View source for Greensburg, Kansas

{{Short description|City in Kiowa County, Kansas}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Greensburg, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = New Big Well Museum.jpg
|image_caption            = [[Big Well (Kansas)|Big Well Museum]] and Water Tower (2013)
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Kiowa_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Greensburg_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within [[Kiowa County, Kansas|Kiowa County]] and [[Kansas]]
|image_map1               = Map of Kiowa Co, Ks, USA.png
|map_caption1             = [[Kansas Department of Transportation|KDOT]] map of [[Kiowa County, Kansas|Kiowa County]] ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|legend]])

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{Coord|37|36|18|N|99|17|22|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Kiowa County, Kansas|Kiowa]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1885
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1886
|named_for                = D. R. Green

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          = <!-- [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]] -->
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Matt Christenson<ref>[https://www.greensburgks.org/mayor-city-council Mayor & City Council; City of Greensburg.]</ref>

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_20.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.79
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.79
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 4.63
|area_land_km2            = 4.63
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 2234

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 740
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|population_est           =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = −6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 67054
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 620|620]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|20|28675}}
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 485585<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|485585}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.greensburgks.org/|greensburgks.org}}
}}

'''Greensburg''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Kiowa County, Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/> As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population of the city was 740.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Greensburg, Kansas in 2020|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2028675|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=December 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201084726/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2028675|archive-date=December 1, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> It is home to the [[Big Well (Kansas)|world's largest hand-dug well]].

On the evening of May 4, 2007, Greensburg was devastated by [[Greensburg tornado|an EF5 tornado]] that damaged 95 percent of the city, with 112 houses in the city sustaining EF4+ level damage. The tornado, which was 1.7 miles wide when entering Greensburg, killed eleven people between the ages of 46 and 84 there. The community had a population of 2,000 people in the late 1990s, and 1,400 people before the tornado leveled the city.  Some people did not want to come back, or rebuild the community, or build green.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Damage survey of the Greensburg, KS tornado |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326998304 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250307181004/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326998304_Damage_survey_of_the_Greensburg_KS_tornado |archive-date=2025-03-07 |access-date=2025-09-27 |website=ResearchGate |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tornado was an EF-5; FEMA's help expected|date=6 May 2007|access-date=6 May 2007|work=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|url=http://www.kansas.com/625/story/63289.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509022331/http://www.kansas.com/625/story/63289.html|archive-date=9 May 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Man Dies Months After Kansas Tornado Hit|date=24 September 2007|access-date=25 September 2007|work=[[Yahoo!]]|url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20070924/twl-kansas-tornado-1be00ca.html}}{{dead link|date=October 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/2007/05/08/64630/list-of-victims-offer-your-thoughts.html|title=List of victims &#124; Offer your thoughts &#124; Wichita Eagle|access-date=31 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319060551/http://www.kansas.com/2007/05/08/64630/list-of-victims-offer-your-thoughts.html|archive-date=19 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/worldlatest/story/0,,-6618186,00.html|work=[[Guardian Unlimited]]|title= Officer Injured in Kan. Tornado Dies|access-date=8 May 2007|date=8 May 2007}} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Police Officer Injured In Tornado Dies|date=9 May 2007|access-date=25 September 2007|work=[[KAKE-TV]]|url=http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/7389831.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010611/http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/7389831.html|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> By 2010, over half of Greensburg's population before the tornado had moved away from the city. Today, Greensburg stands as a model "green town", often described as the greenest in America. The hospital, city hall, and school have all been built to the highest certification level issued by [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]] (LEED).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gowen|first=Annie|date=23 October 2020|title=The town that built back green|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2020/10/22/greensburg-kansas-wind-power-carbon-emissions/?arc404=true|access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref>

==History==
===Early history and development===
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] were inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].

