Russell, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Russell is the most populous city in and county seat
of Russell County
, Kansas
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,506.
to Denver
near the site of modern Russell. In 1867, the Kansas Pacific Railway
reached the area and built its own station, also named Fossil Creek, later just Fossil, north of the Butterfield station. That same year, the Kansas
state legislature established the surrounding area as Russell County
. In 1871, colonists from Ripon, Wisconsin
established a permanent settlement at Fossil Station, renaming it Russell after the county. Russell was incorporated and named the provisional county seat in 1872, and, after a two-year dispute with neighboring Bunker Hill
, it became the permanent county seat in 1874. In 1876, Volga Germans, mostly from the area around Saratov
and Samara
in Russia
, began settling in and around Russell.
The first discovery oil well
in Russell County was drilled west of Russell in 1923. An oil boom
ensued and lasted through the 1930s, attracting settlers from Oklahoma
and Texas
. Petroleum
production became a staple of the local economy.
Russell came to national attention in the mid-1990s as the hometown of U.S. Senators
Bob Dole
and Arlen Specter
when both men campaigned for the U.S. presidency
. Dole was born and raised in Russell, and it remained his official place of residence throughout his political career.
region of the Great Plains
approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of the Saline River
and 8 miles (12.9 km) north of the Smoky Hill River
. Fossil Creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill River, passes immediately south of the city where it has been dammed to form a small reservoir
, Fossil Lake. Located in north-central Kansas at the intersection of Interstate 70
and U.S. Route 281
, Russell is approximately 113 miles (181.9 km) northwest of Wichita
, 231 miles (371.8 km) west of Kansas City
, and 336 miles (540.7 km) east-southeast of Denver.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), all of it land.
and humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa)
, Russell experiences hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature is 55 °F (12.5 °C), and the average relative humidity
is 64%. Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of 18 °F (-7.8 °C) in January to an average high of 92 °F (33.3 °C) in July. The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32.2 °C) an average of 59 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 °F (37.8 °C) an average of 11 days a year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 126 days a year. Typically, the first fall freeze occurs by the second week of October, and the last spring freeze occurs by the last week of April. The city is located near the eastern edge of western Kansas's semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk), and precipitation is sometimes scarce. Russell receives 26 inches (660.4 mm) of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received from May through August. There are, on average, 86 days of measurable precipitation each year. Annual snowfall averages 20 inches (50.8 cm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 12 days a year with at least an inch of snow being received on seven of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 26 days a year. On average, January is the coldest month, and July is both the hottest month and the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Russell was 114 °F (46 °C) in 1980; the coldest temperature recorded was -24 °F (-31 °C) in 1989.
was 919.6 people per square mile (355.1/km²). There were 2,393 housing units at an average density of 488.4 per square mile (188.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% White
, 1.0% African American
, 0.6% American Indian
, 0.5% Asian
, 0.6% from some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. 2.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,041 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16, and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city, the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the city was $31,804, and the median income for a family was $53,793. Males had a median income of $30,951 versus $25,112 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,594. About 17.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
with wheat gluten
and ethanol
manufacturing
facilities located in the local industrial park
. Russell County is also one of the leading petroleum producing counties in Kansas.
form of government. The city council
consists of eight members, two elected for each city ward
. The council sets policies and approves the city budget, meeting on the third Tuesday of each month. The city manager
is hired by the council, enforces its policies, serves as its chief adviser, prepares the city budget, and administers city government personnel. The mayor
presides at council meetings, serves as spokesperson for the city, and represents the city in intergovernmental relations.
407) is based in Russell and operates four public schools in the city:
in 1907, finally moving to its current facility in 1962.
and U.S. Route 40
run concurrently
east-west immediately south of Russell, intersecting U.S. Route 281
, which runs north-south through the town, at Exit 184. A U.S. 40 business route
follows U.S. 281 north 1.5 miles to its intersection with the old alignment of U.S. 40, which runs east-west through Russell. The business route then follows the old alignment east, ending at its intersection with I-70 at Exit 189.
