Junction City, Kansas

Junction City is a city in and the county seat of Geary County, Kansas, United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 22,932.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Census-2020-QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Fort Riley, a major U.S. Army post, is nearby.

History

Aerial view of Junction City, 1943

Junction City is so named from its position at the confluence of the Smoky Hill and Republican rivers, which forms the Kansas River.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1854, Andrew J. Mead of New York of the Cincinnati-Manhattan Company, Free Staters connected to the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company planned a community there called Manhattan (there was also a discussion to call it New Cincinnati).<ref name="kansastowns.us">Template:Cite web</ref> When the steamship Hartford delivering the immigrants could not reach the community because of low water on the Kansas River, the Free Staters settled 20 miles east in what today is Manhattan, Kansas. The community was renamed Millard City for Captain Millard of the Hartford on October 3, 1855. It was renamed briefly Humboldt in 1857 by local farmers and renamed again later that year to Junction City.<ref>GEARY COUNTY LEGENDS - jcks.com - Retrieved March 9, 2009 Template:Webarchive</ref> It was formally incorporated in 1859.<ref name="kansastowns.us"/>

In 1923, John R. Brinkley established radio station KFKB (which adopted the slogan Kansas First, Kansas Best) in nearby Milford, Kansas, using a 1 kW transmitter. It was one of the first radio stations in Kansas. Brinkley used the station to espouse his belief that goat testicles could be implanted in men to enhance their virility.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Among Junction City's residents is film director Kevin Wilmott, whose movies, including Ninth Street, are set in Junction City. Ninth Street specifically refers to a bawdy area of the community that was frequented by Fort Riley soldiers in the 1960s.<ref>Kevin Wilmott, Assistant Professor - ku.edu - Retrieved March 9, 2009 Template:Webarchive</ref> In the 1980s a major initiative was undertaken to clean up the Ninth St. area.Template:Citation needed

Timothy McVeigh rented the Ryder truck he used in the Oklahoma City bombing from an auto body shop in Junction City.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

The maximum temperature reaches Template:Convert an average of 45.9 days per year and reaches Template:Convert an average of 6.4 days per year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point Template:Convert an average of 121.8 days per year.<ref name = NCEI/>

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 22,932 people, 9,104 households, and 5,851 families in Junction City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 1,986.3 per square mile (766.9/km²). There were 10,920 housing units at an average density of 945.9 per square mile (365.2/km²).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 54.91% (12,593) white or European American (50.07% non-Hispanic white), 20.25% (4,643) black or African-American, 0.92% (211) Native American or Alaska Native, 3.8% (872) Asian, 1.19% (274) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 5.07% (1,162) from other races, and 13.85% (3,177) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 15.76% (3,615) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 9,104 households, 34.8% had children under the age of 18; 45.5% were married couples living together; 27.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.2% of households consisted of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 2.9.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 12.8% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

26.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 105.3 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $52,159 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,413) and the median family income was $60,134 (+/- $4,847).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $37,361 (+/- $3,548) versus $23,329 (+/- $2,488) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $30,514 (+/- $2,011).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 15.4% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under the age of 18 and 9.9% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 census

As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 23,353 people, 9,134 households, and 6,109 families living in the city.<ref name="Census2010">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 10,480 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 60.7% White, 22.3% Black, 0.9% Native American, 3.9% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 4.0% from other races, and 7.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.0% of the population.

There were 9,134 households, of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age in the city was 28.8 years. 29% of residents were under the age of 18; 13% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.3% were from 25 to 44; 19.3% were from 45 to 64; and 8.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,886 people, 7,492 households, and 5,079 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 8,740 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 58.38% White, 26.69% African American, 0.82% Native American, 3.83% Asian, 0.39% Pacific Islander, 4.01% from other races, and 5.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.31% of the population.

There were 7,492 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $30,084, and the median income for a family was $35,093. Males had a median income of $25,695 versus $20,846 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,581. About 11.2% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Junction City has a Commission form of government. The City Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City and serves at the discretion of the Commission. The City Commission consists of five members who are elected by the registered voters of the City. Each Commissioner serves for either two or four years, depending on the number of votes they received. The mayor is a Commissioner that is "elected" by the other members of the Commission and serves for a minimum two-year term.

Education

The community is served by Geary County USD 475 public school district. There is one public high school in the city, Junction City High School.

There were over 678 new students in the 2009–2010 school year,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> breaking all records for enrollment in the school district.

Media

Church near Junction City (1943)

The Junction City Daily Union is the local newspaper, published five days a week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Three radio stations are licensed to and broadcast from Junction City. KJCK (AM) broadcasts on 1420 AM, playing a News/Talk format; its sister station, KJCK-FM, broadcasts on 97.5 FM, playing a Top 40 format.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Radio>Template:Cite web</ref> K222AX is a translator station that rebroadcasts the signal of KJIL, a Christian Contemporary station in Meade, Kansas, on 92.3 FM.<ref name=Radio/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Junction City is in the Topeka, Kansas television market.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

Greyhound Lines has a bus stop in Junction City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Local transit services are provided by ATA Bus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fiction

In Sidney Sheldon's New York Times bestseller Windmills of the Gods, the heroine of the novel is from Junction City. In both the stage and film version of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the character of Hedwig moves to Junction City after leaving East Germany.

The 13th mission of the video game Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel takes place in a location based on Junction City.

Notable people

Template:Main Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Junction City include U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, Jr.,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> inventor Amanda Jones,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> playwright Velina Hasu Houston, and wrestler Bobby Lashley.

See also

• St. Xavier High School
• Operation Junction City
• Milford Lake
• Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad

External links

• City of Junction City
• Junction City - Directory of Public Officials