The first settlement was established at Greensburg in 1885.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C|title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc.|publisher=Standard Publishing Company|author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson|year=1912|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C/page/n788 792]}}</ref> Greensburg was named after D.R. "Cannonball" Green, who owned a stagecoach company and played a part in the establishment of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Greensburg/history.html |title=History of Greensburg, KS |access-date=2008-05-07 |archive-date=2008-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002040817/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Greensburg/history.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1887, construction began on the [[Big Well (Kansas)|Big Well]], the largest hand-dug well in the world.<ref name="kansastravel.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kansastravel.org/greensburgbigwell.htm|title=The Big Well Museum & Visitors Center - Greensburg, Kansas}}</ref> By 1888, Greensburg was proclaimed the "liveliest town in the state", the same year the construction of the Big Well was completed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Greensburg/history.html|title=History of Greensburg, KS|website=skyways.lib.ks.us|access-date=13 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002040817/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Greensburg/history.html|archive-date=2 October 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Greensburg/history.html|title=History of Greensburg, KS|access-date=7 May 2008|archive-date=2 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002040817/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Greensburg/history.html|url-status=dead}}, Blue Skyways, 18 May 2006.  Accessed 7 May 2008.</ref>

The city ceased using the Big Well as a water source in 1932,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.worldrecordacademy.org/2023/6/worlds-largest-hand-dug-well-world-record-in-greensburg-kansas-423272 | title=World's Largest Hand-Dug Well: World record in Greensburg, Kansas | date=June 26, 2023 }}</ref> and converted it into a tourist attraction in 1937.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.51centadventures.com/2017/05/big-well-greensburg-kansas.html | title=Big Well - Greensburg, Kansas }}</ref> In 1972, the Big Well was declared a national museum.<ref name="kansastravel.org" />

One of the largest [[pallasite]] meteorites ever discovered was found near Greensburg in 1949, weighing over 1,000 pounds.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.worldrecordacademy.org/2023/7/worlds-largest-pallasite-meteorite-world-record-in-greensburg-kansas-423281 | title=World's Largest Pallasite Meteorite: World record in Greensburg, Kansas | date=July 2, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=World's Largest Pallasite Meteorite |url=http://www.worldslargestthings.com/kansas/pallasitemeteorite.htm |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=www.worldslargestthings.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HAVILAND IMPACT CRATER – Crater Explorer |url=https://craterexplorer.ca/haviland-impact-crater/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Enormous meteorite found on Kansas farmer's land |url=https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/nov/12/enormous_meteorite_found_kansas_farmers_land/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=LJWorld.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-11-11 |title=Giant meteorite unearthed |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/giant-meteorite-unearthed/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=HeraldNet.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-11-13 |title=Gigantic meteorite is dug up in Kansas |url=https://www.deseret.com/2005/11/13/19922530/gigantic-meteorite-is-dug-up-in-kansas/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>

===2007 tornado===
{{Main|Greensburg tornado}}
[[Image:Greensburg kansas tornado.jpg|thumb|left|250px|City center, twelve days after the tornado struck (2007)]]

At 9:45&nbsp;p.m. [[Central Time Zone|CDT]] on May 4, 2007, during a [[Tornado outbreak of May 4–6, 2007|deadly tornado outbreak]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pratttribune.com/articles/2007/05/07/news/00.txt|title=The article requested cannot be found! Please refresh your browser or go back. (KS,,2007,5,AR). - PrattTribune - Pratt, KS - Pratt, KS|access-date=9 May 2007|archive-date=3 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203202905/http://www.pratttribune.com/articles/2007/05/07/news/00.txt|url-status=dead}}</ref> Greensburg took a direct hit from a rain-wrapped EF5 tornado. The tornado was estimated to be {{convert|1.7|mi|km}} in width — wider than the city itself — and traveled for nearly {{convert|22|mi|km}}.

