Goodland, Kansas
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Goodland is a city located in Sherman County, Kansas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 4,948. It is the county seat of Sherman CountyTemplate:GR.
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Geography
KSMap-doton-Goodland.png
Location of Goodland, Kansas
Goodland is located at 39°20'55" North, 101°42'40" West (39.348583, -101.711148)Template:GR. Goodland is 3638 ft. above sea level. Not very far outside the town is the highest point in Kansas, Sunflower Mountain. This is, in reality, a hill.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.4 km² (4.4 mi²). 11.4 km² (4.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.23% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 4,948 people, 2,085 households, and 1,259 families residing in the city. The population density is 435.2/km² (1,127.1/mi²). There are 2,410 housing units at an average density of 212.0/km² (549.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.35% White, 0.42% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 4.53% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 9.03% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,085 households out of which 27.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% are married couples living together, 7.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% are non-families. 32.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.31 and the average family size is 2.95.
In the city the population is spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $31,356, and the median income for a family is $38,309. Males have a median income of $28,589 versus $20,798 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,105. 12.1% of the population and 9.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.4% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
The first bit of recorded history concerning Goodland is the Kidder Massacre. On July 2* 1867 the "M" Company of the 2nd Cavalry was massacred… one 2nd lieutenant, a sergeant, a corporal, eight privates and an Indian guide were there, as well as lieutenant Lyman S. Kidder. They were carrying dispatches for General George Custer, which chastized him for disobeying orders. Later, Custer found evidence of a running battle along Beaver Creek, which led to a ravine where the remains were found. They had been killed by the Cheyanne and Souix indians.
In 1886 there were four communities: Itasca, Voltaire, Sherman Center and Eustis, all wanting to be county seat. Someone named Clark showed up in 1887, wanting to make a new town to settle to dispute. It was to be named: Goodland. Soon, contests for county seat were held. Goodland won. Sherman center held second place, Eustis third. Construction began. Eustis was jealous, and built things, too. The county seat was not official yet. They voted, Goodland had 872 of the 1495 votes. Eustis received 611. Eustis declared that the votes were unfair. The state department said that nothing could be done, since all of the voting was done. The supreme court of Kansas had various proceedings. In January 1888, people from Goodland went to forcibly take the county records from Eustis. But at the Sherman County Bank, they found a problem. Actually, it was across the street, where ten men were stationed on the second floor of the opposite building. No shots were fired, and Goodland got the records, but the struggle was not over. Members of the Kansas National Guard were sent to investigate the matter, and by May of 1888 it was finally closed.