Colby, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Colby is a city in and the county seat
of Thomas County
, Kansas
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,387.
was established near the center of Thomas County. Area homesteaders lived under harsh conditions in sod houses, creating demand for a town to provide lumber and other provisions to incoming settlers. J.R. Colby, a local land assessor and preacher
, obtained a patent to establish the town in April 1884, and land was acquired for the town site three miles north of the post office in March 1885. The following month, the Kansas Secretary of State
issued the Town Charter. Kansas Gov. John Martin
named Colby the county seat in 1885, and the city was incorporated
in 1886. The Union Pacific Railroad
reached the city in 1887, and the Rock Island Railroad followed the next year.
Interstate 70
reached Colby in 1965, stimulating the growth of a local hospitality industry
.
Colby is located at 39.392093°N 101.047532°W (39.392093, -101.047532) at an elevation of 3,159 feet (963 m). It lies on the south side of Prairie Dog Creek, a tributary of the Republican River
, in the High Plains
region of the Great Plains
. A small tributary of the creek flows northeast through the town. Located at the interchange of Interstate 70
and K-25 in northwestern Kansas, Colby is 212 miles (342 km) east-southeast of Denver, 232 miles (374 km) northwest of Wichita
, and 347 miles (558 km) west of Kansas City
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, Colby has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), all of it land.
is 61%. Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of 12 °F (-11.1 °C) in January to an average high of 90 °F (32.2 °C) in July. The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32.2 °C) an average of 50 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 °F (37.8 °C) an average of 6.5 days a year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 166.5 days a year. Typically, the first fall freeze occurs between mid-September and the second week of October, and the last spring freeze occurs between the fourth week of April and the third week of May. Colby receives nearly 21 inches (533.4 mm) of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received from May through July; that period averages over 25 days of measurable precipitation. During a typical year, the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 15 inches (381 mm) to 29 inches (736.6 mm). There are, on average, 72 days of measurable precipitation each year. Annual snowfall averages 29 inches (73.7 cm), but the median is less than 23 inches (58.4 cm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 70 days a year with at least an inch of snow being received on nine of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 31 days a year. Typically, January is the coldest month, and July is both the hottest and wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Colby was 110 °F (43 °C) in 1971; the coldest temperature recorded was -32 °F (-36 °C) in 1989.
of 2000, there were 5,450 people, 2,223 households, and 1,367 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,632.8 people per square mile (630.0/km2). There were 2,405 housing units at an average density of 720.5 per square mile (278.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.73% White, 0.64% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.
There were 2,223 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples
living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 16.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,615, and the median income for a family was $45,127. Males had a median income of $34,097 versus $21,706 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,872. About 8.1% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
, the mayor
presides over the city council
and has final approval over ordinances the council passes. The mayor shares responsibility for setting policy and approving the city budget with the council. With the council's consent, the mayor appoints all members of the city boards and, if necessary, serves as the tie-breaking vote on council business. The city council consists of eight members elected by ward
every four years. The city manager
is hired by the council and is responsible for preparing the budget, administering day-to-day operations, and managing city government personnel.
315) operates four public schools in the city:
There are also two Christian school
s in Colby: Sacred Heart Catholic School (Pre-K-5) and Heartland Christian School (K-12).
runs east-west immediately south of Colby. U.S. Route 24
runs east-west through the city, intersecting K-25 which runs north-south.
Colby Municipal Airport is located on K-25 approximately 2 miles (3 km) north of the city.
Kyle Railroad
operates rail via the former Rock Island Railroad which runs east-west through Colby. A Union Pacific Railroad
branch line ends in Colby, entering the city from the southeast.
Print
Colby has one daily newspaper
, The Colby Free Press, and one weekly newspaper, The Thomas County Herald.
AM
FM
-Hutchinson, Kansas
television market
. The following television stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from Colby:
courthouse
which was constructed in 1907 by local firms Holland, JC & Squires, Frank, Crosby, and L. & Son. It is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and is located at 300 N. Court in Colby.