The tornado killed 10 people in Greensburg and two more in neighboring communities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Man Dies Months After Kansas Tornado Hit|date=24 September 2007|access-date=31 January 2017|work=[[U.S.A. Today]]|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-23-1953064368_x.htm}}</ref> Tornado sirens sounded in the city twenty minutes before the tornado struck, and a [[tornado emergency]] was issued a few minutes prior to the tornado striking the city. Experts believe that the early activation of the sirens saved many lives.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Santa Barbara Independent]]|title=On the Road — Tornado Alley|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2008/mar/28/road-tornado-alley/|access-date=27 May 2008|archive-date=4 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704215205/http://www.independent.com/news/2008/mar/28/road-tornado-alley/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=NOAA Satellite and Information Service|title=Event Record Details|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~657501|access-date=12 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503091723/http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~657501|archive-date=3 May 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The tornado lasted for a total of one hour and five minutes and caused $250 million in damages.<ref>Oberholtz, Chris. [https://www.audacy.com/knss/news/local/looking-back-at-the-devastating-greensburg-tornado-of-2007 "Looking Back: The Devastating Greensburg Tornado of 2007 Destroyed 95% of Kansas Town [Video&#93;"]. KNSS</ref>

Ninety-five percent of the city was confirmed to be destroyed, with the other five percent being severely damaged. The [[National Weather Service]] estimated winds of the tornado to reach {{convert|205|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. It was the first tornado in history to be rated EF5 since the implementation of the [[Enhanced Fujita scale]] earlier that year. It was also the first [[Fujita scale|F5]] or EF5 classification since May 3, 1999, when an [[1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado|F5 tornado]] devastated [[Moore, Oklahoma]] during the [[1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak]].

Kansas [[List of governors of Kansas|Governor]] [[Kathleen Sebelius]] and [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] both declared Kiowa County a [[disaster area]],<ref>{{cite web|author=KAKE-TV|title=President Bush Declares Disaster in Kansas|url=http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/7359591.html|access-date=6 May 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613122036/http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/7359591.html|archive-date=13 June 2007}}</ref> which opened up the affected areas for national and [[international aid]].

===Rebuilding (2007–present)===
After the tornado, Greensburg rebuilt itself as a "green" city. A non-profit organization called Greensburg GreenTown was founded to help inform the residents about the [[green living]] initiative.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |title=The town that built back green |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2020/10/22/greensburg-kansas-wind-power-carbon-emissions/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sustainable Rebuilding {{!}} Greensburg, KS |url=https://www.greensburgks.org/community/pages/sustainable-rebuilding |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=www.greensburgks.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite report |url=https://docs.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/45086.pdf |title=Greensburg, Kansas - A Better, Greener Place to Live |date=October 2009 |publisher=Greensburg GreenTown |via=[[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kansas Town Rebuilds Green After Disaster |url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/edu-rebuilding-greensburg/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=education.nationalgeographic.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Randall |first=Charlie |date=2024-06-10 |title=Portrait of a Kansas town that went all-in on clean energy after a devastating tornado » Yale Climate Connections |url=https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/06/portrait-of-a-kansas-town-that-went-all-in-on-clean-energy-after-a-devastating-tornado/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Yale Climate Connections |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.nrel.gov/buildings/assets/pdfs/53539.pdf |title=REBUILDING IT BETTER: GREENSBURG, KANSAS - High Performance Buildings Meeting Energy Savings Goals |date=April 2012 |publisher=[[Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131035651/https://www.nrel.gov/buildings/assets/pdfs/53539.pdf |archive-date=2017-01-31 |via=[[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kniggendorf |first=Anne |date=2022-04-19 |title=What Is the Future of America's Greenest Town? |url=https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-is-the-future-of-americas-greenest-town/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Reasons to be Cheerful |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-11-27 |title=Post-Tornado 'Green' Rebuild Considered a Mixed Success in Greensburg, Kansas |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2019/11/27/549552.htm |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Insurance Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Greensburg Green Town, Greensburg, Kansas, U.S. |url=https://design.umn.edu/greensburg-green-town-greensburg-kansas-us |access-date=2024-10-10 |publisher=College of Design, University of Minnesota |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-11 |title=Greensburg stands as a model of 'green town' |url=https://www.visitsouthcentralks.com/greensburg-stands-as-a-model-of-green-town-with-some-unique-things-to-see-and-do |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=www.visitsouthcentralks.com |language=en}}</ref>

