Editing Arkansas City, Kansas

{{Short description|City in Cowley County, Kansas}}
{{For|the city in Arkansas (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑːr|k|ən|s|ɔː}})|Arkansas City, Arkansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Arkansas City, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = Ark City

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Arkansas City Commercial Historic District.JPG
|image_caption            = Summit Avenue looking north (2013)
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Cowley_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Arkansas_City_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley County]] and [[Kansas]]
|image_map1               = Map of Cowley Co, Ks, USA.png
|map_caption1             = [[Kansas Department of Transportation|KDOT]] map of [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley County]] ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|legend]])

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|04|22|N|97|02|19|W|region:US-KS_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1870
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1884
|named_for                =

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          = <!-- [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]] -->
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              =
|leader_title1            = [[City Manager]]
|leader_name1             = Randy Frazer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkcity.org/government/city_manager/index.php|title=City Manager Department|website=arkcity.org|access-date=January 7, 2020}}</ref>

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_20.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 9.34
|area_land_sq_mi          = 9.32
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
|area_total_km2           = 24.18
|area_land_km2            = 24.13
|area_water_km2           = 0.05
|area_water_percent       = 0.21
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1086

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/><ref name="Census-2020-QF"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 11974
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|population_est           =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 67005
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 620|620]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 20-02300
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 485541<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|485541}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.arkcity.org/|arkcity.org}}
}}

'''Arkansas City''' ({{IPAc-en|ɑːr|ˈ|k|æ|n|z|ə|s}}) is a city in [[Cowley County, Kansas]], United States,<ref name="GNIS"/> situated at the confluence of the [[Arkansas River|Arkansas]] and [[Walnut River|Walnut rivers]] in the southwestern part of the county.  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 11,974.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Arkansas City, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2002300 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406113201/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2002300 |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Census-2020-QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Arkansas City, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/arkansascitycitykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826035855/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/arkansascitycitykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 26, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Pronunciation of city name ==
The name of this city is not pronounced like the nearby state of [[Arkansas]], but rather as {{IPAc-en|ɑːr|ˈ|k|æ|n|z|ə|s}} (the final "s" is pronounced, and it rhymes with Kansas).<ref name=":0a">{{Cite web |last=Yarborough |first=India |title=Can you pronounce these 10 city names correctly? If so, there's a good chance you're from Kansas. |url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2021/09/30/you-know-youre-from-kansas-how-to-pronounce-these-words-cities-correctly/5898868001/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=The Topeka Capital-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> Over the years there has been much confusion about the regional pronunciation of "Arkansas", which locals render as {{IPAc-en|ɑːr|ˈ|k|æ|n|z|ə|s}} rather than {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑːr|k|ən|s|ɔː}}.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/arkansas%20city?r=14 Pronunciation Guide]</ref>  Throughout much of Kansas, residents also use this alternative pronunciation when referring to the [[Arkansas River]].<ref name=":0a" />

The city is also known as "Ark City".<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.arkcity.org/bc-vacbot/page/visit-ark-city-board-trustees-meeting-45| title=Visit Ark City Board of Trustees Meeting| publisher=City of Arkansas City, Kansas| accessdate=September 21, 2023}}</ref>

== History ==

===Early history===
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
Present-day Arkansas City sits on the site of an [[Wichita people|ancestral Wichita]] city, [[Etzanoa]], which flourished from 1450 to 1700 and had an estimated population of 20,000.<ref name="kelly">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=David |title=Archaeologists explore a rural field in Kansas, and a lost city emerges |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-kansas-lost-city-20180819-htmlstory.html |access-date=8 December 2018 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=19 August 2018}}</ref> 

In 1601, New Mexico Governor [[Juan de Oñate]] led an expedition across the [[Great Plains]] and found a large settlement of Indians he called [[Rayado tribe|Rayados]]. They lived along the [[Walnut River (Kansas)|Walnut River]] in the eastern part of Arkansas City. Extensive remains of Indian settlements have been found along {{Convert|6|mi|spell=in}} of the Walnut River.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wenzl |first=Roy |date=April 24, 2017 |title=Its location a mystery for centuries, huge Indian city may have been found in Kansas |work=The Kansas City Star}}</ref> The Rayados were the ancestors of the Indians later called [[Wichita people|Wichita]]. Wichita settlements from the 18th century are also found a few miles south of Arkansas City on the west bank of the Arkansas River.<ref>Vehik, Susan C. "Onate's Expedition to the Southern Plains: Routes, Destinations, and Implications for Late Prehistoric Cultural Adaptations." ''Plains Anthropologist'', Vol 31, No. 111, 1986, 13–33</ref>

