Hutchinson, Kansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Hutchinson, Kansas
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Hutchinson, Kansas


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Kansas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Reno
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 54.9
area_land_km2 = 54.7
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_total_sq_mi = 21.2
area_land_sq_mi = 21.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 40787
population_density_km2 = 746.2
population_density_sq_mi = 1932.6

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 468
elevation_ft = 1535
latd = 38 |latm = 3 |lats = 56 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 55 |longs = 25 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 620
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 20-33625GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0477947GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States,GR|6 convert|39|mi|km|0 northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. Hutchinson's nickname is "The Salt City". The population was 40,787 at the 2000 census. Every September Hutchinson hosts the Kansas State Fair, and in March it hosts the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Basketball tournament. Hutchinson is also the home of the noted Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center aerospace museum, near the state fairgrounds.

History

The city of Hutchinson was founded in the year 1871, when Indian Agent 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." [ [http://www.hutchgov.com/hutchinson_history/introduction.htm Introduction] , Hutchinson, 2001-01-09. Accessed 2007-08-26.]

Hutchinson was incorporated on August 15, 1872.

On January 17, 2001, convert|143|Mcuft|m3 of compressed natural gas leaked from the nearby [http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Hydro/Hutch/GasStorage/yaggy.html Yaggy storage field] . 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. [http://www.accesskansas.org/ksadjutantgeneral/News%20Releases/2001/01-012.htm] [http://www.fema.gov/emanagers/2001/nat020101.shtm Dead link|date=May 2008] [ [http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Hydro/Hutch/ KGS-Hutchinson Response Web Site ] ]

The Hutchinson High School football team (the Salthawks) has had five straight appearances, including 4 straight wins, in the 6A State Championship Game. They have just been moved down to 5A.

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 coor dms|38|3|56|N|97|55|25|W|city (38.065503, -97.923519)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of convert|54.9|km2|sqmi|1|sp=us. convert|54.7|km2|sqmi|1|abbr=on of it is land and convert|0.2|km2|sqmi|1|abbr=on of it (0.33%) is water.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1880= 1540
1890= 8682
1900= 9379
1910= 16364
1920= 23298
1930= 27085
1940= 30013
1950= 33575
1960= 37574
1970= 36885
1980= 40284
1990= 39308
2000= 40787
estyear=
estimate=

As of the censusGR|2 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 people per square mile (746.0/km²). There were 17,693 housing units at an average density of 838.3/sq mi (323.6/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.

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. [ [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/v2/996.html Kansas and Kansans Ch. p. 996-1009 ] ] 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 [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/bioc/careye.html Carey Salt] Company opened the first and 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. [http://www.undergroundvaults.com/ Underground Vaults & Storage] currently houses the masters for "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), "Gone with the Wind" (1939), and "Star Wars", (1977) among many others. [ [http://www.bellaonline.com/Article.asp?id=1616 Hollywood´s Underground Treasures - Classic Film ] ]

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 in town.

The Eaton Corporation currently operates a hydraulics plant in Hutchinson.

Mike Lowen started [http://www.lowen.com Lowen Corporation] in 1950 in a converted garage behind his 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 small school bus manufacturer in North America.

StraightLine HDD, a leading directional drill tooling manufacturer, has a 70,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant in Hutchinson.

Transportation

*Hutchinson (Amtrak station)
*Reno County Area Transit (RCAT)- Public busing system

Education

In all there are 5 high schools in the area, 3 public high schools and 2 private high schools. The largest is 5A Hutchinson High School, or USD 308, with an enrollment of around 1400. Buhler High School with 691 student (USD 313), also draws some students from Hutchinson. Nickerson High School (USD 309) also has Hutchinson residents. Trinity Catholic High School and Central Christian High School are the city's two small private schools.

There are numerous Middle Schools in the area including Hutchinson Middle School-7, Hutchinson Middle School-8, Prairie Hills Middle School, Trinity Middle School, Reno Valley Middle School, and Central Christian Schools.

Hutchinson Community College serves as the Hutchinson's only post-secondary school system, and offers many programs in vocational technologies, arts, science, as well as in other fields.

Points of interest

* Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center
* Kansas State Fair
* [http://www.undergroundmuseum.org/index.php Kansas Underground Salt Museum]
* Hutchinson Correctional Facility, state prison
* Prairie Dunes Country Club, host of the 2002 U.S. Women's Open and 2006 U.S. Senior Open golf championships.
* Fox Theater
* Carey Park

Notable natives

* Jack M. Campbell, Former Governor of the State of New Mexico (1963-1967)
* Jamie Carey, basketball star
* David Dillon, CEO of Kroger Co.
* William Stafford, poet
* Steven Stucky, 2005 Pulitzer Prize winner in music
* Howard Robert Swearer, president of Carleton College and Brown University
* Scott Heim, novelist for 2004 film Mysterious Skin
* Delos V. Smith, film actor appearing in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
* Racquel Darrian, adult film actress
* Dale L. Boger, Scripps Research Institute organic and medicinal chemist
* Aneta Corsaut, late actress best known as Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show.
* Murry Wilson, the father of the Wilson brothers of the Beach Boys.
* Bruce Vaughan, winner of the 2008 Senior British Open.
* Lucinda Dickey American Dancer and Actress, appearing in Grease 2 and America's Best Dance Crew.
* Lindsey Snyder, Award Winning Poet Actress

Elected Officials

* Mike O'Neal - R, State Representative - 104th District
* Terry Bruce - R, State Senator - 34th District

In popular culture

* "Mysterious Skin", a 2004 film directed by Gregg Araki based on a 1996 book of the same name by Scott Heim, are set in Hutchinson.

*Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist William Mark Simmons (Wm. Mark Simmons) currently makes his home in Hutchinson.

*Mike Rowe filmed a Dirty Jobs episode in Hutchinson, focusing on mining salt.

*Samuel "Squid" Dullard from the Nickelodeon show, Rocket Power, is said to have moved from Hutchinson to Ocean Shores, California.

References

External links

;Official websites
* [http://www.hutchgov.com City of Hutchinson Government]
* [http://www.ku.edu/heritage/towns/hutchinson.html City of Hutchinson] from Kansas Community Networks
* [http://www.ku.edu/heritage/towns/hutchist.html Hutchinson, Kansas History]
* [http://www.hutchpl.org Hutchinson Public Library]
* [http://www.usd308.com Hutchinson Kansas Public Schools]

;Local Business
* [http://www.chamberhub.com/cgi/foxweb.dll/wlx/dir/wlxcatelist?cc=HRCCC Business Directory]
* [http://www.prairiedunes.com/ Prairie Dunes]
* [http://www.undergroundmuseum.org/ Kansas Underground Salt Museum]

;Local News & Articles
* [http://www.whatsuphutch.com/ Whats Up Hutch?]
* [http://www.hutchnews.com/ The Hutchinson News]
* [http://www.dwightseffort.com/ The Effort]
* [http://www.undergroundvaults.com/aboutus/newsdetail.cfm?article_id=13 National Public Radio audio story about 650' deep elevator]

;Maps, photos, and other images
* [http://www.rhmap.com City of Hutchinson & Reno County Official Map Based Information]

;Additional Web Resources
* [http://www.hutchinsonks.net Hutchinson Kansas Travel Information]