| Salina, Kansas | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| A water tower bearing the city's name on the south-east side of Salina. | |
| Motto: Right place. Right reason. Right now. | |
| Location of Salina, Kansas | |
| Detailed map of Salina, Kansas | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Saline |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Incorporated | 1870 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-manager |
| • City manager | Jason Gage |
| • Mayor | Samantha P. Angell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 22.8 sq mi (59.0 km2) |
| • Land | 22.7 sq mi (58.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,224 ft (373 m) |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 47,707 |
| • Density | 2,092.4/sq mi (807.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 67401-67402[2] |
| Area code(s) | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-62700[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0476808[4] |
| Website | http://ci.salina.ks.us |
Salina ( /səˈlaɪnə/) is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States.[5] As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707.[1] Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas. Salina is also the principal city of the Salina, Kansas micropolitan statistical area.
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Settlers led by journalist and lawyer William A. Phillips founded Salina in 1858. In the next two years, the territorial legislature chartered the town company, organized the surrounding area as Saline County, and named Salina the county seat. The westernmost town on the Smoky Hill Trail, Salina established itself as a trading post for westbound immigrants, prospectors bound for Pikes Peak, and area Native American tribes. The town's growth halted with the outbreak of the American Civil War when much of the male population left to join the U.S. Army. In 1862, local residents fended off Native American raiders only to fall victim to a second assault by bushwhackers later that year. Growth returned with the soldiers after the war, and, with the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1867, the town expanded rapidly. Salina was incorporated as a city in 1870.[6][7]
The cattle trade arrived in 1872, transforming Salina into a cowtown. The trade brought the city further prosperity, but also a rowdy culture that agitated local residents, and thus relocated westward just two years later.[8] During the 1870s, wheat became the dominant crop in the area, steam-powered flour mills were built, and agriculture became the engine of the local economy. In 1874, Salina resident E. R. Switzer introduced alfalfa to area farmers, and its cultivation began to spread throughout the state. By 1880, the city was an area industrial center with several mills, a carriage and wagon factory, and a farm implement works.[9] Salina was also the location of the first garment factory of jeans maker Lee which opened in 1889.[10] Over the following decade, three railroads were built through the city.[9] The success of the wholesale and milling industries drove Salina's growth into the early 1900s such that, at one point, it was the third-largest producer in the state and the sixth-largest in the United States.[11]
In 1943, the U.S. Army established Smoky Hill Army Airfield southwest of the city. The installation served as a base for strategic bomber units throughout World War II. Renamed Smoky Hill Air Force Base in 1948, the base closed the following year only to be reopened in 1951 as Schilling Air Force Base, part of Strategic Air Command.[12] The re-opening of the base triggered an economic boom in Salina, causing the city's population to increase by nearly two-thirds during the 1950s.[11] The U.S. Department of Defense closed the base permanently in 1965, but the city of Salina subsequently acquired it and converted it into Salina Municipal Airport and an industrial park.[12] This led to substantial industrial development, attracting firms such as Beechcraft, and made manufacturing a primary driver of the local economy.[13]
In the decades since, Salina has continued to be the commercial hub of north-central Kansas, serving as a regional center for trade, transportation, and industry.[11][13]
Salina is located at (38.824267, -97.607205) at an elevation of 1,224 feet (373 m).[4][14] It lies in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) west-southwest of the confluence of the Saline and Smoky Hill Rivers.[15] The Smoky Hill River runs north then northeast through the eastern part of the city; the Saline River flows southeast immediately north of the city. Mulberry Creek, a tributary of the Saline, flows northeast through the far northern part of the city. Located in north-central Kansas at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Interstate 135, Salina is approximately 81 miles (130 km) north of Wichita and 164 miles (264 km) west of Kansas City.[16]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.76 square miles (58.9 km2), of which 22.73 square miles (58.9 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.18%) is water.[17]