Other city buildings joining the courthouse on the National Register of Historic Places
include the Colby Municipal Swimming Pool and City Bath House at 200 E. 5th St. (now locally referred to as "the public pool"), the Colby Community High School at 750 West 3rd St. (which is now used as an elementary/junior high school), and the art-deco sand-colored Colby City Hall, which was built in the 1920s by the architecture firm Suite & Blanchard. Throughout its 80-year history, the city-hall has served as a correctional facility, fire station
, library
and meeting hall.
Another noteworthy feature of Colby is Villa High Lake. The city-made reservoir is situated on the South Side of Villa High Park, which was created in the 1960s by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The park has playground equipment, picnic shelters, disc golf, and fishing.
Fike Park is located just north of City Hall at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Eighth Street. The park area was formerly known as Carp Lake. The park has gazebos, a volleyball area, horseshoe pitching pits, and tennis courts. In 1998 and 1999, over $100,000 was raised by civic groups and parents, with assistance from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the City of Colby, for new playground equipment. In 2000, the tennis courts in this area were replaced and are used by Colby Community College and Unified School District #315. Colby Swimming Pool is located just south of the park.
Pioneer Memorial Library is located close to downtown Colby. Murals grace the walls of the young readers' room, and posters and plaques perk up the rest of the library.
The Prairie Museum of Art and History serves as a cultural center. The museum is a private, non-profit museum governed by the Thomas County Historical Society. The Society was founded in 1959 to preserve the history of Thomas County, Kansas. The museum occupies a 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) site just north of Interstate 70
, between exits 53 and 54.
Schools
Maps
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Thomas County
Thomas County, Kansas
Thomas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 7,900...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,387.
History
In 1882, a post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established near the center of Thomas County. Area homesteaders lived under harsh conditions in sod houses, creating demand for a town to provide lumber and other provisions to incoming settlers. J.R. Colby, a local land assessor and preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
, obtained a patent to establish the town in April 1884, and land was acquired for the town site three miles north of the post office in March 1885. The following month, the Kansas Secretary of State
Secretary of State of Kansas
The Secretary of State of Kansas is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Kansas.-History:The first Secretary of State for Kansas was John Winter Robinson, a physician from Manhattan, Kansas...
issued the Town Charter. Kansas Gov. John Martin
John Martin (Governor of Kansas)
John Alexander Martin was the tenth Governor of Kansas.Martin was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, a son of James and Jane Montgomery Martin. His father was a native of Maryland, and his mother a native of Pennsylvania. He was of Scots-Irish extraction, and the family was related to General...
named Colby the county seat in 1885, and the city was incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
in 1886. The Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
reached the city in 1887, and the Rock Island Railroad followed the next year.
Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
reached Colby in 1965, stimulating the growth of a local hospitality industry
Hospitality industry
The hospitality industry consists of broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, restaurants, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry is a several billion dollar industry...
.
Geography
Republican River
The Republican River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America, flowing through the U.S. states of Nebraska and Kansas.-Geography:...
, in the High Plains
High Plains (United States)
The High Plains are a subregion of the Great Plains mostly in the Western United States, but also partly in the Midwest states of Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota, generally encompassing the western part of the Great Plains before the region reaches the Rocky Mountains...
region of the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
. A small tributary of the creek flows northeast through the town. Located at the interchange of Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and K-25 in northwestern Kansas, Colby is 212 miles (342 km) east-southeast of Denver, 232 miles (374 km) northwest of Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, and 347 miles (558 km) west of Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Colby has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), all of it land.
