Editing Greensburg, Kansas (section)

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

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

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

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