Smith Center, Kansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Smith Center, Kansas
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Smith Center, Kansas

---

mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 = U.S. Census Map

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Kansas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Smith
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 = 3.0
area_land_km2 = 3.0
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.2
area_land_sq_mi = 1.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1931
population_density_km2 = 640.9
population_density_sq_mi = 1659.9

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 547
elevation_ft = 1795
latd = 39 |latm = 46 |lats = 43 |latNS = N
longd = 98 |longm = 47 |longs = 7 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 66967
area_code = 785
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 20-65925GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0471958GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Smith Center is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Kansas, United States.GR|6 The population was 1,931 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Smith Center is located at coor dms|39|46|43|N|98|47|7|W|city (39.778550, -98.785141)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.0 km²), all of it land.

Smith Center was considered the geographic center of the United States until the admission of Alaska and Hawaii into the union. Following the admission of those states, the geographic center fell near Belle Fourche, South Dakota. [ [http://www.blackhillsportal.com/dbs/bellefourchechamber/dyncat.cfm?catid=109 Belle Fourche, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce] ]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,931 people, 852 households, and 534 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,659.9 people per square mile (642.7/km²). There were 987 housing units at an average density of 848.4/sq mi (328.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.17% White, 0.21% Native American, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 852 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 32.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,857, and the median income for a family was $36,316. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $20,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,500. About 8.7% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

* Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, silent film star
* Mitch Holthus, radio announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs
* Mark Simoneau, National Football League linebacker for the New Orleans Saints
* Albert F. "Jud" Wagner, Kansas' last confirmed World War I veteran

Athletics

The Smith Center Redmen boast one of Kansas' more successful high school football programs. Under the leadership of coach Roger Barta, the Redmen have won seven Kansas State High School Activities Association state championships, claiming the Class 3A title in 1982, 1986, and 1999, and four consecutive Class 2-1A state championships in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.

On October 30, 2007, the Smith Center Redmen scored 72 points in the first quarter against Plainville, beating a national record for most points in a quarter by a high school football team had been held by Prescott, Arizona, which scored 66 in 1925. [ [http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/341767.html Small-town school rolls up 72 points — in one quarter] ]

SCHS also has strong programs in girls volleyball, boys and girls basketball, Wrestling and track. The Redmen track team won the 2005 Class 2A state championship. The wrestling team won the 2007 3-2-1A State title and finished 2nd in 2006.

The Redmen's primary rivals are Norton and Phillipsburg High Schools, two towns located west of Smith Center on U.S. 36.

References

External links

* [http://www.smithcenterks.com Smith Center Area Chamber of Commerce] .
*A short [http://www.ukans.edu/~hersite/kcn-6/smithctr/smithctrhist.html history of Smith Center] .
* [http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/smith/smith-co-p2.html#SMITH_CENTRE William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas]