Editing Hutchinson, Kansas (section)

==Economy==
Salt was discovered in Reno County by Benjamin Blanchard on September 26, 1887.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/v2/996.html |title=Kansas and Kansans Ch. p. 996-1009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209134049/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/v2/996.html |archive-date=February 9, 2006 }}</ref> This gave rise to the first salt-processing plants west of the [[Mississippi River]]. Salt was originally extracted using the evaporation method by pumping water into [[brine]] wells. In 1923, the Carey Salt Company<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/bioc/careye.html |title=Emerson Carey |publisher=Skyways.lib.ks.us |access-date=2010-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513234627/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/bioc/careye.html |archive-date=May 13, 2011 }}</ref> opened the only [[salt mine]] in Hutchinson, which then produced [[halite|rock salt]]. That mine is still in use today and is now operated by Hutchinson Salt Company. [[Cargill]] and [[Morton Salt]] also have evaporative salt plants in Hutchinson.

Excavated portions of the mine are used for archival storage of movie and television masters, data tapes, and permanent business records. Underground Vaults & Storage<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.undergroundvaults.com/|title=Underground Vaults & Storage|website=www.undergroundvaults.com|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> currently houses the masters for ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' (1939), ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'' (1939), and ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977), among many others.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bellaonline.com/Article.asp?id=1616|title= Hollywood's Underground Treasures - Classic Film<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref>

The world's longest [[grain elevator]] was built in Hutchinson in 1961.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

[[Dillons|Dillon's]] grocery stores was established in Hutchinson by J.S. Dillon in the 1920s (originated in [[Sterling, Kansas]]). Dillon's merged with [[Kroger|The Kroger Co.]] in 1983. The company still operates a distribution center and headquarters for Dillons and [[Kwik Shop]] in town.

The [[Eaton Corporation]] operates a [[hydraulics]] plant in Hutchinson. On August 22, 2006, Eaton announced it would keep the Hutchinson plant open because of a $1 million economic incentive from the City of Hutchinson and a $2 million incentive from the State of Kansas. 155 assembly jobs were moved to the [[Reynosa, Tamaulipas|Reynosa, Mexico]] plant in June 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksn.com/news/local/3843876.html |title=Eaton Corporation announces they will maintain Hutchinson plant |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080717001407/http://www.ksn.com/news/local/3843876.html |archive-date=July 17, 2008 }}</ref>

On September 2, 2008, the Hutchinson Hospital changed its name to Promise Regional Medical Center. In 2012, it changed its name again to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knssradio.com/Hutchinson-Hospital-Name-Change/2892929 |title=Hutchinson Hospital Name Change |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713163249/http://www.knssradio.com/Hutchinson-Hospital-Name-Change/2892929 |archive-date=July 13, 2011 }}</ref>

Lowen Corporation,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lowen.com |title=Lowen Corporation Home Page |publisher=Lowen.com |access-date=2010-06-02 |archive-date=July 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712154534/https://lowen.com/ }}</ref> founded in 1950 in a converted garage behind C.W. "Mike" Lowen's house, is a provider of graphic solutions. Lowen Sign Company, Lowen Color Graphics, and Lowen Certified are located in Hutchinson.

[[Collins Bus]] Corporation resides just outside Hutchinson and is the leading{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} small school bus manufacturer in North America.

[[StraightLine HDD]], a leading [[Directional boring|directional drill]] tooling manufacturer, has a {{convert|70000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. manufacturing plant in Hutchinson.

In May 2009, [[Siemens]] announced it would open its American [[wind turbine]] [[Nacelle (wind turbine)|nacelle]] assembly facility in Hutchinson. The facility was expected to begin producing in 2010 and to create 400 jobs in Hutchinson.<ref>{{cite web|first = Daniel| last = McCoy| url = http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2009/05/04/daily14.html|title = Siemens plans wind turbine facility in Hutchinson| publisher = bizjournals.com| date = May 4, 2009|access-date = May 27, 2009}}</ref>

Kuhn-Krause operates a huge manufacturing plant in Hutchinson, manufacturing agricultural equipment and housing one of two Kuhn factories in North America.{{cn|date=February 2025}}