In response to the disaster, the city council passed a resolution requiring all city buildings be built to [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] platinum standards, becoming the first city in the nation to do so.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greensburg GreenTown|url=http://www.greensburggreentown.org|access-date=4 May 2008|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509103943/http://www.greensburggreentown.org/|archive-date=9 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Green Town USA: The Handbook for America's Sustainable Future|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISBN1578263123|first=Thomas J.|last=Fox|isbn=978-1578263127|year=2013|publisher=Hatherleigh Press}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> With extra help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Greensburg residents developed a long-term plan for Greensburg. The city's power is supplied by ten 1.25 MW wind-turbines. Carbon offsets generated from the turbines are being managed by [[NativeEnergy]],<!--pipe is not exact, but close. The first owns the latter--> and have been purchased by charter supporters including [[Ben & Jerry's]], [[Clif Bar]], [[Green Mountain Coffee Roasters]], and [[Stonyfield Farm]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Greensburg Wind Farm|url=http://www.nativeenergy.com/pages/greensburg/517.php|access-date=30 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316033816/http://www.nativeenergy.com/pages/greensburg/517.php|archive-date=16 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Despite the efforts to rebuild the town, the population by 2010 was about 50% of what it was in 2000. The 2000 census found 1,582 residents,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDPSF42000.DP1?q=greensburg,+ks+population&y=2000 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> while 777 residents were recorded in the 2010 census,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P1?q=greensburg,+ks+population&y=2010 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> and 740 in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=greensburg,+ks+population&y=2020 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.48|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref>{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=6 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=25 January 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. Under the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Greensburg has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "CFA" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=932341&cityname=Greensburg%2C+Kansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Greensburg, Kansas]</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Greensburg, Kansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 80
|Feb record high F = 88
|Mar record high F = 95
|Apr record high F = 101
|May record high F = 104
|Jun record high F = 110
|Jul record high F = 112
|Aug record high F = 113
|Sep record high F = 107
|Oct record high F = 99
|Nov record high F = 90
|Dec record high F = 88

|Jan avg record high F = 66.4
|Feb avg record high F = 72.9
|Mar avg record high F = 81.4
|Apr avg record high F = 88.1
|May avg record high F = 93.6
|Jun avg record high F = 98.7
|Jul avg record high F = 103.4
|Aug avg record high F = 101.4
|Sep avg record high F = 97.4
|Oct avg record high F = 89.6
|Nov avg record high F = 76.0
|Dec avg record high F = 66.3
|year avg record high F = 104.5

|Jan high F = 43.2
|Feb high F = 47.4
|Mar high F = 57.5
|Apr high F = 66.9
|May high F = 76.3
|Jun high F = 86.1
|Jul high F = 91.8
|Aug high F = 89.7
|Sep high F = 82.0
|Oct high F = 69.6
|Nov high F = 55.9
|Dec high F = 44.8
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 31.2
|Feb mean F = 34.7
|Mar mean F = 43.9
|Apr mean F = 53.1
|May mean F = 63.6
|Jun mean F = 73.6
|Jul mean F = 79.0
|Aug mean F = 77.0
|Sep mean F = 68.9
|Oct mean F = 56.0
|Nov mean F = 43.0
|Dec mean F = 33.2
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 19.3
|Feb low F = 22.0
|Mar low F = 30.4
|Apr low F = 39.3
|May low F = 50.9
|Jun low F = 61.1
|Jul low F = 66.3
|Aug low F = 64.4
|Sep low F = 55.7
|Oct low F = 42.4
|Nov low F = 30.0
|Dec low F = 21.6
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 3.8
|Feb avg record low F = 7.0
|Mar avg record low F = 13.0
|Apr avg record low F = 24.4
|May avg record low F = 36.2
|Jun avg record low F = 50.0
|Jul avg record low F = 56.1
|Aug avg record low F = 54.9
|Sep avg record low F = 40.8
|Oct avg record low F = 26.1
|Nov avg record low F = 13.7
|Dec avg record low F = 5.3
|year avg record low F = -1.4

|Jan record low F = -20
|Feb record low F = -19
|Mar record low F = -14
|Apr record low F = 7
|May record low F = 19
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 48
|Aug record low F = 40
|Sep record low F = 23
|Oct record low F = 11
|Nov record low F = -3
|Dec record low F = -20

