Junction City, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Junction City is a city in and the county seat
of Geary County
, Kansas
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 23,353. Fort Riley
, a major U.S. Army
post, is nearby. Junction City is part of the Manhattan, Kansas
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
and Republican
on the west side where they merge to form the Kansas River
. In 1853, Fort Riley
was established on the northeast side of the confluence.
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). 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. It was formally incorporated in 1859.
In 1923, John R. Brinkley
established Radio Station KFKB (which stood for ‘’Kansas First, Kansas Best’’) using a 1 kW transmitter. It is one of the first—if not the very 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.
Among its 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. In the 1980s a major initiative was undertaken to clean up the Ninth St. area.
Timothy McVeigh
rented the Ryder truck he used in the Oklahoma City bombing
from an auto body shop in Junction City.
, the city has a total area of 7.6 square miles (19.7 km²), of which, 7.6 square miles (19.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.53%) is water.
The area receives over 32 inches (812.8 mm) of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received during May, June, and July—with a combined 29 days of measurable precipitation. During a typical year the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 23 to 43 inches (1,092.2 mm). There are on average 86 days of measurable precipitation per year. Winter snowfall averages less than 14 inches (355.6 mm), but the median is just over 7 inches (177.8 mm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 6 days per year with at least an inch of snow being received on four of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 17 days per year.
of 2000, there were 18,886 people, 7,492 households, and 5,079 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,500.8 people per square mile (965.8/km²). There were 8,740 housing units at an average density of 1,157.3 per square mile (447.0/km²). 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.
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.
. Several thousand housing units are currently under construction or completed within numerous new subdivisions. The construction of new homes had slowed in 2008, but has become brisk once again with the Army's prediction of a shortfall of 1200 family housing units in the region. This shortfall is for married soldiers only and does not include civilian support staff, or the doctors, nurses, and staff of the new $450,000,000 hospital that is currently under construction on post.
Print
Newspapers
s are licensed
to Junction City:
AM
FM
s are licensed
to Junction City:
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 Geary County
Geary County, Kansas
Geary County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 34,362. Its county seat and most populous city is Junction City. The county is named in honor of Governor John W. Geary...
, 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 23,353. Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, a major U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
post, is nearby. Junction City is part of the Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Junction City is located between the Smoky HillSmoky Hill River
The Smoky Hill River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America, running through the U.S. states of Colorado and Kansas.-Names:The Smoky Hill gets its name from the Smoky Hills region of north-central Kansas through which it flows...
and Republican
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:...
on the west side where they merge to form the Kansas River
Kansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
. In 1853, Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
was established on the northeast side of the confluence.
In 1854, Andrew J. Mead of New York of the Cincinnati-Manhattan Company, Free Staters connected to the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company
Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company
The New England Emigrant Aid Company was a transportation company created to transport immigrants to the Kansas Territory to shift the balance of power so that Kansas would enter the United States as a free state rather than a slave state...
planned a community there called Manhattan (there was also a discussion to call it New Cincinnati). 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
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
. 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. It was formally incorporated in 1859.
In 1923, John R. Brinkley
John R. Brinkley
John Romulus Brinkley was a controversial American medical doctor who experimented with xenotransplantation of goat glands into humans as a means of curing male impotence in clinics across several states, and an advertising and radio pioneer who began the era of Mexican border blaster radio...
established Radio Station KFKB (which stood for ‘’Kansas First, Kansas Best’’) using a 1 kW transmitter. It is one of the first—if not the very 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.
Among its residents is film director Kevin Wilmott whose movies including Ninth Street
Ninth Street
Ninth Street is a 1999 black-and-white drama, written by Kevin Willmott.The movie is rated R by the MPAA for language, a scene of sexuality and some violent content...
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. In the 1980s a major initiative was undertaken to clean up the Ninth St. area.
Timothy McVeigh
Timothy McVeigh
Timothy James McVeigh was a United States Army veteran and security guard who detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995...
rented the Ryder truck he used in the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
from an auto body shop in Junction City.
Geography
Junction City is located at 39°1′39"N 96°50′25"W (39.027519, -96.840351). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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...
, the city has a total area of 7.6 square miles (19.7 km²), of which, 7.6 square miles (19.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.53%) is water.