Russell Municipal Airport is located southeast of the city on the U.S. 40 business route. Publicly owned, it has two runways, one concrete and one turf, and is used for general aviation
.
The Kansas Pacific (KP) Line of the Union Pacific Railroad
runs east-west through Russell.
AM
FM
-Hutchinson, Kansas
television market
. KAKE
, the ABC
affiliate in Wichita, operates a translator station (K38GH) in Russell which broadcasts on analog channel 38. KBSH-DT, KOCW
, and KSNC
, the respective satellite stations of the CBS
, Fox
, and NBC
affiliates in Wichita, are located in neighboring counties, placing Russell within their broadcast radius. Smoky Hills Public Television
, the PBS affiliate for western Kansas, has its headquarters in nearby Bunker Hill.
livestock sale, carnival, live music, and other entertainment. Other annual events include a Saint Patrick's Day
parade, the Independence Day
Freedom Fireworks Celebration, Chilifest in September, a Veteran's Day parade, and Weihnachtfest, a Christmas
festival held the first Saturday after Thanksgiving
.
Every ten years since 1941, Russell has held Prairiesta, a festival commemorating the city's foundation and celebrating its heritage. Held in June, the festival includes a parade, carnival rides, live music, arts and crafts exhibits, and a historical pageant.
and the wood engravings of local artist E. Hubert Deines. In addition, the Center also hosts concerts, recitals, lectures, readings, and workshops. The Center opened in 1990 with the Deines family's donation of its building, the Deines engravings, and a cash endowment to the city of Russell.
The Fossil Station Museum, also located in downtown Russell, displays artifacts from Russell County history dating back to the mid-1800s. Home to the Russell County Historical Society, the museum is housed in the former sheriff’s office and county jail, a fortress-like structure constructed of native “post rock” limestone in 1907.
The Russell County Historical Society has restored and maintains two examples of early limestone homes built in Russell, the Gernon House and the Heym-Oliver House. The Gernon House was built in 1872 by blacksmith Nicholas Gernon, one of the town’s original settlers, and doubled as a smithery. The Heym-Oliver House was built by settler Nicholas Heym in 1878.
The Oil Patch Museum, located just north of I-70 Exit 184, houses exhibits on area geology and the history of local petroleum
drilling, production, and transportation.
Schools
Historical
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 Russell County
Russell County, Kansas
Russell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 6,970 for the 2010 census...
, 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 4,506.
History
In 1865, the Butterfield Overland Despatch established a short-lived station named Fossil Creek Station along its route from Atchison, KansasAtchison, Kansas
Atchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County...
to Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
near the site of modern Russell. In 1867, the Kansas Pacific Railway
Kansas Pacific Railway
The Kansas Pacific Railway was a historic railroad company that operated in the western United States in the late 19th century. It was a federally chartered railroad, backed with government land grants. It operated many of the first long-distance lines in the state of Kansas in the 1870s,...
reached the area and built its own station, also named Fossil Creek, later just Fossil, north of the Butterfield station. That same year, the 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...
state legislature established the surrounding area as Russell County
Russell County, Kansas
Russell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 6,970 for the 2010 census...
. In 1871, colonists from Ripon, Wisconsin
Ripon, Wisconsin
Ripon is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,828. The City of Ripon's official website claims the city's current population to be 7,701. The city is surrounded by the Town of Ripon....
established a permanent settlement at Fossil Station, renaming it Russell after the county. Russell was incorporated and named the provisional county seat in 1872, and, after a two-year dispute with neighboring Bunker Hill
Bunker Hill, Kansas
Bunker Hill is a city in Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 95.-History:J. B. Corbett and V. Harbaugh, leaders of a colony from Ohio, founded Bunker Hill at a site on the Kansas Pacific Railway in the summer of 1871...