===19th century===
[[Image:"Boomers Camp. Arkansas City, Kan. Waiting For the Strip To Open Mar. 1st, 1893." - NARA - 516453.jpg|thumb|left|[[Boomers (Oklahoma settlers)|Boomer]] camp at Arkansas City waiting for [[Land Run of 1893]] in [[Oklahoma]]]]
European-American settlers first congregated in the area where Arkansas City now stands in the 1860s. 

Settlers established a town in 1870. They had difficulty choosing a name; early names included Adelphia, Creswell, and Walnut City before the present name was chosen.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ | title=Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society | publisher=Kansas State Printing Plant | author=Kansas State Historical Society | year=1916 | page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5zdAAQAAMAAJ/page/n275 168]}}</ref> The first post office in Arkansas City was established on May 16, 1870.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:CL |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived) |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |access-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009131700/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county%3ACL |archive-date=October 9, 2013 }}</ref>

In 1877, the [[Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company]] built a branch line from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]] to [[El Dorado, Kansas|El Dorado]], in 1881 it was extended to [[Douglass, Kansas|Douglass]], and later to Arkansas City.<ref>''Marion County Kansas : Past and Present''; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; [[LCCN]] 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.</ref>  The line was leased and operated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]].  The line from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]] to [[El Dorado, Kansas|El Dorado]] was abandoned in 1942.<ref name="Abandon Railway 1942">[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Florence_to_El_Dorado Railway Abandonment 1942]</ref>  The original branch line connected [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]], [[Burns, Kansas|Burns]], [[De Graff, Kansas|De Graff]], [[El Dorado, Kansas|El Dorado]], [[Augusta, Kansas|Augusta]], [[Douglass, Kansas|Douglass]], [[Rock, Kansas|Rock]], [[Akron, Kansas|Akron]], [[Winfield, Kansas|Winfield]], and Arkansas City.

Arkansas City grew steadily through the latter part of the 19th century, and enjoyed a population explosion starting in 1891, when thousands of people moved into the area in anticipation of the [[Cherokee Outlet|Cherokee Strip Land Run]].

===20th century===
At the turn of the century, Arkansas City was a rival to Wichita in size and enterprise, boasting several busy [[rail transportation|rail lines]], an elegant opera house, numerous fine hotels, a manufacturing base and a bustling agricultural economy. A popular swimming hole called Paris Lake was located west of downtown; the lake&mdash;and the hot springs at Geuda as well&mdash;was mired with silt in a flood about 1919. Nearly 20 years later the WPA would build the Paris Park pool in the same spot.  African Americans were not allowed to swim in the Paris Park pool during the era of [[Racial segregation|segregation]] and used a separate facility colloquially referred to as "the black pool" by local residents.{{citation needed|date=March 2011}}

The Kirkwood Wind Engine Company, a former [[windmill]] manufacturer, was headquartered in Arkansas City near the turn of the 20th century;{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} the now-defunct [[Kanotex Refining Company]] established a [[oil refinery|refinery]] and headquarters in the city in 1917.<ref>{{cite web |first= Aspen |last= Junge |date= June 30, 2010 |url= http://www.kdheks.gov/remedial/articles/refining_history.pdf |title= Refining History |publisher= Kansas Department of Health and Environment |access-date= May 5, 2012 |archive-date= January 27, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180127115436/http://www.kdheks.gov/remedial/articles/refining_history.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>

During the 1920s, Arkansas City had an active group of [[Ku Klux Klan]]. The group was mostly concentrated in south-central and south-east Kansas.  The state took action to shut down the group, and most Klans disbanded by 1927.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031019130216/http://kancoll.org/khq/1974/74_3_sloan.htm Kansas Battles the Invisible Empire: The Legal Ouster of the KKK from Kansas during 1922-1927; Kansas State Historical Society; 1974.]</ref>