Climate
Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of about 15 °F (-9.4 °C) in January to an average high of 90 °F (32.2 °C) in July. The maximum temperature reaches 90 °F (32.2 °C) an average of 47 days per year and reaches 100 °F (37.8 °C) an average of 7 days per year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point (32 °F) an average of 126 days per year. Typically the first fall freeze occurs during the month of October, and the last spring freeze occurs during the month of April.The area receives over 32 inches (812.8 mm) of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received during May, June, and July—with a combined 29 days of measurable precipitation. During a typical year the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 23 to 43 inches (1,092.2 mm). There are on average 86 days of measurable precipitation per year. Winter snowfall averages less than 14 inches (355.6 mm), but the median is just over 7 inches (177.8 mm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 6 days per year with at least an inch of snow being received on four of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 17 days per year.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes: Temperature Temperature Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot... s are in degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation Precipitation (meteorology) In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation... includes rain Rain Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface... and melted snow Snow Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by... or sleet Ice pellets Ice pellets are a form of precipitation consisting of small, translucent balls of ice. Ice pellets usually are smaller than hailstones. They often bounce when they hit the ground, and generally do not freeze into a solid mass unless mixed with freezing rain... in inches; median Median In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to... values are provided for precipitation and snowfall because mean Arithmetic mean In mathematics and statistics, the arithmetic mean, often referred to as simply the mean or average when the context is clear, is a method to derive the central tendency of a sample space... averages may be misleading. Mean and median values are for the 30-year period 1971–2000; temperature extremes are for the station's period of record (1965–2001). The station is located northwest of Junction City at Milford Lake Milford Lake Milford Lake is the largest man-made lake in Kansas with of water. Over of land resources are managed for quality recreational experiences as well as for protection of the project’s natural and cultural resources... at 39°4′N 96°54′W, elevation 1210 feet (369 m). |
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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 18,886 people, 7,492 households, and 5,079 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 2,500.8 people per square mile (965.8/km²). There were 8,740 housing units at an average density of 1,157.3 per square mile (447.0/km²). 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
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 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
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, 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.
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
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 $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.
Growth
As of recently, the city has been experiencing a major growth due to the return of the 1st Infantry Division to Fort RileyFort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
. Several thousand housing units are currently under construction or completed within numerous new subdivisions. The construction of new homes had slowed in 2008, but has become brisk once again with the Army's prediction of a shortfall of 1200 family housing units in the region. This shortfall is for married soldiers only and does not include civilian support staff, or the doctors, nurses, and staff of the new $450,000,000 hospital that is currently under construction on post.
Government
Junction City has a City Manager/City 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
There were over 678 new students this school year, 2009–2010, in USD 475 breaking all records for enrollment in the school district.- The Daily UnionThe Daily UnionThe Daily Union is the city newspaper for Junction City, Geary County, Kansas, United States, and one of the oldest in the state.The paper had its origin in the Smoky Hill and Republican Union which began publishing on September 19, 1861, founded by George W. Kingsbury...
, daily - The Fort Riley Post, weekly
- The Junction City Daily Union Plus, weekly
Radio
The following radio stationRadio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s are licensed
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....
to Junction City:
AM
| Frequency | Callsign | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1420 | KJCK KJCK (AM) KJCK is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Junction City, Kansas, USA, the station serves the Salina-Manhattan area. The station is currently owned by Platinum Broadcasting Co., Inc. and features programing from ABC Radio , Sporting News Radio and Westwood... |
News News Radio News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format.... /Talk Talk radio Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live... |
|
FM
| Frequency | Callsign | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92.3 | K222AX | Contemporary Christian | Translator of KJRL-FM, Herington Herington, Kansas Herington is a city in Dickinson and Morris counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. Named after its founder, Monroe Davis Herington. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,526.-19th century:... |
| 97.5 | KJCK-FM KJCK-FM KJCK-FM is a Top 40 music formatted radio station owned by Platinum Broadcasting , along with sister stations KJCK "1420 KJCK The Talk of JC" and KQLA "Q 103.5". The station is broadcast from Junction City, Kansas, broadcasting on 97.5 MHz with an ERP of 100,000 kW... |
Pop CHR Contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts... |
|
Television
The following television stationTelevision station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
s are licensed
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....
to Junction City:
| Digital Channel | Analog Channel | Callsign | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | KTLJ-CA KTMJ-CA KTMJ-CA is the Class A Fox-affiliated television station for Topeka, Kansas. It broadcasts an analog signal on UHF channel 43 from a transmitter in the city between the Kansas River and I-70/U.S. 40/U.S. 75/KS 4... |
Fox Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the... |
Satellite of KTMJ-CA KTMJ-CA KTMJ-CA is the Class A Fox-affiliated television station for Topeka, Kansas. It broadcasts an analog signal on UHF channel 43 from a transmitter in the city between the Kansas River and I-70/U.S. 40/U.S. 75/KS 4... , Topeka Topeka, Kansas Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was... |
|
| 25 | K25DS K25DS K25DS is a television station in Junction City, Kansas. As a TBN owned-and-operated station, it is currently a repeater that broadcasts programming from the Trinity Broadcasting Network, via satellite. The station broadcasts its analog signal on UHF channel 25.-External links:*... |
TBN Trinity Broadcasting Network The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New... |
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Notable people
- Joey DevineJoey DevineJoseph Neal "Joey" Devine is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Atlanta Braves:...
, (born 1983), Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcherRelief pitcherA relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. - Franklin LashleyFranklin LashleyFranklin Roberto "Bobby" Lashley is an American mixed martial artist, actor,and a former collegiate amateur wrestler. During his professional wrestling career, he was best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment , where he was a one-time United States Champion and a two-time world...
, (born 1976), mixed martial artistMixed martial artsMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
, former professional wrestlerProfessional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, and a former collegiate amateur wrestler. - Joseph Stanley Pennell, author of the 1944 novel The History of Rome Hanks and Kindred Matters, was born in Junction City on July 4, 1903.
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
CitySchools
- USD 475, local school district
Maps
- Junction City Map, KDOT
- Geary County Map, KDOT