Lying in the transition zone between North America's humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) and humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), Salina experiences hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature in Salina is 55 °F (13 °C), and the average relative humidity is 64%. Temperatures drop below 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 135 days per year. On average, Salina experiences 52 rainy days per year.[18] Precipitation averages 32.3 inches (820 mm) per year, and snowfall averages 18.4 inches (467 mm) per year.[19] On average, January is the coolest month, July is the warmest month, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Salina was 117 °F (47 °C) in 1936; the coldest temperature recorded was −28 °F (−33 °C) in 1913.[20] Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to an average high of 93 °F (34 °C) in July.[21]
Salina is also prone to severe thunderstorms, which produce damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. On September 25, 1973, a tornado measuring F3 passed through the southeast part of town, injuring six people, destroying two houses and the Sundowner East trailer park.[22] On June 11, 2008, another EF3 tornado passed on the south side of the town, severely damaging several buildings.[23]
| Climate data for Salina Municipal Airport (KSLN) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) |
84 (29) |
96 (36) |
105 (41) |
106 (41) |
114 (46) |
116 (47) |
117 (47) |
110 (43) |
100 (38) |
89 (32) |
81 (27) |
117 (47) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 39.1 (3.9) |
45.8 (7.7) |
56.4 (13.6) |
66.7 (19.3) |
76.3 (24.6) |
87.5 (30.8) |
93.3 (34.1) |
91.0 (32.8) |
81.8 (27.7) |
69.9 (21.1) |
53.6 (12.0) |
42.5 (5.8) |
67.0 (19.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.0 (−1.7) |
34.9 (1.6) |
45.0 (7.2) |
54.9 (12.7) |
64.9 (18.3) |
75.6 (24.2) |
81.3 (27.4) |
79.4 (26.3) |
70.1 (21.2) |
57.9 (14.4) |
43.1 (6.2) |
32.6 (0.3) |
55.7 (13.2) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 18.8 (−7.3) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
33.6 (0.9) |
43.1 (6.2) |
53.5 (11.9) |
63.6 (17.6) |
69.3 (20.7) |
67.8 (19.9) |
58.4 (14.7) |
45.9 (7.7) |
32.5 (0.3) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
44.4 (6.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (−33) |
−27 (−33) |
−11 (−24) |
5 (−15) |
19 (−7) |
38 (3) |
46 (8) |
42 (6) |
28 (−2) |
14 (−10) |
−5 (−21) |
−24 (−31) |
−28 (−33) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 0.80 (20.3) |
1.06 (26.9) |
2.62 (66.5) |
3.06 (77.7) |
5.11 (129.8) |
4.15 (105.4) |
4.32 (109.7) |
3.49 (88.6) |
2.50 (63.5) |
2.55 (64.8) |
1.59 (40.4) |
0.94 (23.9) |
32.19 (817.6) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 6.7 (17) |
4.3 (10.9) |
2.4 (6.1) |
0.3 (0.8) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.3 (0.8) |
1.3 (3.3) |
3.2 (8.1) |
18.4 (46.7) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.2 | 5.2 | 7.6 | 8.5 | 10.6 | 9.6 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 86.1 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.4 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 9.4 |
| Source: National Weather Service [19][20][24] | |||||||||||||
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 918 |
|
|
| 1880 | 3,111 | 238.9% | |
| 1890 | 6,149 | 97.7% | |
| 1900 | 6,074 | −1.2% | |
| 1910 | 9,688 | 59.5% | |
| 1920 | 15,085 | 55.7% | |
| 1930 | 20,155 | 33.6% | |
| 1940 | 21,073 | 4.6% | |
| 1950 | 26,176 | 24.2% | |
| 1960 | 43,202 | 65.0% | |
| 1970 | 37,714 | −12.7% | |
| 1980 | 41,843 | 10.9% | |
| 1990 | 42,303 | 1.1% | |
| 2000 | 45,679 | 8.0% | |
| 2010 | 47,707 | 4.4% | |
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As of the 2010 census, there were 47,707 people, 19,391 households, and 12,024 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,092.4 people per square mile (807.9/km²). There were 20,803 housing units at an average density of 916.4 per square mile (353.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.2% White, 3.7% African American, 2.3% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.8% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 10.7% of the population.[1]
There were 19,391 households of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% 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 2.99.[1]
In the city, the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males age 18 and over.[1]
The median income for a household in the city was $42,027, and the median income for a family was $54,491. Males had a median income of $39,143 versus $28,145 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,253. About 9.3% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[1]
Salina is the anchor city of the Salina Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Saline and Ottawa counties.[25]
Manufacturing is the predominant industry in Salina.[26] Agriculture transportation is also a major industry,[27] and Salina's 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.[28] However, Salina has several other important employers. The city also has a strong manufacturing base. Tony's Pizza, a Schwan Food Company brand, has operations in Salina.[29] Tony's makes consumer retail frozen pizzas as well as food intended for school cafeterias and other institutions.[29] Additionally, Philips Lighting,[30] Exide Battery,[31] Great Plains Manufacturing (farm equipment),[32] ElDorado National (commercial bus manufacturer)[33] and Asurion Corp. all have a presence in the community.
