", Visitor Information Center400 W. Wyatt Earp BoulevardDodge City, KS 67801, Phone: 620-225-8186Phone: 800-OLD-WESTTDD/TTY Services: 771 or 800-766-3777. Towns were either pro-slavery or abolitionist. There was initially no law enforcement in the burgeoning settlement, and Dodge City quickly acquired its infamous stamp of lawlessness and gunslinging. Your FOUR-IN-ONE guide to managing your cancer treatment side effects PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY! Find the latest city agendas and minutes. Indeed, its character is so clearly and egregiously bad that one might conclude, were the evidence in the later times positive of its possibility, that it was marked for special Providential punishment., Later an editor of the Hays City Sentinel would write, after visiting Dodge City, Dodge is the Deadwood of Kansas. Earp steps in and promises Miss Pinky a school if Pinkytown joins Dodge City but there isn't enough money. National news coverage of the 1883 Dodge City War civil strife fueled public perceptions of frontier turmoil and established Dodge City as the "Sodom of the West" in the public consciousness. Earp steps in and promises Miss Pinky a school if Pinkytown joins Dodge City but there isn't enough money. 0.1 miles away from Pinky's Grilled Cheestro. Dodge City had more gunfighters working at one time or another than any other town in the West, many of whom participated in the Dodge City War of 1883. With the gunfighters dying with their boots on, Dodge City developed the Boot Hill Cemetery, which was used until 1878. [112] The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City is based in the city. Hays City Sentinel in the late 1800s. [69] The High Plains Journal, a weekly trade journal covering regional agricultural news, is also published in the city. James, a third Masterson brother, was appointed to the Dodge City police force in June of 1878. The gun-toting rule was in effect around the clock, and anyone wearing a gun was immediately jailed. Unfortunately, none of the injuries will prove fatal.. It had saloons, gambling halls, and brothels, including the Long Branch Saloon and China Doll brothel. [36] While the county provided transportation, voters had to arrange for it in advance. It seemed inevitable that the two fastest guns on the western prairie meet in a showdown with .45s. [71][72] Two AM radio stations, seven FM radio stations, and four television stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from the area. was performed in the evening as the main entertainment. Doc stirs up trouble when he tells Miss Pinky Dodge City can't collect taxes from them as they aren't part of the city. This trail was much more dangerous due to the vast spaces of waterless sand hills and increased risk of Indian attacks. Take nothing but photos leave nothing but footprints break nothing but silence kill nothing but time. Many saloons offered some type of musical entertainment - a piano player, a singer, or as in Chalk Beeson's Long Branch, a five-piece orchestra. Her incorporate limits are the rendezvous of all the unemployed scallawagism in seven states. In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. But mostly, he was gambling at the Alhambra and dealing cards at the Long Branch Saloon. [79] The largest is Wright Park, located immediately south of downtown and home to the Dodge City Zoo. Males had a median income of $29,000 versus $26,667 for females. [61] The department's Sanitation Division provides trash pickup. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Denver, CO.[54][55][56], Three railroads serve Dodge City: the La Junta Subdivision of the BNSF Railway, which runs east-west; the main line of the Cimarron Valley Railroad of which Dodge City is the northeastern terminus; and the Boot Hill and Western Railway of which the city is the northwestern terminus. Even today, over 100,000 tourists relive the legend each year by visiting the Boot Hill Museum and the historic Front Street reconstruction. [90] Several other community events are held throughout the year. Alarmed Kansas farmers persuaded the Kansas State Legislature to establish a quarantine line in central Kansas. Dodge City in 1878 had growing pains and had wanted to tax the residents of Pinkytown, a hamlet of shacks and shanties beyond the city limits. [26], The cost of living in Dodge City is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the city is 79.3. [71][73][74] Dodge City is located in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market. Saloon keepers renamed their places, Alamo and Lone Star and served brandies, liqueurs, and the latest mixed drinks. Cowboys at the water tank in Dodge City, Kansas. 