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.71
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.81
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.92
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.41
|May precipitation inch = 3.39
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.87
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.16
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.46
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.04
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.28
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.96
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.96
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 2.7
|Feb precipitation days = 3.8
|Mar precipitation days = 5.3
|Apr precipitation days = 5.9
|May precipitation days = 7.0
|Jun precipitation days = 6.4
|Jul precipitation days = 6.6
|Aug precipitation days = 6.5
|Sep precipitation days = 4.5
|Oct precipitation days = 4.7
|Nov precipitation days = 3.4
|Dec precipitation days = 3.2
|year precipitation days = 60.0

|Jan snow inch = 4.5
|Feb snow inch = 2.6
|Mar snow inch = 3.8
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.4
|Nov snow inch = 1.4
|Dec snow inch = 3.6
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 1.7
|Feb snow days = 1.7
|Mar snow days = 1.2
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.4
|Nov snow days = 0.5
|Dec snow days = 1.5

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00143239&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Greensburg, KS
|access-date = March 12, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ddc
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Dodge City
|access-date = March 12, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 515
|1900= 343
|1910= 1199
|1920= 1215
|1930= 1338
|1940= 1417
|1950= 1723
|1960= 1988
|1970= 1907
|1980= 1885
|1990= 1792
|2000= 1574
|2010= 777
|2020= 740
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]] counted 740 people, 329 households, and 176 families in Greensburg.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 413.6 per square mile (159.7/km{{sup|2}}). There were 403 housing units at an average density of 225.3 per square mile (87.0/km{{sup|2}}).<ref name=:0>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/geo/gazetter-file.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Census.gov}}</ref> The racial makeup was 88.65% (656) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (87.43% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 2.3% (17) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 0.27% (2) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]], 1.76% (13) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.54% (4) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]], 0.41% (3) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 6.08% (45) from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 2.57% (19) of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 329 households, 25.8% had children under the age of 18; 43.8% were married couples living together; 34.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 41.3% of households consisted of individuals and 21.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 3.0.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 19.5% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

22.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.6 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 114.1 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $41,518 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,218) and the median family income was $61,250 (+/- $26,252).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1903?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Males had a median income of $40,221 (+/- $4,038) versus $24,000 (+/- $11,825) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $32,868 (+/- $5,509).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S2001?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 3.5% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.8% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1702?q=Greensburg%20city,%20Kansas%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=US Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=6 July 2012}}</ref> there were 777 people, 355 households, and 212 families in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|525.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 431 housing units at an average density of {{convert|291.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.9% of the population.<ref name="Census2010">{{cite web|title=2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=March 6, 2011}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

There were 355 households, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.3% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the city was 45.2 years. The city population contained 22% of residents under the age of 18; 5.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 27.9% were from 45 to 64; and 22.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

==Education==
The community is served by [[Kiowa County USD 422]] public school district.  Greensburg schools were closed through school unification. The Greensburg Rangers<ref>"Greensburg Still Leads", The Hutchinson News, 1 February 1949, p. 20.</ref> won the [[Kansas State High School Activities Association|Kansas State High School]] boys class B basketball championship in 1948.<ref>{{cite web|title=Basketball|publisher=KSHSAA|url=http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Basketball/History.cfm|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=2 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102171800/http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Basketball/History.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of the 2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 82.35% of School Enrolled Population are Enrolled in Kindergarten to 12th Grade in Greensburg. 27.4% of residents have a High School or Equivalent degree, 27.4% have some college but no degree, 8.6% have an associate degree, 16.8% have a bachelor's degree, and 7.2% have a Graduates or Professional degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2028675|title=Explore Census Data}}</ref>