As of 2010, 71.0% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.4% was in the armed forces, and 70.6% was in the civilian labor force with 66.9% being employed and 3.7% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was: 27.2% in management, business, science, and arts; 25.4% in sales and office occupations; 19.4% in service occupations; 9.9% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 18.2% in production, transportation, and material moving. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: educational services, health care, and social assistance (21.2%); manufacturing (17.8%); and retail trade (13.1%).[1]
The cost of living in Salina is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the city is 80.9.[34] As of 2010, the median home value in the city was $109,700, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,070 for housing units with a mortgage and $396 for those without, and the median gross rent was $599.[1]
Salina is a city of the first class with a commission-manager form of government which it adopted in 1921.[35][36] The city commission consists of five members elected at large, one of whom the commission annually selects to serve as mayor. Commission candidates who receive the most and second most votes are elected for a four-year term; the candidate who receives the third most votes is elected for a two-year term.[36] The commission sets policy and appoints the city manager. The city manager is the city's chief executive, responsible for administering the city government and appointing all city employees.[37]
Salina lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District. For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature, the city is located in the 24th district of the Kansas Senate and the 69th, 71st, and 108th districts of the Kansas House of Representatives.[35]
Salina Public Schools (USD 305) operates twelve schools in Salina:[34][38][39][40][41]
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There are also four private schools in Salina:[34]
Racial and Ethic Distribution of Public Schools in Salina, Kansas
Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 run concurrently east-west north of Salina. Interstate 135 and U.S. Route 81 run concurrently north-south along the west side of the city.[44] I-70/I-135 interchange northwest of the city is the northern terminus of I-135.[44] K-140, which approaches Salina from the southwest, formally ends at its interchange with I-135 before entering the city as State Street. North of Salina, the city's main north-south thoroughfare, Ninth Street, becomes K-143 at its interchange with I-70.
CityGo is the local public transport bus service, operating four routes in the city (yellow, blue, red, purple). CityGo also provides intercity bus service to surrounding communities as NCK Express. Greyhound Lines provides long-distance bus service.[45]
Salina Municipal Airport is located immediately southwest of the city.[46] Used primarily for general aviation,[46] it hosts one commercial airline (SeaPort Airlines) under the Essential Air Service program.[47]
The Kansas Pacific (KP) Line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs northeast-southwest through the northern part of the city.[48] Salina is also the southeastern terminus of the Salina Subdivision of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad.[49]
The Salina Journal is the city's daily newspaper with a circulation of approximately 24,000 copies.[50]
Salina is a center of broadcast media for north-central Kansas. Three AM radio, 12 FM radio, and five television stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from the city.[51][52] Salina is in the Wichita-Hutchinson television market,[53] and the stations broadcasting from the city include ABC, Fox, and NBC affiliates, all of which are satellites of their respective affiliates in Wichita.[54][55][56] The other two television stations are a TBN satellite repeater and an independent station.[57][58] Salina is also home to the only Public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable TV channels in the state. Cox Communications is the main cable system serving the city, and customers can see local programming and create their own programming to be shown on channels 20 and 21.
Salina has 90 churches and is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina, Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas, and the Presbytery of Northern Kansas.[59][60]
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Salina include:
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