Climate
Colby has a semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) with hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature in Colby is 50 °F (10 °C), and the average relative humidityRelative humidity
Relative humidity is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor. It is defined as the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture, given as a percentage of the saturated vapor pressure under those conditions...
is 61%. Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of 12 °F (-11.1 °C) in January to an average high of 90 °F (32.2 °C) in July. The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32.2 °C) an average of 50 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 °F (37.8 °C) an average of 6.5 days a year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 166.5 days a year. Typically, the first fall freeze occurs between mid-September and the second week of October, and the last spring freeze occurs between the fourth week of April and the third week of May. Colby receives nearly 21 inches (533.4 mm) of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received from May through July; that period averages over 25 days of measurable precipitation. During a typical year, the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 15 inches (381 mm) to 29 inches (736.6 mm). There are, on average, 72 days of measurable precipitation each year. Annual snowfall averages 29 inches (73.7 cm), but the median is less than 23 inches (58.4 cm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 70 days a year with at least an inch of snow being received on nine of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 31 days a year. Typically, January is the coldest month, and July is both the hottest and wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Colby was 110 °F (43 °C) in 1971; the coldest temperature recorded was -32 °F (-36 °C) in 1989.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,450 people, 2,223 households, and 1,367 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,632.8 people per square mile (630.0/km2). There were 2,405 housing units at an average density of 720.5 per square mile (278.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.73% White, 0.64% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.
There were 2,223 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 16.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,615, and the median income for a family was $45,127. Males had a median income of $34,097 versus $21,706 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,872. About 8.1% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Colby has a mayor-council form of government. Elected at-largePlurality-at-large voting
Plurality-at-large voting is a non-proportional voting system for electing several representatives from a single multimember electoral district using a series of check boxes and tallying votes similar to a plurality election...
, the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
presides over the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
and has final approval over ordinances the council passes. The mayor shares responsibility for setting policy and approving the city budget with the council. With the council's consent, the mayor appoints all members of the city boards and, if necessary, serves as the tie-breaking vote on council business. The city council consists of eight members elected by ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
every four years. The city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
is hired by the council and is responsible for preparing the budget, administering day-to-day operations, and managing city government personnel.
Primary and secondary education
Colby Public Schools (Unified School DistrictUnified school district
A unified school district or unit school district is a school district which includes both primary school and high school under the same district control....
315) operates four public schools in the city:
- Colby Grade School (Grades K-5)
- Colby Middle School (6-8)
- Colby High SchoolColby High SchoolColby High School is a public school in Colby, Kansas. It is located on 1890 S. Franklin Avenue. It enrolls approximately 400 students every year. The current principals are Larry Gabel, Rob Ross, and Diana Wieland, who split the administrative position at the start of the 2010-2011 school...
(9-12) - Thomas County Academy (5-9), charter schoolCharter schoolCharter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
There are also two Christian school
Christian school
A Christian school is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization.The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country, according to the religious, educational, and political cultures...
s in Colby: Sacred Heart Catholic School (Pre-K-5) and Heartland Christian School (K-12).
Transportation
Interstate 70Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
runs east-west immediately south of Colby. U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 24 is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It originally ran from Pontiac, Michigan, in the east to Kansas City, Missouri, in the west. Today, the highway's eastern terminus is west of Clarkston, Michigan, at an intersection with I-75 and its western terminus is near...
runs east-west through the city, intersecting K-25 which runs north-south.
Colby Municipal Airport is located on K-25 approximately 2 miles (3 km) north of the city.
Kyle Railroad
Kyle Railroad
The Kyle Railroad is a regional railroad line that runs from North Central Kansas into Eastern Colorado. It is based in Phillipsburg, Kansas and runs on track, mostly the former Rock Island Railroad Chicago to Denver main line. The Kyle has been owned by Rail America since 2002.-History:The...
operates rail via the former Rock Island Railroad which runs east-west through Colby. A Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
branch line ends in Colby, entering the city from the southeast.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, The Colby Free Press, and one weekly newspaper, The Thomas County Herald.