, it became the permanent county seat in 1874. In 1876, Volga Germans, mostly from the area around Saratov
Saratov
-Modern Saratov:The Saratov region is highly industrialized, due in part to the rich in natural and industrial resources of the area. The region is also one of the more important and largest cultural and scientific centres in Russia...
and Samara
Samara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, began settling in and around Russell.
The first discovery oil well
Oil well
An oil well is a general term for any boring through the earth's surface that is designed to find and acquire petroleum oil hydrocarbons. Usually some natural gas is produced along with the oil. A well that is designed to produce mainly or only gas may be termed a gas well.-History:The earliest...
in Russell County was drilled west of Russell in 1923. An oil boom
Oil boom
An oil boom is a boom in the oil producing sector of an economy. Generally, this short period initially brings economical benefits, in term of increased GDP growth, but might later lead to a resource curse.-Consequences:...
ensued and lasted through the 1930s, attracting settlers from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
production became a staple of the local economy.
Russell came to national attention in the mid-1990s as the hometown of U.S. Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
and Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
when both men campaigned for the U.S. presidency
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Dole was born and raised in Russell, and it remained his official place of residence throughout his political career.
Geography
Russell is located at 38°53′23"N 98°51′26"W (38.889807, -98.857113) at an elevation of 1,827 feet (557 m). It lies in the Smoky HillsSmoky Hills
The Smoky Hills are an upland region of hills in the central Great Plains of North America. They are located in the central United States, encompassing north-central Kansas and a small portion of south-central Nebraska. The hills are a dissected plain covered by tallgrass and mixed-grass prairie...
region of the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of the Saline River
Saline River (Kansas)
The Saline River is a tributary of the Smoky Hill River in the central Great Plains of North America. The entire length of the river lies in the U.S. state of Kansas. The river takes its name from the French translation of its Native name Ne Miskua, referring to its salty content.-Geography:The...
and 8 miles (12.9 km) north of the Smoky Hill River
Smoky 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...
. Fossil Creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill River, passes immediately south of the city where it has been dammed to form a small reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
, Fossil Lake. Located in north-central Kansas at the intersection of Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281 is a north–south United States highway. At 1,872 miles long it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route....
, Russell is approximately 113 miles (181.9 km) northwest of Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, 231 miles (371.8 km) west of Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, and 336 miles (540.7 km) east-southeast of Denver.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), all of it land.
Climate
Lying in the transition zone between North America's humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa)Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
and humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa)
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
, Russell experiences hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperature is 55 °F (12.5 °C), and the average relative humidity
Relative humidity
Relative humidity is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor. It is defined as the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture, given as a percentage of the saturated vapor pressure under those conditions...
is 64%. Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of 18 °F (-7.8 °C) in January to an average high of 92 °F (33.3 °C) in July. The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32.2 °C) an average of 59 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 °F (37.8 °C) an average of 11 days a year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 126 days a year. Typically, the first fall freeze occurs by the second week of October, and the last spring freeze occurs by the last week of April. The city is located near the eastern edge of western Kansas's semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk), and precipitation is sometimes scarce. Russell receives 26 inches (660.4 mm) of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received from May through August. There are, on average, 86 days of measurable precipitation each year. Annual snowfall averages 20 inches (50.8 cm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 12 days a year with at least an inch of snow being received on seven of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 26 days a year. On average, January is the coldest month, and July is both the hottest month and the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Russell was 114 °F (46 °C) in 1980; the coldest temperature recorded was -24 °F (-31 °C) in 1989.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 4,506 people, 2,041 households, and 1,216 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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 919.6 people per square mile (355.1/km²). There were 2,393 housing units at an average density of 488.4 per square mile (188.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 1.0% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.6% American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.5% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.6% from some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. 2.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,041 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16, and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city, the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the city was $31,804, and the median income for a family was $53,793. Males had a median income of $30,951 versus $25,112 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 $22,594. About 17.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The economy of Russell is based primarily on agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
with wheat gluten
Wheat gluten
Wheat gluten can refer to:* The gluten found in wheat, a sticky substance composed of the proteins gliadin and glutenin* Wheat gluten , a food prepared from these proteins, such as seitan or wheatmeat...
and ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
facilities located in the local industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
. Russell County is also one of the leading petroleum producing counties in Kansas.
