One of the earliest pieces of recorded history relating to Goodland concerns the Kidder Massacre. On July 2, 1867, a detachment of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (United States) was massacred; second lieutenant Lyman S. Kidder in command of the party, a sergeant, a corporal, eight privates and an Indian guide lost their lives. They were carrying dispatches for Lieutenant Colonel George Custer. 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 Cheyenne and/or SiouxIndians.[7]
In 1886, there were four communities vying to become county seat for Sherman County: Itasca, Voltaire, Sherman Center and Eustis. A man named Clark showed up in the county in 1887 proposing to create a new town to settle the dispute. The new town was to be named Goodland. A vote for the county seat was held among the county population and Goodland won with 872 of the 1495 votes cast while with Eustis received 611 and Voltaire received 12. Citizens of Eustis declared that the votes were unfair but the state department said that nothing could be done as all the voting was complete. The Supreme Court of Kansas considered various proceedings but did not change the outcome of the vote. Eustis refused to yield the county records it held until January 13, 1888, when an armed group from Goodland seized the records and sent them to the new county seat.[8]
Goodland lies on the south side of the Middle Fork of Sappa Creek, part of the Republican River watershed, in the High Plains region of the Great Plains. Located at the intersection of Interstate 70 and K-27 in northwestern Kansas, Goodland is roughly 17 miles (27 km) east of the Colorado state line, 176 miles east-southeast of Denver, 265 miles (426 km) northwest of Wichita, and 383 miles (616 km) west of Kansas City.[11]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.37 square miles (11.32 km2), of which 4.36 square miles (11.29 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[12]
Climate
Goodland's climate is officially classed as humid continental (KoppenDfa); although it only just misses a semi-arid (BSk) classification and is also close to a wet-summer continental climate (Dwa). Winters are generally cold and dry, summers hot and moderately wet. The average temperature for the year is 51 °F or 10.6 °C with temperatures exceeding 90 °F or 32.2 °C an average of fifty afternoons a year and dropping below 32 °F or 0 °C an average of 159 mornings a year. Due to its higher elevation, Goodland experiences stronger wind and higher snowfall totals than other locations in Kansas. Wind speed averages 13 mph (21 km/h).[13] On average, Goodland receives 19.75 inches or 502 millimetres of precipitation annually, and snowfall averages 41.9 inches or 1.06 metres per year.[14] On average, January is the coolest month, and July is both the warmest month and the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Goodland was 111 °F or 43.9 °C in 1940; the coldest temperature recorded was −27 °F or −32.8 °C in 1989.[15]
Climate data for Goodland, Kansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1895–present)
Of the 1,891 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18; 43.6% were married couples living together; 28.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 36.5% of households consisted of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18] The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 2.6.[22] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 12.8% of the population.[23]
24.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.0 males.[18] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 102.5 males.[18]
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $56,024 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,811) and the median family income was $64,009 (+/- $5,089).[24] Males had a median income of $37,708 (+/- $13,152) versus $23,750 (+/- $10,551) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $29,477 (+/- $3,863).[25] Approximately, 4.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under the age of 18 and 3.3% of those ages 65 or over.[26][27]
2010 census
As of the census[28] of 2010, there were 4,489 people, 1,985 households, and 1,161 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,029.6 inhabitants per square mile (397.5/km2). There were 2,395 housing units at an average density of 549.3 per square mile (212.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.0% White, 0.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.0% of the population.
There were 1,985 households, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.5% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.85.
The median age in the city was 40 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,948 people, 2,085 households, and 1,259 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,127.1 inhabitants per square mile (435.2/km2). There were 2,410 housing units at an average density of 549.0 per square mile (212.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.03% of the population.
There were 2,085 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% 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 2.95.
In the city, the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $31,356, and the median income for a family was $38,309. Males had a median income of $28,589 versus $20,798 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,105. About 9.7% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Post Office in Goodland (2012)
Goodland utilizes a council-manager style of government. Five commissioners are elected at large. A mayor is elected from among the commission to serve ceremonial purposes and chair the commission meetings. The commission is responsible for appointing a city manager, who handles the day-to-day operations of the city.[2]
Goodland has a full-time police department that provides 24/7 law enforcement coverage within the city limits.
The city also boasts its own power plant, which ensures that citizens can access electricity even if outside power sources become unavailable.
The National Weather Service maintains a full-featured Weather Forecast Office in Goodland with doppler radar and a 19 County Warning Area (CWA) including three counties in eastern Colorado, three counties in southwest Nebraska and 13 counties in northwest Kansas. Aviation forecasts are created for two sites: Goodland, Kansas, and McCook, Nebraska. The office also has a fire weather and hydrologic program. The surface observation program is limited to the supplemental climatological observations. The office supports approximately 75 observers in the cooperative observer program. The office employs 22 people.
Due to Goodland and the rest of Sherman County observing Mountain time, prime-time television programming airs from 6 to 9 p.m., instead of 7 to 10 as is normal in the Central time zone.
An 80-foot high reproduction of Vincent van Gogh's painting 3 Sunflowers in a Vase was erected in 2001 by artist Cameron Cross. After the installation suffered damage from exposure to the weather, Cross returned in 2012 to repaint the piece using a brighter palette.[40][41]
The High Plains Museum includes a replica of the "gyrocopter", a commercially unsuccessful powered helicopter built in Goodland. After the company formed to build the machine disbanded, it was awarded a patent in 1912, believed to be the first United States patent for a rotary-winged aircraft.[42]
In popular culture
In L.E. Howel's novel, Planetfall, Goodland is the hometown of astronaut Karla Dawson and is a featured location in the story.[43]
In T.D. Shields' novels, "Into Shadow" and "Into Light," Goodland is the site of the new national capital after Washington D.C. (among many other cities) is destroyed by war and climate change.[44]
"Goodland" (2014) directed by Josh Doke is set in a fictional rendering of the town and is shot primarily in and around the City of Goodland.[45]
Notable people
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Goodland include:
^"Station: Goodland, KS". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
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