==Attractions==
[[File:Big Well Museum.jpg|thumb|[[Big Well (Kansas)|Big Well Museum]] & Visitor Info Center]]
[[File:Big Well Interior Greensburg, KS.png|thumb|Big Well spiral staircase]]
Greensburg is home to the world's [[Big Well (Kansas)|largest hand dug well]]. Work had begun on the well in 1887 to provide water for the steam engines of the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] and [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad]]. When the well was completed in 1888 it was {{convert|109|ft|m}} deep and {{convert|32|ft|m}} in diameter. The well was used as the city's water supply until 1932. In 1939 it was opened as a tourist attraction allowing visitors to descend to the bottom of the well.

The adjacent museum displayed a 1000-pound [[pallasite]] [[meteorite]] until the museum fell down around the meteorite during the 2007 tornado that destroyed the city. The meteorite was found in the rubble of the museum and moved to a temporary home in [[Hays, Kansas]] while Greensburg was rebuilding.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greensburg Meteorite Recovered|url=http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/7379181.html|access-date=7 May 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928005414/http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/7379181.html|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Greensburg Tornado: Greensburg's famed meteorite found under rubble|url=http://www.kansas.com/233/story/63810.html|access-date=7 May 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509050200/http://www.kansas.com/233/story/63810.html|archive-date=9 May 2007}}</ref> In May 2012, the new Big Well Museum and Visitor Information Center opened featuring exhibits about the history of Greensburg, The Big Well, the 2007 tornado, the rebuilding process, and the meteorite.

On October 16, 2006, a related smaller meteorite measuring 154 pounds (70 kilograms) was dug up near Greensburg ({{convert|5|mi}}) and Haviland ({{convert|4|mi}}). The only scientific publication discussing time of impact suggests a terrestrial age of 20,000 years.<ref>Honda, M.; Caffee, M. W.; Miura, Y. N.; Nagai, H.; Nagao, K.; Nishiizumi, K. ''Meteoritics & Planetary Science'', 37:12, 1711-1728.</ref> It was once thought that its age was around 10,000 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Unusual meteorite found in Kansas |website=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/10/16/meteorite.kansas.ap/index.html|access-date=17 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061023184828/http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/10/16/meteorite.kansas.ap/index.html|archive-date=23 October 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The town serves as a time station for the annual [[Race Across America]], a {{convert|3000|mi}} transcontinental bicycle race.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}

The 5.4.7 Arts Center serves as a non-profit organization for hosting visual and performative arts, and acts as the only arts center between Dodge City, Kansas and Wichita, Kansas.

The Kiowa County Historical Museum and Soda Fountain operates as a museum for Kiowa County. It contains artifacts and information from the westward expansion of the United States fueled by ideas of [[Manifest Destiny]]. It also contains local history including sporting equipment and notable people from around Kiowa County.

West of Greensburg, the M.T. Liggett Art Environment offers a kinetic art display that utilizes pieces of discarded metal along with wind energy to create a roadside attraction.

The [[Fromme-Birney Round Barn]] is a notable horse barn that was built in 1912. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

==Transportation==
Greensburg is served by three U.S. Highways:
*{{jct|state=KS|US|54|US|400}},<ref>Rand McNally. ''The Road Atlas '08.'' [[Chicago]]: [[Rand McNally]], 2008, p. 40.</ref> 
*{{jct|state=KS|US|183}}.

Bus service is provided daily eastward towards [[Wichita, Kansas]] and westward towards [[Pueblo, Colorado]] by BeeLine Express (subcontractor of [[Greyhound Lines]]).<ref>[http://www.beeline-express.com/ BeeLine Express]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greyhound.com/|title=Greyhound Lines|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906232014/https://www.greyhound.com/|archive-date=6 September 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Media==
{{section unsourced|date=September 2024}}
Several television networks have drawn an interest in Greensburg as a subject for [[reality shows]] as a result of the Greensburg City Council's decision to make the city a "green" town. A [[Documentary film|documentary]] on its reconstruction, called ''[[Greensburg (TV series)|Greensburg]]'', aired on [[Planet Green]], a sister network of [[Discovery Channel]].