In 1928, the city's official fall festival, Arkalalah, was inaugurated. This annual event still draws thousands of visitors each October, and features a queen, a carnival, dozens of homegrown fair food vendors and a spectacular parade typically lasting two hours or more. During the 1955 Arkalalah celebration, retired [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Santa Fe]] steam locomotive 2542 was dedicated in Wilson Park, where it remains today.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://arkansascity.advantage-preservation.com/search?k=dedication&st=1466&co=1464&i=f&d=10/26/1955-10/27/1955&bcn=1&m=between|title=Digital Archives of the Arkansas City Public Library|work=Arkansas City Daily Traveler}}</ref>

The city prospered through much of the 20th century, but by the 1980s, the community was facing economic challenges. The railroads shifted many of their crews to other stops, the old Rodeo meat packing plant, which for a short time was Morrell Meats, closed. The only passenger train that served the city, [[Amtrak]]'s [[Lone Star (Amtrak train)|Lone Star]], was discontinued. In 1996 Total Petroleum closed their refinery in Ark City with a loss of 170 jobs. By 2003 other large employers in Cowley County closed operations. The [[Binney & Smith Inc.|Binney & Smith]] ([[Crayola]]) plant closed with a loss of 400 jobs. Winfield State Hospital and Gordon Piatt Industries were closed in nearby Winfield with a combined loss of 973 jobs. Montgomery KONE Elevator and Central Plains Book Manufacturing at nearby Strother Field were also shuttered.{{citation needed|date=March 2011}}

===21st century===
Arkansas City is now home to state-of-the-art meat processor Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC which employs over 1100 workers. Several smaller manufacturing companies are expanding their operations while new start ups are finding a home in Cowley County due in part to the workforce supplied by the two local colleges in the county. Both cities, only {{Convert|11|mi}} apart, now have large [[Wal-Mart]] stores (a new Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in Arkansas City in March 2006, and another has been constructed in Winfield, Kansas); conversely, both towns' (in Arkansas City&mdash;the Burford, the Howard, and the Crest) movie theaters recently closed and were replaced by a single facility halfway between the cities, just south of the Strother Field industrial park. B & B Theatres donated the two downtown buildings to non-profit organizations in each of the respective communities. The Ark City Burford Theatre and Commercial Building is undergoing a transformation/renovation that will become a new community arts center and gathering space. Construction began in spring 2006 on the planned downtown revitalization streetscape.{{citation needed|date=March 2011}}

In 2006, the local physicians in Arkansas City banded together with the South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center (SCKRMC) board and the City of Arkansas City to build a new hospital, which opened in March 2011.<ref name=wicheagle01>{{cite news|last=Siebenmark|first=Jerry|title=New hospital to open in Ark City|url=http://www.kansas.com/2011/03/13/1760942/new-hospital-to-open-in-ark-city.html|access-date=June 25, 2011|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|date=March 13, 2011}}</ref>

In 2010, the [[Keystone Pipeline|Keystone-Cushing Pipeline]] (Phase II) was constructed west of Arkansas City, north to south through [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley County]], with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).<ref>[http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ Keystone Pipeline – ''Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal''; April 18, 2010.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022015437/http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ |date=October 22, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/dec/10/transcanada-inspecting-keystone-pipeline/ Keystone Pipeline – ''TransCanada inspecting pipeline''; December 10, 2010.]</ref>

