Salina, Kansas

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

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Salina, Kansas


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Kansas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Saline
government_footnotes =
government_type = Council-manager government
leader_title = City manager
leader_name = Jason A. Gage
leader_title1 = Mayor
leader_name1 = John K. Vanier II
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 59.0
area_land_km2 = 58.9
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 22.8
area_land_sq_mi = 22.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = LookupUSEstPop|2062700|EYR
population_total = LookupUSEstPop|2062700|EST
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = Decimals|#expr:LookupUSEstPop|2062700|EST/58.9|1
population_density_sq_mi = Decimals|#expr:LookupUSEstPop|2062700|EST/22.7|0

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 373
elevation_ft = 1224
latd = 38 |latm = 49 |lats = 27 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 36 |longs = 26 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 67401-67402
area_code = 785
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 20-62700GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0476808GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Salina (pronounced IPA|) is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States.GR|6 First settled by Preston B. Plum in 1856 along the Saline and Smoky Hill Rivers, and founded by William A. Phillips in 1858, Salina is situated at the intersection of Interstate Highways I-70 and I-135 in central Kansas. The population was 45,679 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2062700|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|2062700|EYR..

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

History

In 1860 Salina, the westernmost post on the Smoky Hill Trail, began to establish itself as a staging post for prospectors traveling to Pikes Peak, as well as a trading post between local native tribes, and Fort Leavenworth. After the Civil War, Phillips, then a colonel, used his influence to extend the Union Pacific Railroad to Salina in 1867. Starting in 1872, Salina began transporting meat shipped in refrigerated cars down the rails. During the 1870s, wheat became the dominant crop in Salina and a steam-powered flour mill was built. At the same time Dr. E. R. Switzer, of Salina, introduced alfalfa to Kansas farmers.

During World War II, Smoky Hill Army Airfield, located southwest of Salina, was one of several notable B-29 training bases. The exponential growth of the 1950s of Salina was related largely to the re-opening of the base, later renamed Schilling Air Force Base, subsequently closed in 1965 by the Department of Defense. As Schilling AFB, it was home to the Strategic Air Command's 40th and 310th Bomb Wings of the 802nd Air Division between 1952 and 1960, flying B-47 Stratojets and KC-97 Stratotankers; to the 310th Strategic Aerospace Wing between 1960 and 1962; and between 1962 and 1965, to the 22nd Strategic Aerospace Division, controlling the 310th SAW and the Atlas ICBM missile silos of the 550th Strategic Missile Squadron.

On February 28, 2005, the city was home to the "Last Great Aviation Record" when Steve Fossett took off from the Salina Airport in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, to attempt the first solo, non-stop, non-refueled aerial circumnavigation of the globe by airplane. Fossett completed the record-breaking flight on March 3, 2005 when he landed back in Salina after 67 hours, 1 minute and 10 seconds, at an average speed of convert|342.2|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. Support for the venture was provided by the Kansas State Aviation Research (KStAR) Lab.

Geography

Salina is located at coor dms|38|49|27|N|97|36|26|W|city (38.824267, -97.607205)GR|1.

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.

Salina is the closest city to the geographic and geodetic centers of the United States with a population of over 50,000. Salina stands at an elevation of convert|1281|ft|m.

Climate

Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low below convert|20|°F|°C|abbr=on in January to an average high of over convert|93|°F|°C|abbr=on in July. The maximum temperature reaches convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on an average of 61 days per year and reaches convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on an average of 14 days per year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point (32°F) an average of 114 days per year. Typically the first fall freeze occurs between early October and early November, and the last spring freeze occurs during the month of April.

The area receives about 32 inches of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received in May and June—with a combined 18 days of measurable precipitation. During a typical year the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 24 to convert|44|in|mm. There are on average 77 days of measurable precipitation per year. Winter snowfall averages almost 19 inches, but the median is less than convert|10|in|mm. Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 9 days per year with at least an inch of snow being received on seven of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 27 days per year.

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.

On June 11, 2008 another EF3 tornado passed on the south side of the town severely damaging several buildings including a nursing home.

Demographics

Salina's population was estimated to be formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2062700|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|2062700|EYR, LookupUSEstPop|2062700|TXT.Cite web| url=http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php| title=Population Estimates| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division| Annual estimates of the population to 2062700|EDT. Released 2062700|RDT. Population change is from 2062700|IDT to 2062700|EDT.]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,GR|2 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.

Salina is predominantly White and Christian, with over 80% of the population being White (non-Hispanic) and having approximately 65 churches.

Economy

Agriculture is the predominant industry in Salina, and its 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. However, Salina has several other important employers. The city also has a strong manufacturing base. Tony's Pizza, a Schwan Food Company brand, is Salina's largest single employer with over 2000 workers employed. Tony's makes consumer retail frozen pizzas as well as food intended for school cafeterias and other institutions. Additionally, over 500 are employed in factories for Philips Lighting, Exide Battery, Great Plains Manufacturing (farm equipment), ElDorado National (commercial bus manufacturer) and Hawker Beechcraft Corperation (formerly Raytheon Aircraft).