1.) Home to the arts, microbreweries, and a variety of unique festivals, Any Disney fans in the family? [47] Other libraries in the city include the DCCC Library, which holds more than 30,000 volumes and serves as a federal depository library, and the Kansas Heritage Center, a non-profit resource center and research library operated by Dodge City USD 443 and dedicated to the history of Kansas, the Great Plains, and the Old West. [32] The city commission consists of five members who serve either two-year or four-year terms, depending on the number of votes they receive. It quickly became a trade center for travelers and buffalo hunters. Well, just about anything, really! Latest reviews, photos and ratings for Pinky's Grilled Cheestro at 2204 E Kansas Ave #1 in Garden City - view the menu, hours, phone number, address and map. W;Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History,Standard Publishing Company; Chicago, Illinois;1912 Soon, another man by the name of George M. Hoover would join Sitler, building Dodge Citys first business, a saloon built of sod and boards. [85][86] The second gallery, the Second Avenue Art Guild, exhibits the work of regional artists in ceramics, photography, and other media. The old Brookville Hotel, Kathy Alexander. [95] Also in July, the Western Kansas Manufacturers Association (WKMA) holds the 3i Show, an agri-business expo of agricultural products, technology, and services. Highly recommend KFC." read more. There are many factors and reasons as to why a community becomes abandoned (or nearly abandoned). Wikipedia, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Kansas State Historical Society Post Office History, Easy Travel Organization Tips You Will Love, Bidwell-Bartleson Party Blazing the California Trail. [136] Other notable natives and residents have included Vaudeville actor and comedian Eddie Foy Sr.,[137] wrestler Sputnik Monroe,[138] and actor Dennis Hopper. Despite Abbyville being such a small town, the rodeo has continued to this day, and it has kept Abbyville on the map. 2204 E Kansas Ave #1, Garden City, KS 67846 (620) 315-4078 Website Order Online Suggest an Edit. On August 15, 1872, a group of businessmen from Forts Dodge, Riley, and Leavenworth, Kansas, organized the Dodge City Town Company and began the planning and development of the townsite. The events at this initial celebration included a bonnet contest, beard contest, antique display, horse show, carnival, and bean dinner. Director Frank McDonald Just six years later in 1871, five miles west of the Fort at the foot of a hill along the Trail, a ranger by the name of Henry L. Sutler constructed a three-room sod house. Sci., 11, 16331644, doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007, 2007. Farmers, during hard times, gathered the buffalo bones and sold them for six to eight dollars a ton. Clifford "Pinky" Busick was the creator of this rodeo, starting with a loan of $10 from his father. 31.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 19.6% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. Cancer-focused advocacies:To spread awareness on breast cancer and healthy living through WEBINARS, Facebook articles and vlogs (Youtube: Glenda Resurreccion).To provide pertinent information, emotional, and spiritual support to cancer warriors, survivors and families through an online support group, PINKY TOWN. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [citation needed]. [91] It begins with a formal Christmas tree lighting downtown, a chili cook-off, and the Parade of Lights, a parade of floats decorated with Christmas lights. The bowl was sanctioned by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and featured schools such as Washburn University and Emporia State University. Business houses, dance halls, and saloons catered to the Texas trade. Kansas is filled with interesting and epic things to do, and that includes road trips! [92] To celebrate Independence Day, the city holds its Old-Fashioned Fourth of July, which includes a fireworks display and children's activities at Boot Hill. No matter what you crave, weve got you covered check out this list of amazing day trips in Kansas everyone should do at least once! Gambling ranged from a game of five-cent "Chuck-a-luck" to thousand-dollar poker pots. . From 1970 to 1980, the annual Boot Hill Bowl post-season college football game was played in Dodge City. There are lots of beautiful places in Kansas, from breathtaking natural beauty to some of the cutest darned little towns youll ever see. [107][108] United Wireless Arena, opened in 2011, is a 5,500-seat multipurpose arena located next to the Boot Hill Casino on the west side of the city. The town site was platted and George M. Hoover established the first bar in a tent to serve thirsty soldiers from Fort Dodge. [113] The city is home to the diocese's current cathedral as well as its former cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Sacred Heart Cathedral, respectively. What are some of the mostbeautiful small towns in Kansas? [119] The Western Kansas Dirt Riders, a motocross team, race at Tumbleweed Raceway adjacent to the Raceway Park. Doc told Wyatt that he thought that Rudabaugh had back-trailed to Kansas. [citation needed], Dodge