Radio
The following radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from Colby:AM
| Frequency | Callsign | Format | City of License City of license A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator.... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 790 | KXXX KXXX KXXX is a radio station broadcasting a farm radio format. Licensed to Colby, Kansas, USA, the station serves the west Kansas area. The station is currently owned by Rocking M Radio.... |
Classic Country Classic country Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden... |
Colby, Kansas |
FM
| Frequency | Callsign | Format | City of License City of license A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator.... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.9 | K205BR | Public | Colby, Kansas | NPR; Translator of KANZ, Garden City, Kansas Garden City, Kansas Garden City is a city in and the county seat of Finney County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,658. The city is home to Garden City Community College and the Lee Richardson Zoo, the largest zoological park in western Kansas.-History:In February 1878, James... |
| 91.9 | KTCC KTCC KTCC is a radio station licensed to serve Colby, Kansas, USA. The station, which began broadcasting in May 1974, is owned and operated by Colby Community College.... |
Modern Rock Modern rock Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre... |
Colby, Kansas | CCC Colby Community College Colby Community College is an institution located in Colby, Kansas, United States, established in 1964. It has an indoor swimming pool, Baseball field, softball field, wrestling room, gym , a non-profit classic rock radio station , and a clock tower. Their school colors are blue and white, and... college radio Campus radio Campus radio is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider community in which the radio station is based... |
| 97.9 | KWGB | Country Country music Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music... |
Colby, Kansas | Broadcasts from Goodland, Kansas Goodland, Kansas Goodland is a city in and the county seat of Sherman County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,489.-History:... |
| 100.3 | KRDQ | Hot Adult Contemporary | Colby, Kansas | |
Television
Colby is in the WichitaWichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
-Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
television market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
. The following television stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from Colby:
| Digital Channel | Digital Subchannel | Analog Channel | Callsign | Network | City of License City of license A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator.... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (Virtual Virtual channel In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels.... ); 17 |
4.1 | |||||
| KLBY Kake Kake may refer to:* Kake, Alaska* Kake, Ethiopia* Kake, Hiroshima* Kake, a character created by Tom of Finland* Kake , the actual execution of a technique* KAKE-TV, channel 10 serving Wichita, Kansas... |
ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948... |
Colby, Kansas | Satellite of KAKE Kake Kake may refer to:* Kake, Alaska* Kake, Ethiopia* Kake, Hiroshima* Kake, a character created by Tom of Finland* Kake , the actual execution of a technique* KAKE-TV, channel 10 serving Wichita, Kansas... , Wichita, Kansas Wichita, Kansas Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area... |
|||
| 19 | 19.1 | - | KWKS Smoky Hills Public Television Smoky Hills Public Television is the Public Broadcasting Service member network for 71 counties in central and western Kansas. It is headquartered in a historic native stone building in Bunker Hill, just east of Russell.... |
PBS Public Broadcasting Service The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia.... (SD Standard-definition television Sorete-definition television is a television system that uses a resolution that is not considered to be either enhanced-definition television or high-definition television . The term is usually used in reference to digital television, in particular when broadcasting at the same resolution as... ) |
Colby, Kansas | Satellite of KOOD, Bunker Hill, Kansas Bunker Hill, Kansas Bunker Hill is a city in Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 95.-History:J. B. Corbett and V. Harbaugh, leaders of a colony from Ohio, founded Bunker Hill at a site on the Kansas Pacific Railway in the summer of 1871... |
| 19.2 | PBS Public Broadcasting Service The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia.... (HD High-definition television High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD... ) |
|||||
| 19.3 | Create | |||||
| 19.4 | PBS World PBS World PBS World is a 24-hour United States over-the-air digital subchannel showing public TV non-fiction, science, nature, news, public affairs and documentaries... |
|||||
Points of interest
Situated in the heart of Colby is the multi-storied romanesque building/campanileCampanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
which was constructed in 1907 by local firms Holland, JC & Squires, Frank, Crosby, and L. & Son. It is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and is located at 300 N. Court in Colby.
Other city buildings joining the courthouse on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
include the Colby Municipal Swimming Pool and City Bath House at 200 E. 5th St. (now locally referred to as "the public pool"), the Colby Community High School at 750 West 3rd St. (which is now used as an elementary/junior high school), and the art-deco sand-colored Colby City Hall, which was built in the 1920s by the architecture firm Suite & Blanchard. Throughout its 80-year history, the city-hall has served as a correctional facility, fire station
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
, library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and meeting hall.