Government
Russell is a city of the second class with a council-mayor-managerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. The city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consists of eight members, two elected for each city ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
. The council sets policies and approves the city budget, meeting on the third Tuesday of each month. The city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
is hired by the council, enforces its policies, serves as its chief adviser, prepares the city budget, and administers city government personnel. The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
presides at council meetings, serves as spokesperson for the city, and represents the city in intergovernmental relations.
Primary and secondary education
Russell County Schools (USDUnified school district
A unified school district or unit school district is a school district which includes both primary school and high school under the same district control....
407) is based in Russell and operates four public schools in the city:
- Simpson Elementary School (Grades K-2)
- Bickerdyke Elementary School (3-5)
- Ruppenthal Middle School (6-8)
- Russell High School (9-12)
Libraries
The Russell Public Library, located downtown, is the city's main library. A member of the Central Kansas Library System, it has a collection of more than 32,000 volumes. The library opened in 1901 and expanded into a Carnegie libraryCarnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
in 1907, finally moving to its current facility in 1962.
Transportation
Interstate 70Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
run concurrently
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
east-west immediately south of Russell, intersecting U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281 is a north–south United States highway. At 1,872 miles long it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route....
, which runs north-south through the town, at Exit 184. A U.S. 40 business route
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
follows U.S. 281 north 1.5 miles to its intersection with the old alignment of U.S. 40, which runs east-west through Russell. The business route then follows the old alignment east, ending at its intersection with I-70 at Exit 189.
Russell Municipal Airport is located southeast of the city on the U.S. 40 business route. Publicly owned, it has two runways, one concrete and one turf, and is used for general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
.
The Kansas Pacific (KP) Line of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
runs east-west through Russell.
Radio
The following radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from Russell:AM
| Frequency | Callsign | Format | City of License 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.... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | KRSL KRSL (AM) KRSL is a radio station licensed to Russell, Kansas, USA, the station serves the west Kansas area. The station is currently owned by White Communications, L.L.C.... |
Classic Country Classic country Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden... |
Russell, Kansas |
FM
| Frequency | Callsign | Format | City of License 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.... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95.1 | K236AT KCCV-FM KCCV is a radio station broadcasting a religious broadcasting music format. Licensed to Overland Park, Kansas, USA, the station is currently owned by Bott Broadcasting Company. The station is the flagship station for the Bott Radio Network.-Affiliate stations:... |
Religious Christian radio Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering... |
Russell, Kansas | Translator of KCCV-FM KCCV-FM KCCV is a radio station broadcasting a religious broadcasting music format. Licensed to Overland Park, Kansas, USA, the station is currently owned by Bott Broadcasting Company. The station is the flagship station for the Bott Radio Network.-Affiliate stations:... , Overland Park, Kansas Overland Park, Kansas -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile... |
| 95.9 | KRSL-FM KRSL-FM KRSL-FM is a radio station licensed to Russell, Kansas, USA. The station is currently owned by White Communications, L.L.C.-History:... |
Classic Hits Classic hits Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format... |
Russell, Kansas | |
Television
Russell is in the WichitaWichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
-Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
television market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
. KAKE
Kake
Kake may refer to:* Kake, Alaska* Kake, Ethiopia* Kake, Hiroshima* Kake, a character created by Tom of Finland* Kake , the actual execution of a technique* KAKE-TV, channel 10 serving Wichita, Kansas...
, the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate in Wichita, operates a translator station (K38GH) in Russell which broadcasts on analog channel 38. KBSH-DT, KOCW
KSAS-TV
KSAS-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Wichita, Kansas. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 from a transmitter in Colwich. The station can also be seen on Cox channel 4 and in high definition on digital channel 2004...