City is located at 374535N 10016W / 37.75972N 100.01833W / 37.75972; -100.01833 (37.759671, 100.018212) at an elevation of 2,493ft (760m). The event was such a great success for Abbyville that Pinky worked to continue the rodeo as an annual event. Love Kansas? In 1880, Dodge City got a new competitor for the cattle trade from the border town of Caldwell. Pinky's Bar & Grill (5 Reviews) 428 Main St, Courtland, KS 66939, USA . Across the street; however, the post office and a bank are still in business, Kathy Alexander. Founded in 1984, the group performs in both the old depot and the Occident Theater. A city can de-incorporate, but if citizens . She was a graduate of. [122], Starting in the 1870s, the violent episodes of early Dodge City history, particularly the exploits of Wyatt Earp, attracted national media attention. [135], The Bruce Springsteen song If I Was The Priest, on his 2020 album Letter to You, refers to the main character being needed tonight up in Dodge City., Numerous figures of the American Old West lived in Dodge City during its period as a frontier cowtown. There were 9,378 housing units at an average density of 649.5 per square mile (250.8/km2). In spite of all the hazards, this route was preferred by many traders and travelers because there were no mountains to be crossed and the distance to Santa Fe was somewhat shorter than the Mountain Route. Snowfall averages 21.1 inches (54cm) per season, although snowfall has historically ranged from 0.2in (0.51cm) in 190304 to 61.3in (156cm) in 199293. Dodge is the Deadwood of Kansas. The east side of Main Street in Barnard, Kansas has not fared well. [38], Dodge City USD 443 public school district serves over 6,000 students and operates 14 schools in the city, including one early childhood center, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and one alternative school. "If the history of the West has been a mother lode of entertainment riches, Dodge City has been its touchstone. Restaurant Description. Towns that lose their local school to consolidation can no longer root for their home team. Reasonably priced and a lot of food for what you pay for. It is now a PRCA sanctioned event. Add to compare #10 of 152 restaurants in Garden City . Earth Syst. During those five years, the population varied according to the season, swelling during the summer, with the influx of cowboys, buyers, gamblers, and prostitutes. Of the Santa Fe Trail and its many wagon trains, Sitler would later say, If you stood on the hill above Dodge City, there was traffic as far as you could see, 24-hours a day, seven days a week on the Santa Fe Trail.. [4] The community was named for Abby McLean, the first baby born there;[5] its previous name was Nonpariel. Kansas State Historical Society Post Office History List of ghost towns in Kansas Arvonia, located southeast of Reading, Kansas on the shoreline of Melvern Lake This is an incomplete list of ghost towns in the state of Kansas. [46] The library offers several services to the public, including computer classes, public internet access, and programs for children and adults. The median income for a household in the city was $43,750, and the median income for a family was $45,625. Kansas is filled with interesting and epic things to do, and that includes road trips! A hamlet of shacks and shanties beyond the city limits. In 1880, the Santa Fe Railroad reached Santa Fe, marking the Santa Fe Trails deathand the many travelers passing through Dodge City. people search. By the late 1870s, Dodge Citys reputation for lawlessness had spread as far as Washington, D.C. Dodge City became the buffalo capital of the west, and buffalo hides towered along Front Street awaiting shipment. As many buffalo hunters, railroad workers, drifters, and soldiers streamed into the town after long excursions on the prairie, they quickly found the saloons, and the inevitable fights ensued. [13][15], According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.55 square miles (37.68km2), of which 14.44 square miles (37.40km2) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28km2) is water. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.17. Oklahoma! The median age was 38 years. Her principal business is polygamy without the sanction of religion, her code of morals is the honor of thieves, and decency she knows not., In 1878, Doc Holliday arrived in Dodge City with Big Nose Kate Elder, posing as his wife. . One of the directors of the Town Company, a man by the name of Robert M. Wright, would say of this time: Hardly had the railroad reached there, long before a depot could be built, business began; and such a business! [27] The city also hosts farm implement manufacturing and serves as a supply center for area agriculture. What do you think are the best small towns in Kansas? The Kansas City, KS White Pages phone book. At that time, the territory was part of Mexico, and the fort was built to provide protection