Hutchinson

 

city (1990 pop. 39,308), seat of Reno co., S central Kans., on the Arkansas River; inc. 1872. It is a commercial and industrial center in a grain (especially wheat), livestock, and oil region. There is grain milling (Hutchinson has a giant grain elevator, over half a mile long), and the manufacture of vehicle parts, fuel tanks, bakery products, industrial valves, welding supplies, asphalt, and ambulances. Salt is extracted from great beds beneath the city. The Kansas Cosmophere and Space Center and the Kansas state fairgrounds are there.

Hutchinson, Kansas
Location of Hutchinson, Kansas
Coordinates: 38°3′56″N 97°55′25″W / 38.06556, -97.92361
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Reno
Area
- City	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation	ft ( m)
Population (2000)
- City
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	620
FIPS code	20-336252
GNIS feature ID	04779473

Hutchinson is the largest city and county seat of Reno County, Kansas,  miles ( km) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri, on the Arkansas River. Hutchinson's nickname is The Salt City.

History

The community of Hutchinson was founded in 1871, when Indian Agent C.C. Hutchinson contracted with the Santa Fe Railway to create a town at the railroad's bridge over the Arkansas River. The community was initially called "Temperance City."^[1]

Hutchinson was incorporated on August 15, 1872.

On January 17, 2001, 143 million cubic feet of compressed natural gas leaked from the nearby Yaggy storage field. It migrated underground, then rose to the surface through old brine, or salt wells creating around 15 gas blowholes. An explosion in the downtown area at 10:45 a.m. destroyed two businesses and damaged 26 others. An explosion the next day in a mobile-home park killed 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 searched the entire city for leaks after the evacuation. These events were broadcast on nationally televised news stations around the United States. ^{[2][3] [4]}

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

Geography

Hutchinson is located at 38°3′56″N, 97°55′25″W (38.065503, -97.923519)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of  square kilometers ( sq mi).  km² ( sq mi) of it is land and  km² ( sq mi) of it (0.33%) is water.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880			—
1890			463.8%
1900			8.0%
1910			74.5%
1920			42.4%
1930			16.3%
1940			10.8%
1950			11.9%
1960			11.9%
1970			-1.8%
1980			9.2%
1990			-2.4%
2000			3.8%

As of the census² of 2000, there were 40,787 people, 16,335 households, and 10,340 families residing in the city. The population density was 746.0/km² (1,932.6/mi²). There were 17,693 housing units at an average density of 323.6/km² (838.3/mi²). 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.^[5] 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 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 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. 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.^[6]

The world's largest and 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 Lowen Signs in 1950. Today Lowen Signs is one of the nations leading Realty Sign manufacturers. Lowen Color Graphics Also resides in Hutchinson and is one of the nations largest suppliers of Fleet Truck Graphics

Transportation

• Hutchinson (Amtrak station)

Reno County Area Transit (RCAT)- Public busing system

Education

There are three public high schools and two private high schools that serve the Hutchinson area. The largest is 5A Hutchinson High School (USD 308) with an enrollment of around 1400. Buhler High School (enrollment 691, USD 313) draws some students from the city of Hutchinson. Nickerson High School (enrollment 309) also has Hutchinson residents in attendance. Trinity Catholic High School and Central Christian High School are the two small private schools. Middle Schools in the area include Hutchinson Middle School-7, Hutchinson Middle School-8, Prairie Hills Middle School, Trinity Middle School, Reno Valley Middle School, and Central Christian Schools.

Points of interest

• Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center
• Kansas State Fair
• 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.

Notable natives

• 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.

Elected Officials

• Mike O'Neal, State Representative - 104th 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. ^{[citation needed]}

• 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.

References

External links

Official websites

• City of Hutchinson Government
• City of Hutchinson from Kansas Community Networks
• Hutchinson, Kansas History
• Hutchinson Public Library
• Hutchinson Kansas Public Schools

Local Business

• Business Directory
• Prairie Dunes
• Kansas Underground Salt Museum

Local News & Articles

• The Hutchinson News
• The Effort
• National Public Radio audio story about 650' deep elevator

Maps, photos, and other images

• City of Hutchinson & Reno County Official Map Based Information

Coordinates: 38.065503° N 97.923519° W

Places in Reno County, Kansas, United States
Abbyville • Arlington • Buhler • Haven • Hutchinson (county seat) • Langdon • Nickerson • Partridge • Plevna • Pretty Prairie • South Hutchinson • Sylvia • Turon • Willowbrook • Yoder

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