In recent years, there have been proposals to extend [[Amtrak]] passenger rail service for the ''[[Heartland Flyer]]'' from [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma|Oklahoma City]] to [[Newton, Kansas|Newton]] with new stops in Kansas at Arkansas City and [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]], but it has not been approved yet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2021 |title=Heartland Flyer Extension |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d3271f075cae42139e0b3ef7f5060ae7 |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=storymaps.arcgis.com |publisher=Amtrak Connect Us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Could Kansans soon hop a train to Texas? Billions in federal funding might mean yes. |url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2023/01/30/heartland-flyer-passenger-rail-train-service-could-come-to-kansas/69856310007/ |publisher=Topeka Capital-Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203215148/https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2023/01/30/heartland-flyer-passenger-rail-train-service-could-come-to-kansas/69856310007/ |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |date=January 30, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Arkansas City is situated along the northern bank of the [[Arkansas River]] and to the west of its confluence with the [[Walnut River]]. It is located at the junction of [[U.S. Route 77 in Kansas|U.S. routes 77]] and [[U.S. Route 166|166]], only {{Convert|4|mi|spell=in}} north of the [[Kansas]]-[[Oklahoma]] border. [[Winfield, Kansas|Winfield]], the [[county seat]], is {{convert|13|mi|km}} north of Arkansas City along US-77, and [[Strother Field]], a general aviation airport, is approximately {{convert|8|mi|spell=in}} north. Arkansas City is located {{Convert|54|mi}} southeast of [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.38|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|9.36|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-07-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Arkansas City has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=313041&cityname=Arkansas+City%2C+Kansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Arkansas City, Kansas]</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
| align = right
| 1880 = 1012
| 1890 = 8347
| 1900 = 6140
| 1910 = 7508
| 1920 = 11253
| 1930 = 13946
| 1940 = 12752
| 1950 = 12903
| 1960 = 14262
| 1970 = 13216
| 1980 = 13201
| 1990 = 12762
| 2000 = 11963
| 2010 = 12415
| 2020 = 11974
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 11765
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]<br/>2010-2020<ref name="Census-2020-QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]] counted 11,974 people, 4,467 households, and 2,762 families in Arkansas City.<ref name=:0>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The population density was 1,285.2 per square mile (496.2/km{{sup|2}}). There were 5,382 housing units at an average density of 577.7 per square mile (223.0/km{{sup|2}}).<ref name=:0 /><ref>{{Cite web   |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/geo/gazetter-file.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Census.gov}}</ref> The racial makeup was 69.69% (8,345) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (64.56% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 3.13% (375) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 3.17% (380) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]], 0.43% (52) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.79% (94) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]], 8.43% (1,010) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 14.35% (1,718) from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 21.82% (2,613) of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 4,467 households, 32.5% had children under the age of 18; 40.2% were married couples living together; 30.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 32.3% of households consisted of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 3.0.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 12.7% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

26.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.3 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 108.7 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $46,331 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,847) and the median family income was $56,522 (+/- $5,710).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1903?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Males had a median income of $33,097 (+/- $2,008) versus $26,731 (+/- $2,569) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $30,455 (+/- $1,980).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S2001?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 12.4% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.9% of those under the age of 18 and 6.4% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1702?q=Arkansas%20City%20city,%20Kansas%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 12,415 people, 4,802 households, and 3,030 families residing in the city.<ref name="Census2010">{{cite web|title=2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=March 6, 2011 |df=mdy }}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1326.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,646 housing units at an average density of {{convert|603.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 79.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 8.7% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 4.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 17.3% of the population.

There were 4,802 households, of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age in the city was 33.8 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 22.7% were from 45 to 64; and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 11,963 people, 4,855 households, and 3,102 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,592.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,628 housing units at an average density of {{convert|749.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 87.15% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|White]], 4.51% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|African American]], 2.69% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Native American]], 0.64% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Pacific Islander]], 1.95% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|other races]], and 3.04% from two or more races. [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Hispanic]] or [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Latino]] of any race were 4.47% of the population.

There were 4,855 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The [[Median household income|median income for a household]] in the city was $29,158, and the median income for a family was $39,962. Males had a median income of $30,665 versus $19,919 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,933. About 12.4% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==
[[Image:Old Arkansas City High School.JPG|thumb|right|Old Arkansas City High School (2013)]]
The community is served by the [[Arkansas City USD 470]] public school district.

Professor H. B. Norton first hosted a school in his home when Arkansas City was first established. The public school system began development in 1872.<ref>Ferguson, Heather D. ''Arkansas City: People, Places, and Events''. [[Arcadia Publishing]], 2011. {{ISBN|0738560499}}, 9780738560496. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=73ziitiw0xoC&pg=PA105 105].</ref>

[[Cowley County Community College|Cowley College]], formerly Cowley County Community College, is located between 1st and 4th streets, and Central and Adams Avenues in Arkansas City. Cowley is a community college and vocational/technical school with more than 68 majors and degree options. It began in 1922 in the basement of Arkansas City High School. Other campuses include: Aviation Tech Center ([[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]]), Allied Health Center ([[Winfield, Kansas|Winfield]], Kansas), Career & Technical Education Center ([[Mulvane, Kansas|Mulvane]], Kansas), and Bloomenshine Center (Mulvane). Its primary buildings are the Brown Center Theatre, W.S. Scott Auditorium, Renn-Memorial Library, Kerr Building, Walker Industrial Technology Building, Ben Cleveland Wellness Center, Kerr Building, Galle-Johnson Hall and four separate dormitories: Storbeck, Kirke W. Dale, Docking, and Kimmell. The college also owns one of the old high school buildings (Ireland Hall), which houses its criminal justice and cosmetology classes. The most recent building, Webb-Brown, is located on the Eastern corner of 3rd and Washington, replacing the former Ark City Junior High School.{{citation needed|date=March 2011}}