for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. in Chicken Shop, Fast Food, Chicken Wings. No matter what you crave, weve got you covered , The Ultimate Weekend Itinerary If You Love Spending Time Outdoors In Kansas, Kansas Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary, Stay Overnight In This Breathtaking Cabin Just Steps From A Lake In Kansas, Youll Barely Be Able To Take A Bite Of The Massive Burgers At Big Larrys Burgers In Kansas, The Small Town In Kansas Youve Never Heard Of But Should Definitely Visit, Take This Road Trip Through Kansass Most Picturesque Small Towns For An Unforgettable Experience, The Friendliest Small Town In Kansas Where Everyone Knows Your Name, 11 Small Towns In Kansas That Offer Nothing But Peace And Quiet, Let this article give you some inspiration. In those days, safety from marauding Indians was essential. Pinky's Grilled Cheest Pinky's Grilled Cheestro | Garden City KS The U.S. 50 business route runs concurrently with U.S. 56, U.S. 283, and U.S. 400 at different points through the southern part and around the eastern part of the city. The army abandoned Fort Atkinson in 1853. Populating Boot Hill, Kansas has but one Dodge City, with a broad expanse of territory sufficiently vast for an empire; we have only room for one Dodge City; Dodge, a synonym for all that is wild, reckless, and violent; Hell on the Plains. A Kansas newspaper in the 1870s. During those first years, the population varied according to the season, swelling during the summer with the influx of cowboys, cattle buyers, gamblers, and prostitutes. Dodge City Country Club, the private course, is an 18-hole course built in 1916 and expanded in 1982. reverse address. . The series followed the adventures of fictional U.S. Over time, the level and scale of the violence in early Dodge City were significantly embellished, becoming the stuff of legend. [20], The normal annual mean temperature in Dodge City is 55.4F (13.0C), while the normal monthly daily average temperature ranges from 32.2F (0.1C) in January to 79.6F (26.4C) in July. Marshal Matt Dillon portrayed on radio by William Conrad and then on television by James Arness, as he dealt with gunfighters, cattle rustlers, gamblers and other criminals while enforcing the law in the frontier town. A member of the Southwest Kansas Library System, it has a collection of approximately 123,000 volumes, and it circulates more than 189,000 items annually. Gunfighters and lawmen such as Earp and his brothers and partners became celebrities, and sensationalized versions of their activities entered period popular culture as the subject of dime novels. As the nineteenth century ended, the bragging of the western pioneer furnished an abundance of materials for dime novels, nickelodeons, Hollywood films, radio, and television. Doc stirs up trouble when he tells Miss Pinky Dodge City can't collect taxes from them as they aren't part of the city. Dodge City is a pure definition of the West, a gateway to history that began with the opening of the Santa Fe Trail by William Becknell in 1821 and became a great commercial route between Franklin, Missouri, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, until 1880. For those willing to risk the dangers of waterless sand hills, a shorter route called the Cimarron Cutoff, crossed the river near Dodge City and went southwest to the Cimarron River. Need more ideas? Contact Us. The racial makeup of the city was 97.66% White, and 2.34% from two or more races. Adjacent to the railroad tracks, hastily built frame buildings and tents sprang up, housing two grocery and general merchandise stores, a dance hall, a restaurant, a barbershop, and a blacksmith shop. [63] The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., part of the Mid-Kansas Electric Company, delivers electricity to the city. [32], Dodge City was criticized by Johnny Dunlap, Ford County Democratic Party's chairman, for only having one polling place for 13,000 voters. [139], Reconstructed shops on Front Street at the Boot Hill Museum (2010), Hanging Tree at the Boot Hill Cemetery (1972), "Dodge City" redirects here. Two 5- or 6-year-old children are crowned "Miss Little Britches" and "Uncle Sam" in the parade. [26], In late 2023, Hilmar Cheese is scheduled to open a new $550 million cheese and whey protein processing plant in Dodge City. In 1871, a rancher by the name of Henry L. Sitler constructed a three-room sod house five miles west of Fort Dodge. View the Menu of Pinky's Grilled Cheestro in 2204 E. Kansas Ave Suite 1, Garden City, KS. Trainmasters would take their red caboose lanterns along when visiting the town's "soiled doves" - and the term "red light district" came to life. The median age in the city was 53.5 years. [29] As of 2010, the median home value in the city was $83,300, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,013 for housing units with a mortgage and $450 for those without, and the median gross rent was $571. Hamilton Bell Transforming Wicked Dodge