Another documentary, ''[[Earth 2100]]'', drew attention to Greensburg as "the green town" that was built after the devastating 2007 tornado. The [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] film suggested a fictionalized, future Greensburg as a model showing how American towns can successfully implement green technology, and become a beacon for hope on a planet doomed to destruction from climate change and overpopulation.

Multiple books have been written about Greensburg and the 2007 tornado. ''Greensburg: The Twisted Tales'' (Janice Haney) recounts several residents' experiences with the tornado. ''Aftermath: Scenes from the Sudden Destruction of an American Hometown'' (Merlin Peck) showcases images of destruction and debris from the event.

==Notable people==
* [[Manvel H. Davis]], Republican loser to [[Harry S. Truman]] in 1940 U.S. senatorial Missouri campaign
* [[Dennis McKinney]], [[Kansas State Treasurer]] 2008–2010
* [[Sandra Seacat]], actress and acting coach
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==Gallery==
<gallery widths=200 heights=160>
Image:Greensburg, Kansas 2007May09 - after tornado.jpg|[[Marine One]], carrying President [[George W. Bush]], flies over the damaged city five days after the tornado.
File:FEMA - 30488 - Residents at a recovery meeting in a tent in Kansas.jpg|FEMA recovery meeting about 1 month after the tornado.
Image:S.D. Robinett Building.jpg|''S.D. Robinett Building'' in 2007 about three months after the tornado, the only historic building in downtown Greensburg to survive the tornado.
Image:Kiowa county kansas courthouse 2009.jpg|Renovated [[Kiowa County, Kansas|Kiowa County]] courthouse in 2009 (about 2.4 years after the tornado).
Image:Arts Center Greensburg, Kansas, Photo by Eric Ascalon.jpg|Arts Center in 2010, constructed with environmental LEED Platinum standards. It has solar panels and wind generators for energy self-sufficiency.
Image:Rebuilt_Big_Well.jpg|Rebuilt [[Big Well (Kansas)|Big Well]] in 2013.
Image:Greensburg_Pallasite_Meteorite.jpg|"World's Largest Pallasite Meteorite", now stored in the new Big Well Museum (2013).
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
* [[Big Well (Kansas)|Big Well]]
* [[Brenham (meteorite)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
{{See also|Kiowa County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Kiowa County, Kansas}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Greensburg, Kansas}}
'''Official sites'''
* [https://www.greensburgks.org/ Greensburg - Official Website]
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260735 Greensburg - Directory of Public Officials]

'''2007 tornado'''
* Damage: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070509023902/http://www.kansas.com/233 Article 1], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070507003356/http://www.kansas.com/static/slides/050507tornadoaerials/ Article 2], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070511235258/http://www.kiowacountysignal.com/map Article 3]
* Recovery: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonperson/sets/72157600245914694/ Article 1], [https://web.archive.org/web/20110111123540/http://stateofthereunion.com/home/season-2/greensburg Article 2], {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080509103943/http://www.greensburggreentown.org/ Article 3]}}, [http://www.kansas.com/2011/07/16/1935704/dawn-for-twilight.html Article 4] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819141245/http://www.kansas.com/2011/07/16/1935704/dawn-for-twilight.html|date=19 August 2012}}), [http://www.kansas.com/2012/05/04/2322701/five-years-later-greensburg-tornado.html Article 5] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709070055/http://www.kansas.com/2012/05/04/2322701/five-years-later-greensburg-tornado.html|date=9 July 2012}})
* Before: [http://www.greensburgks.org/residents/photo-gallery/greensburg-before-the-tornado Photos before 2007 tornado]
* {{YouTube|WPFWAqzb9qA|Greensburg - 5 Years Later}}, from ''Hatteberg's People'' on [[KAKE]] TV news

{{Kiowa County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Kiowa County, Kansas]]
[[Category:County seats in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1885]]