==Media==
{{See also|Media in Wichita, Kansas|List of newspapers in Kansas|List of radio stations in Kansas|List of television stations in Kansas}}

===Print===
* ''[[The Arkansas City Traveler]]''
* ''[[The Winfield Daily Courier]]'' for nearby Winfield

===Radio===
* [[KSOK (AM)|KSOK]], 1280 AM, Country
* [[KAXR]], 91.3 FM, Religious
* [[KACY]], 102.5 FM, Classic hits
* [[KYQQ]], 106.5 FM, Spanish

== Notable people ==
<!--- Please list only people who have spent a significant amount of time in Arkansas City. If the individual's tie is ''only'' as a college student, they should be listed in the college article. --->
{{See also|List of people from Cowley County, Kansas}}
{{See also|Cowley_Community_College#Notable_alumni|l1=List of Cowley County Community College people}}
<!-- *** INSTRUCTIONS FOR NOTABLE PEOPLE ***
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1) Insert person into list sorted by last name (surname).
2) Each person MUST meet [[Wikipedia:Bio]] requirements to ensure Notability.
3) Each person MUST meet [[Wikipedia:Verifiability]] requirements to verify their notability and prove they lived in the city.
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* [[Maurice E. Baringer]], Iowa State treasurer and state legislator
*[[Michael Bradford (academic)|Michael Bradford]], playwright and artistic director of the [[Connecticut Repertory Theatre]]
* [[Darren Daulton]], baseball player for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] and [[Florida Marlins]]
* [[Frank Marshall Davis|Frank Davis]], American journalist, poet, political and labor movement activist, born in Arkansas City
* [[Robert Docking]], Mayor of Arkansas City, Governor of Kansas, 1967–1975
* [[Robert James Eaton|Robert Eaton]], automobile businessman, grew up in Arkansas City
* [[Tim Elliott]], American Mixed Martial Artist, UFC.
* [[Lionel Hollins]], former NBA professional basketball player and former head coach of the [[Brooklyn Nets]]
* [[Richard E. Killblane|Richard Killblane]], author and military historian, born in Arkansas City and attended first two years of elementary school.
* [[Anna Larkin]], folk sculptor, lived in Arkansas City upon moving to the United States<ref name="HellerHeller2013">{{cite book|author1=Jules Heller|author2=Nancy G. Heller|title=North American Women Artists of the Twentieth Century: A Biographical Dictionary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AYxmAgAAQBAJ&pg=PR11|date=19 December 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-63882-5}}</ref>
* [[Delano Lewis]], former US ambassador to South Africa, born in Arkansas City.
* [[Morris Lolar]], [[American Football]] coach
* [[Nila Mack]], actress, writer and director, golden age radio program ''[[Let's Pretend]]''
* [[Dick Metz]], professional golfer, born in Arkansas City
* [[Les Miller (American football)|Leslie Miller]], former professional football player, born in Arkansas City
* [[Jack Mitchell (American football)|Jack Mitchell]], football head coach, [[Arkansas Razorbacks football|Arkansas]] and [[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas]], born in Arkansas City
* [[Billy Mize]], musician, born in Arkansas City
* [[Willie Oates]], philanthropist, social activist, and politician, born in Arkansas City
* [[Helen T. Parsons|Helen Parsons]], biochemist, born in Arkansas City
* [[Jim Sheets]], Republican politician in [[Arkansas]], former executive director of [[Kiwanis International]] Foundation
* [[Euclid James Sherwood|Euclid Sherwood]], commonly known as Motorhead Sherwood, vocalist and saxophonist for [[The Mothers of Invention]] during the band's early years
* [[Sara Sothern]], actress, mother of Elizabeth Taylor

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Cowley County, Kansas]]
* [[List of Kansas railroads]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
{{See also|Cowley County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Cowley County, Kansas}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Arkansas City, Kansas}}
* [https://www.arkcity.org/ City of Arkansas City]
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260528 Arkansas City – Directory of Public Officials]
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/arkansas%20city.pdf Arkansas City map], KDOT

{{Arkansas City, Kansas|state=expanded}}
{{Cowley County, Kansas}}

[[Category:Cities in Cowley County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Kansas populated places on the Arkansas River]]
[[Category:Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area]]