Catholic school in

6912-520: The north-western corner of Comancheria , the territory of the Comanche . Realizing the value, they demanded compensation for granting passage to the trail. American traders envisioned them as another market. Comanche raiding farther south in Mexico isolated New Mexico, making it more dependent on the American trade. They raided to gain a steady supply of horses to sell. By the 1840s, trail traffic through

7008-471: The notorious "Boot Hill" cemetery were moved to the newly established Prairie Grove Cemetery, and a new schoolhouse was built on Boot Hill. In 1907 Andrew Carnegie donated money for the construction of a new public library in Dodge City. Dodge City was also a significant hub for racing for many years, and it held the first World Championship 300 Mile Motorcycle Race on July 4, 1914. Notable attendees included William Harley and Walter Davidson, who adopted

7104-479: The opportunity to hold free land used wagon trains to follow various emigrant trails that branched off to points west. The political philosophy of manifest destiny , the idea that the U.S. should extend from one coast to another, dominated national political discussions. The trail connected interior port cities along the Mississippi and Missouri and their wagon train outfitters to western destinations. The trail

7200-497: The population of the city was 27,788. It was named after nearby Fort Dodge , which was named in honor of Grenville Dodge . The city is known in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West . The first settlement in the area that became Dodge City was Fort Mann, built by civilians in 1847. At that time, the territory was part of Mexico, and the fort was built to provide protection for travelers on

7296-440: The population. There were 8,777 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.9% were non-families. 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. The average household size

7392-536: The public, including computer classes, public internet access, and programs for children and adults. Another library in the city is the DCCC Library, which holds more than 30,000 volumes and serves as a federal depository library . Originally a stop on the Santa Fe Trail, Dodge City was later located on the National Old Trails Road , also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, which followed

7488-604: 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 . Dodge City was criticized by Johnny Dunlap, Ford County Democratic Party's chairman, for only having one polling place for 13,000 voters. For the 2018 election, it was moved outside the city limits one mile from

7584-595: The quarantine line westward, which essentially eliminated Abilene and the other cowtowns from the cattle trade. With no place else to go, Dodge City suddenly became the "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

7680-564: The region, conveniently located near the Santa Fe Trail and Arkansas River , and Sitler's house quickly became a stopping point for travelers. Others saw the commercial potential of the region with the Santa Fe Railroad rapidly approaching from the east. In 1872, Dodge City was staked out on the 100th meridian and the legal western boundary of the Fort Dodge reservation. The town site was platted and George M. Hoover established

7776-423: The ticket price as part of the purchase price if a sale was concluded. The railroad's sale of its land granted by congress fostered growth of new towns and businesses along its route, which generated railway traffic and revenues. With this financial base, the railway extended west, gradually adding new connections through rougher west country along the western Trail. With the development of rail transport, traffic on

7872-401: The town of Lyons . West of Lyons the trail followed nearly the route of present-day Highway 56 to Great Bend . Ruts in the earth made from the trail are still visible in several locations (Ralph's Ruts are visible in aerial photos at ( 38°21′35″N 98°25′20″W  /  38.35959264°N 98.42225502°W  / 38.35959264; -98.42225502 ). At Great Bend, the trail encountered

7968-494: The trail's path in western Kansas upon its establishment in 1912. Currently, four U.S. Highways meet in Dodge City: U.S. Route 50 , U.S. Route 56 , U.S. Route 283 , and U.S. Route 400 . U.S. 50, an east-west route, runs through the northern part of the city. U.S. 400, which also runs east-west, runs through the southern part of the city. U.S. 56, an east-west route, and U.S. 283, a north-south route, run concurrently around

8064-556: The western border of Kansas. It enters Colorado, cutting across the southeast corner of the state before entering New Mexico. The section of the trail between Independence and Olathe was also used by immigrants on the California and Oregon Trails, which branched off to the northwest near Gardner, Kansas . From Olathe, the trail passed through the towns of Baldwin City , Burlingame , and Council Grove , then swung west of McPherson to