, and KSNC
KSNC
KSNC digital channel 22 is an NBC affiliate based in Great Bend, Kansas. It is owned by New Vision Television, Inc.KSNC is part of the Kansas State Network network of NBC affiliates, repeating the signal of KSNW in Wichita, Kansas, with local advertising and news inserts...
, the respective satellite stations of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, 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...
, and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliates in Wichita, are located in neighboring counties, placing Russell within their broadcast radius. Smoky Hills Public Television
Smoky Hills Public Television
Smoky Hills Public Television is the Public Broadcasting Service member network for 71 counties in central and western Kansas. It is headquartered in a historic native stone building in Bunker Hill, just east of Russell....
, the PBS affiliate for western Kansas, has its headquarters in nearby Bunker Hill.
Events
The city hosts the annual Russell County Free Fair during the last week of July. Sponsored by local businesses and organizations, the Fair includes a 4-H4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
livestock sale, carnival, live music, and other entertainment. Other annual events include a Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
parade, the Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
Freedom Fireworks Celebration, Chilifest in September, a Veteran's Day parade, and Weihnachtfest, a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
festival held the first Saturday after Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
.
Every ten years since 1941, Russell has held Prairiesta, a festival commemorating the city's foundation and celebrating its heritage. Held in June, the festival includes a parade, carnival rides, live music, arts and crafts exhibits, and a historical pageant.
Points of interest
Located in downtown Russell, the Deines Cultural Center is a non-profit art gallery that hosts exhibits featuring the work of local and regional artists. Its permanent collections consist of paintings by Birger SandzénBirger Sandzén
Sven Birger Sandzén , known more commonly as Birger Sandzén, was a Swedish-American painter best known for his landscapes...
and the wood engravings of local artist E. Hubert Deines. In addition, the Center also hosts concerts, recitals, lectures, readings, and workshops. The Center opened in 1990 with the Deines family's donation of its building, the Deines engravings, and a cash endowment to the city of Russell.
The Fossil Station Museum, also located in downtown Russell, displays artifacts from Russell County history dating back to the mid-1800s. Home to the Russell County Historical Society, the museum is housed in the former sheriff’s office and county jail, a fortress-like structure constructed of native “post rock” limestone in 1907.
The Russell County Historical Society has restored and maintains two examples of early limestone homes built in Russell, the Gernon House and the Heym-Oliver House. The Gernon House was built in 1872 by blacksmith Nicholas Gernon, one of the town’s original settlers, and doubled as a smithery. The Heym-Oliver House was built by settler Nicholas Heym in 1878.
The Oil Patch Museum, located just north of I-70 Exit 184, houses exhibits on area geology and the history of local petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
drilling, production, and transportation.
Notable people
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Russell include:- Philip AnschutzPhilip AnschutzPhilip Frederick Anschutz is an American entrepreneur. Anschutz bought out his father's drilling company in 1961 and earned large returns in Wyoming. He has invested in stocks, real estate and railroads...
, billionaire businessman - Wendall AnschutzWendall AnschutzWendall Anschultz was a television newsman for KCTV in Kansas City, Missouri from 1966 until he retired in 2001.Anschultz was born in Russell, Kansas...
, news anchor - Bob DoleBob DoleRobert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
, U.S. SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Kansas, Senate Majority LeaderParty leaders of the United States SenateThe Senate Majority and Minority Leaders are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences that hold the majority and the minority respectively. These leaders serve as the chief Senate spokespeople for their parties and manage and schedule the legislative and executive... - Marj DusayMarj DusayMarj Dusay is an actress known for her roles on American soap operas...
, actress - Arlen SpecterArlen SpecterArlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
, U.S. SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... - Walter SuttonWalter SuttonWalter Stanborough Sutton was an American geneticist and physician whose most significant contribution to present-day biology was his theory that the Mendelian laws of inheritance could be applied to chromosomes at the cellular level of living organisms...
, geneticist
External links
CitySchools
- USD 407, local school district
Historical
Maps
- Russell City Map, KDOT
- Russell County Map, KDOT
- Topo Map of Russell area, USGS