Arts and culture

Religion

* Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina

ports

* Salina is home to the Kansas Cagerz basketball team.
* Salina hosts the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I women's basketball national tournament each season in the Bicentennial Center.
* Salina hosted the Women's Big 8 basketball tournament. When the Big 8 became the Big 12, the tournament was moved to Kansas City, Missouri.
* Salina hosts the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Class 4A State Wrestling Tournament as well as the Class 3A & 4A Volleyball Tournaments and the Class 4A State Softball Tournament.

Education

Kansas State University - Salina, a branch of Kansas State University (main campus in Manhattan, Kansas) offers undergraduate degrees in both technology and aviation related fields. (Kansas State University - Salina was previously known as Kansas Technical Institute) K-State Salina is based at Salina Municipal Airport (KSLN). Salina is also home of Kansas Wesleyan University, a private liberal arts college that affiliates itself with the United Methodist Church, and Brown Mackie College. Enrollment in Salina at each of these institutions is around 800.

{ [http://www.wilsonco.com/projects/images/lakewood_new_fac_1.jpg}] Salina has five high schools - three public and two private: Salina High School Central, Salina High School South, Southeast of Saline School (located outside of the town of Gypsum, not in it.) are public and the two private schools are Sacred Heart Catholic High School and St. John's Military School. Salina also has two middle schools Lakewood Middle School and South Middle School. Total enrollment of the public school system is about 11,000.

Media

The city has a local daily newspaper, "The Salina Journal", several radio stations; " [http://www.ksallink.com 1150AM KSAL] ," 104.9FM KSAL-FM, " [http://www.y937.com Y93.7 KYEZ] ," [http://www.999kskg.com 99.9FM KSKG] , 910AM KINA, 92.7FM KILS, 95.5FM KQNS, though no local television news. However, they use KWCH Wichita's custom weather forecast system. Salina is also served by [http://www.radiokansas.org/ 89.5 FM KHCD] , a repeater station for the NPR-affiliated Radio Kansas network.

Transportation

Salina is served by one commercial airline at Salina Municipal Airport, but most airtravel is done at larger airports in Wichita, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.

Notable natives and residents

* Deborah Daulton-Morton - Miss Kansas USA 1995 [ [http://www.misskansasusa.com/halloffame.html] ]
* Marlin Fitzwater - White House Press Secretary 1985-1987
* Dwight Frye - Hollywood actor in early horror films.
* Bill Graves - businessman and Kansas governor 1995-2003
* Paul Harvey spent three years as a station manager for a local radio station in Salina.
* Steven Hawley - astronaut
* Wayne Laugesen, American writer, columnist, editor
* Pat Meares - Major League Baseball player
* George Murdock - Hollywood Actor, born and raised in Salina.
* Terence Newman - NFL player (Dallas Cowboys)
* Dennis Rader - BTK serial killer, Rader attended Kansas Wesleyan University in 1965–66.
* Ben Romans - musician, member of The Click Five
* J.D. Rudd - Meteorologist
* Brent Venables - Defensive Coordinator, University of Oklahoma Sooners [ [http://soonersports.com/school-bio/brent_venables.html Oklahoma On Campus ] ]

Other topics

alina in popular culture

*The 1980 teen comedy film "Up the Academy" was filmed entirely in Salina, mostly on the campus of St. John's Military School, [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081695/locations Internet Movie Database] ]
* Scenes of the 1955 movie "Picnic", starring William Holden and Kim Novak, were filmed in Salina.
* Millie Dillmount, the main character in the play "Thoroughly Modern Millie", is from Salina. She leaves home for New York City, determined never to return.
* In Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 film "Vertigo", the character of Judy Barton, played by Kim Novak, comes from Salina.
* Bluegrass band The Avett Brothers have a song titled "Salina."
* In Shawn Colvin's song, "Wichita Skyline" (from the 1996 album "A Few Small Repairs"), she sings "As far as Salina I can get that good station from LaRue / I'm searching the dial while I'm scanning the sky for a patch of blue / And I watch the black clouds roll in, chasing me back again / Back to the flat fine line, the Wichita skyline." (LaRue is in Texas.)
* The Cowboy Junkies song, "Townes' Blues" (from the 1992 album "Black Eyed Man"), describes a trip from Boulder, CO to Houston, TX through Salina, though Canadian lead singer Margo Timmins uses a pronunciation familiar for Salinas, CA rather than that used in Kansas.
* Gene Mauch, major league baseball player and manager (Phillies and Montreal) was born and raised in Salina.
* Salina, KS was destroyed by the Russian villain in Ted Bell's 2008 novel TSAR. [ [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_052708/content/01125107.guest.html] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.ci.salina.ks.us City website]
* [http://www.salinakansas.org Chamber of Commerce website]
* [http://www.salinalocalnews.com Salina Local News]
** [http://www.kwu.edu/ Kansas Wesleyan University]
** [http://www.sal.ksu.edu/ Kansas State University at Salina]
** [http://www.salinaarts.com/ Salina Arts & Humanities Commission]
* [http://www.ksallink.com/ 1150am KSAL]
* [http://www.Y937.com/ Y93.7]
* [http://www.saljournal.com/ The Salina Journal Newspaper]
** [http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/exhibits/25th/special_collections.html Special Collections:] A gift of William A. Phillips, the founder of Salina.