8160-511: The year; it is part of USDA Hardiness zone 6b. Areas to the west are drier and more strongly semi-arid. Severe weather, including tornadoes , is common in the area, especially in the spring months. Dodge City is often cited as the windiest city in the United States with an average speed of 13.9 mph (22.4 km/h), which results in occasional blizzards in the winter, even when snowfall does not accumulate much. On average, January

8256-431: Was $ 1,013 for housing units with a mortgage and $ 450 for those without, and the median gross rent was $ 571. In late 2023, Hilmar Cheese is scheduled to open a new $ 550 million cheese and whey protein processing plant in Dodge City. Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef are the two largest employers. Other major employers include local government, schools, retail stores, and health care providers. Dodge City has

8352-515: Was 1,888.3 per square mile (729.1/km ). There were 9,869 housing units at an average density of 670.6 per square mile (258.9/km ). The racial makeup was 44.58% (12,387) white or European American (29.25% non-Hispanic white ), 3.39% (943) black or African-American , 2.43% (675) Native American or Alaska Native , 1.38% (383) Asian , 0.05% (13) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian , 27.68% (7,692) from other races , and 20.49% (5,695) from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race

8448-411: Was 3.05, and the average family size was 3.60. The median age in the city was 28.9 years. 31.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 19.6% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% male and 48.6% female. The median income for a household was $ 43,994, and the median income for

8544-429: Was 63.91% (17,759) of the population. Of the 9,000 households, 43.8% had children under the age of 18; 48.2% were married couples living together; 25.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 23.3% of households consisted of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.1 and the average family size was 3.7. The percent of those with

8640-542: Was and is continental: very hot and dry summers, coupled with long and bitterly cold winters. Fresh water was scarce, and the high steppe-like plains are nearly treeless. Water flows in the Pecos, Arkansas, Cimarron, and Canadian rivers that drain the region vary by 90 or more percent in their flows during an average year. Also on this trail, unlike the Oregon Trail , there was a serious danger of Indian attacks, for neither

8736-452: Was captured by governor Armijo's Mexican army under less than honest negotiations. They were subjected to harsh and austere treatment during a tortuous forced march to Mexico City, where they were tried, convicted and imprisoned for their insurgent activities. In 1842, Colonel William A. Christy wrote Sam Houston , president of Texas, requesting support for an overthrow scheme by Charles Warfield dependent on armed forces. He proposed deposing

8832-560: Was generally very hazardous because it had very little water. In fact, the Cimarron River was one of the only sources of water along this branch of the trail. From Watrous, the reunited branches continued southward to Santa Fe. Part of this route has been designated a National Scenic Byway . Travelers faced many hardships along the Santa Fe Trail. The trail was a challenging 900 miles (1,400 km) of dangerous plains, hot deserts, and steep and rocky mountains. The natural weather

8928-423: Was reportedly unaware of the crime. McDaniel and one accomplice were tried, convicted and executed. Other participating suspects arrested by the U.S. were convicted and imprisoned. The newspapers reported that Americans and Mexicans were outraged by the crime. Local merchants and citizens at the U.S. end of the Santa Fe Trail demanded justice and a return to the stable commerce which their economy depended on. After

9024-485: Was sold to the United States in 1803 (Louisiana Purchase), Americans improved and publicized the Santa Fe Trail beginning in 1822, in order to take advantage of new trade opportunities with Mexico which had just won independence from Spain in the Mexican War of Independence . Manufactured goods were hauled from Missouri to Santa Fe, which was then in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Mexico . Settlers seeking

9120-457: Was stopped by Indian tribes in Kansas. Then, at the time of the Louisiana regime, under French and then Spanish sovereignty, the French traders Pierre Antoine and Paul Mallet made a first trip in 1739 and 1740, starting also from Kaskaskia, Illinois , reaching Santa Fe and returning. They made other expeditions in 1741 and 1750, which faced various challenges from Indians and Spaniards. Then,

9216-454: Was used to carry products from the central plains to the trail head towns St. Joseph and Independence, Missouri . In the 1820s–1830s, it was also sporadically important in the reverse trade, used by traders to transport foods and supplies to the fur trappers and mountain men opening the remote Northwest, especially in the interior Northwest: Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. A mule trail (trapper's trails) led to points north to supply

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