City [100][101], To capitalize on this heritage, the city promotes its downtown business district as historic Old Dodge City complete with Western-themed tourist attractions, shops, and restaurants. As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 27,340 people, 8,777 households, and 6,241 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,893.6 inhabitants per square mile (731.1/km2). [53] Used primarily for general aviation, it hosts one commercial airline with daily flights to www.facebook.com/Pinkys-Bar-Grill-in-Courtland-Kansas-178856808795052/ Beeson also organized and led the famous Cowboy Band which entertained all over the west at cattlemen's conventions, concerts, dances, and in Washington, D.C. at the inauguration of President Harrison. Oh, boy, where do we begin? [103][104] The state of Kansas operates the similarly themed Boot Hill Casino & Resort on the west side of the city when it opened for business in December 2009, Boot Hill became the first state-owned casino in the United States. [123], Dodge City was the setting of the long-running radio and television series Gunsmoke. Kansas is also a cultural place of interest, with Kansas City (both the Kansas and Missouri sides) barbecue being known for its amazingness around the world. Fort Dodge remained in operation until 1882. Cowtowns of Kansas Lawlessness on the Prairie, John Henry Doc Holliday Deadly Doctor of the Frontier, Wyatt Earp Frontier Lawman of the American West, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Hamilton Bell Transforming Wicked Dodge City, Things to do and experience in Dodge City, Easy Travel Organization Tips You Will Love, Bidwell-Bartleson Party Blazing the California Trail. For the town, see, "Cowboy Capital of The World"; "Wicked Little City"; "King of Cowtowns". The community is served by Fairfield USD 310 public school district. [37] A lawsuit over the issue was dismissed after Debbie Cox, the county clerk, agreed to open two polling places in the next election. Dodge City became a boomtown, with thousands of cattle passing annually through its stockyards. This created a hasty need for a local burial place - Boot Hill Cemetery. This page was last edited on 10 March 2023, at 22:52. Built from area limestone in 1881, it is the oldest building in the city still standing at its original site. [110] Located downtown, the Kansas Teachers' Hall of Fame hosts exhibits on education in Kansas and claims to be the first of its kind in the United States. Once called home or visited by such notables as Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Big Nose Kate, and Clay Allison, this old town had a reputation for being the most wicked town in the Old West. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. [26], The median income for a household was $43,994, and the median income for a family was $49,957. Dodge City became known as a true frontier settlement of the Old West. Your FOUR-IN-ONE guide to managing your cancer treatment side effects PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY! Today, 100,000 tourists relive the legend each year by visiting the Boot Hill Museum and historic Front Street reconstruction. Stacks of buffalo hides towered along Front Street - filthy buffalo hunters and traders filled the town's establishments - and the term "stinker" was coined. Take a waterfall-themed road trip across the state, or maybe a small-town road trip is more your style. The long Santa Fe Trail between Franklin, Missouri, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, saw thousands of wagons pass as they traveled the Mountain Branch west of Dodge City along the north bank of the Arkansas River into Colorado. Industry/employment Towns that catered to a specific industry like coal mining or military housing were boom towns that quickly died when their markets collapsed. However, when General William Sherman, Army Commander-in-Chief, ordered the slaughter of buffalo in order to drive the Indians onto reservations, the prairie was littered with decaying carcasses. Established in 1951, it comprises 28 Kansas counties, roughly the southwestern quarter of the state. [13] The city sits above one of the world's largest underground water systems, the Ogallala Aquifer,[14] and is 25 miles (40km) from the eastern edge of the Hugoton Natural Gas Area. The bones were used in the manufacture of china and fertilizer. Though Shermans tactic of killing the buffalo was effective in winning the Indian Wars, it placed hundreds of buffalo hunters out of business. [116], Beyond DCCC sports, Dodge City also hosts amateur baseball and professional motorsports. Earp steps in and promises Miss Pinky a school if Pinkytown joins Dodge City but there isn't enough money.Doc stirs up trouble when he tells Miss Pinky Dodge City can't collect taxes from them as they aren't part of the city. [18] Areas to the west are drier and more strongly semi-arid. Things to do and experience in Dodge City: Boot Hill Museum The