Another noteworthy feature of Colby is Villa High Lake. The city-made reservoir is situated on the South Side of Villa High Park, which was created in the 1960s by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The park has playground equipment, picnic shelters, disc golf, and fishing.
Fike Park is located just north of City Hall at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Eighth Street. The park area was formerly known as Carp Lake. The park has gazebos, a volleyball area, horseshoe pitching pits, and tennis courts. In 1998 and 1999, over $100,000 was raised by civic groups and parents, with assistance from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the City of Colby, for new playground equipment. In 2000, the tennis courts in this area were replaced and are used by Colby Community College and Unified School District #315. Colby Swimming Pool is located just south of the park.
Pioneer Memorial Library is located close to downtown Colby. Murals grace the walls of the young readers' room, and posters and plaques perk up the rest of the library.
The Prairie Museum of Art and History serves as a cultural center. The museum is a private, non-profit museum governed by the Thomas County Historical Society. The Society was founded in 1959 to preserve the history of Thomas County, Kansas. The museum occupies a 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) site just north of Interstate 70
Interstate 70 in Kansas
In the U.S. state of Kansas, Interstate 70 contains the first segment to start being paved and to be completed in the Interstate Highway System. It extends from the Western border to the Eastern border covering and passing through several of the state's principal cities in the process.-Route...
, between exits 53 and 54.
Notable people
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Colby include:- Mary BrooksMary BrooksMary Elizabeth Thomas Peavey Brooks directed the United States Mint from September 1969 to February 1977.Brooks was appointed by President Richard M. Nixon, the third woman named to the post...
, Director of the U.S. MintDirector of the United States MintThe Director of the United States Mint is the head of the United States Mint. The position is currently vacant following the resignation of Edmund C. Moy in January 2011.... - John R. ConnellyJohn R. ConnellyJohn Robert Connelly was a U.S. Representative from Kansas.Born near Mount Sterling, Illinois, Connelly moved to Thayer County, Nebraska, with his parents in 1883....
, U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Kansas - Sheila FrahmSheila FrahmSheila Sloan Frahm served in the U.S. Senate as a Republican from Kansas for a brief period in 1996.Frahm was born in Colby, Kansas...
, U.S. SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Kansas, Lieutenant Governor of KansasLieutenant Governor of KansasThe Lieutenant Governor of Kansas is the lieutenant governor of the U.S. state of Kansas. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four-year term... - Zelma HendersonZelma HendersonZelma Henderson was the last surviving plaintiff in the 1954 landmark federal school desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education. The case outlawed segregation nationwide in all of the United States' public schools...
, school desegregation activist - Wayne MunnWayne MunnWayne Munn was an American professional wrestler and collegiate football player from the University of Nebraska.-Wrestling career:...
, professional wrestler - Samuel RameySamuel RameySamuel Edward Ramey is an American operatic bass with a long, distinguished career.During his best years, he was greatly admired for his range and versatility, having possessed a sufficiently accomplished bel canto technique to enable him to sing the music of Handel, Mozart, Rossini, yet power...
, operaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer - Mark SchultzMark Schultz (musician)Mark Schultz is a Contemporary Christian music singer/songwriter. He grew up in Colby, Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in marketing. At Kansas State, Mark was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he served eight years as a youth group...
, Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter - John W. ThomasJohn W. ThomasJohn W. Thomas was an American Politician. A Republican, he served on two occasions as a United States Senator from Idaho, both times appointed after his predecessor died in office.-Early life:...
, U.S. SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
City- City of Colby
- Colby - Directory of Public Officials
- Colby Chamber of Commerce
- Pioneer Memorial Library
Schools
- USD 315, local school district
Maps
- Colby City Map, KDOT
- Thomas County Map, KDOT