museum is open 362 days a year, but plan your trip during the summer months for historical interpreters, exciting gunfights, and other re-enactments. In April 1865, the American Frontier Wars in the West began heating up, and the army constructed Fort Dodge to assist Fort Larned in providing protection on the Santa Fe Trail. [105][106], Dodge City Civic Center and United Wireless Arena are the city's two main indoor event venues. Though Dodge City citizens thought the friendship between Wyatt and Doc was strange, Wyatt ignored them, and Doc kept the law while in Dodge City. In 1872, Dodge City was staked out on the 100th meridian and the legal western boundary of the Fort Dodge reservation. The more businesses that close the more people are apt to want to move away to a bigger town. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Ghost Town List All Kansas Ghost Towns or Near Ghost Towns. Past events at the park have included National Sprint Tour and World of Outlaws races. In 1876, however, the Kansas State Legislature responded to pressure from farmers settling in central Kansas and once again shifted the quarantine line westward, which essentially eliminated Abilene and the other cowtowns from the cattle trade. Every year, the commission selects one commissioner to serve as mayor and another to serve as vice-mayor. Sutler's home, built to oversee his cattle ranch, became a frequent stopping place for buffalo hunters and traders. It includes a full-service pro shop, driving range, and putting green. Pinky's is a fully insured Entertainment Co. that uses top of the line hypoallergenic water based pa Pinky's Face Painting & Entertainment | Greenwood MO For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.52. Join Facebook to connect with Pinky Kase and others you may know. [43] Newman University, a Catholic university based in Wichita, now operates a branch campus on St. Mary of the Plains' former grounds. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. If you can dream it, you can probably do it. Big Springs - Leading the Free-Staters Black Wolf - Another Farm Town Ghost Town Brookville - Another Crazy Cowtown Bloom - Ford County Ghost Bushong - Faded Railroad Town Abbyville hosts the annual Abbyville Frontier Days PRCA Rodeo and BBQ the third weekend of May. There were 4.9% of families and 5.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including 7.9% of under eighteens and none of those over 64. During those early years, Dodge City also acquired an infamous stamp of lawlessness and gun-slinging. [26], There were 8,777 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.9% were non-families. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% male and 48.6% female. In September 1872, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad arrived in Dodge City, which would initiate tremendous growth for many years. Very good to restaurant to dine. The average window for overnight freezes is October 17 through April 21,[22] allowing a growing season of 178 days. By January 1880, Bat Masterson also left Dodge City for the West. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Add to wishlist. [93] Christmas in Old Dodge City, the city's winter holiday festival, starts in late November and lasts until Christmas. The Pinky Town STAGE 3G: GRIT, GRACE AND GRATEFULNESS! Thousands of wagons traveled the Mountain Branch of the trail which went west from Dodge City along the north bank of the Arkansas River into Colorado. The streets of Dodge were lined with wagons, bringing in hides and meat and getting supplies from early morning to late at night I have been to several mining camps where rich strikes had been made, but I never saw any town to equal Dodge.. Go camping at any one of our28 awe-inspiring state parks or take a swim at any of our amazing watering holes. Fort Dodge was established in 1865 on the Santa Fe Trail near the present site of the city, offering protection to wagon trains, the U.S. mail service, and serving as a supply base for troops engaged in the Indian wars. Dodge City history, Queen of the Cowtowns, and the Cowboy Capital, Ford County, Kansas KS. The population density was 457.9 inhabitants per square mile (176.8/km2). A pink building on 43 rd and Troost called "A Splash of Life" is on the city's dangerous building list, and will likely be demolished, the city says. 8033 W 159th St, Overland Park, KS 66223 (913) 215-9664. You can also simply choose a back road and start driving there are so many places around the state that are simply beautiful, consisting of rolling green hills and endless blue skies. [121] From 2000 to 2007, the city was home to a minor league professional basketball team, the Dodge City Legend of the United States Basketball League. [1][12] It lies on the Arkansas River in the High Plains region of the Great Plains. For ten more years, over five million head of cattle were driven up the Western Trail (earlier known as the Texas Trail) to Dodge City.