Editing Sterling, Kansas

{{Short description|City in Rice County, Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Sterling, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            =
|image_caption            =
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

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

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|12|34|N|98|12|23|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        = [[Rice County, Kansas|Rice]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Sterling Township, Rice County, Kansas|Sterling]]

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1872 (Peace)
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1876
|named_for                = Sterling Rosan

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          = <!-- [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]] -->
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              =

<!-- 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         = 1.83
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.79
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.04
|area_total_km2           = 4.75
|area_land_km2            = 4.64
|area_water_km2           = 0.11
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1641

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 2248
|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              = 67579
|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               = 20-68200
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 485654<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|485654}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.sterling-kansas.com/|sterling-kansas.com}}
}}

'''Sterling''' is a city in [[Rice County, Kansas|Rice County]], [[Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 2,248.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Sterling, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2068200 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329110346/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2068200 |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>  Sterling is home to [[Sterling College (Kansas)|Sterling College]].

{{TOC limit|limit=2}}

==History==
For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].  In 1803, most of [[History of Kansas|modern Kansas]] was secured by the United States as part of the [[Louisiana Purchase]].  In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]].  In 1867, [[Rice County, Kansas|Rice County]] was founded.

Sterling was originally called '''Peace''', and under the latter name was founded in 1872.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5zdAAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA273 | 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 | pages=273}}</ref>  In 1876, the name was changed to '''Sterling''', by two brothers after their father Sterling Rosan.<ref>Kansas Place-Names, John Rydjord, University of Oklahoma Press, 1972, {{ISBN|0-8061-0994-7}}</ref>

In the 1890s, Jonathan S. Dillon sold groceries at his general store in Sterling.  Later in 1913, he opened his first J.S. Dillon Cash Food Market in [[Hutchinson, Kansas|Hutchinson]].  Later he expanded into the [[Dillons]] grocery supermarket chain.

===Historic places===
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rice County, Kansas|Cooper Hall]] ([[National Register of Historic Places|NRHP]]), North Broadway Avenue.
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rice County, Kansas|Shay Building]] ([[National Register of Historic Places|NRHP]]), 202 South Broadway Avenue.
* [[Sterling Free Public Carnegie Library|Sterling Carnegie Library]] ([[National Register of Historic Places|NRHP]]), 132 North Broadway Avenue.

== Geography ==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.71|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.67|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Sterling, Kansas (1991–2020)
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =41.9
| Feb high F  =46.1
| Mar high F  =56.8
| Apr high F  =66.6
| May high F  =76.5
| Jun high F  =87.6
| Jul high F  =92.5
| Aug high F  =90.2
| Sep high F  =82.2
| Oct high F  =69.6
| Nov high F  =55.6
| Dec high F  =43.7
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =30.7
| Feb mean F  =34.3
| Mar mean F  =44.1
| Apr mean F  =53.8
| May mean F  =64.9
| Jun mean F  =75.7
| Jul mean F  =80.6
| Aug mean F  =78.4
| Sep mean F  =70.0
| Oct mean F  =56.7
| Nov mean F  =43.4
| Dec mean F  =33.0
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =19.5
| Feb low F  =22.4
| Mar low F  =31.3
| Apr low F  =40.9
| May low F  =53.3
| Jun low F  =63.9
| Jul low F  =68.7
| Aug low F  =66.5
| Sep low F  =57.7
| Oct low F  =43.9
| Nov low F  =31.2
| Dec low F  =22.2
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =0.83
| Feb precipitation inch  =0.95
| Mar precipitation inch  =1.97
| Apr precipitation inch  =2.40
| May precipitation inch  =4.71
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.07
| Jul precipitation inch  =3.73
| Aug precipitation inch  =3.77
| Sep precipitation inch  =2.00
| Oct precipitation inch  =2.50
| Nov precipitation inch  =1.05
| Dec precipitation inch  =1.02
<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =3.3
| Feb snow inch  =2.6
| Mar snow inch  =0.7
| Apr snow inch  =0.2
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.1
| Nov snow inch  =0.6
| Dec snow inch  =1.8
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00147796 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-03-25 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 1014
|1890= 1641
|1900= 2002
|1910= 2133
|1920= 2060
|1930= 1868
|1940= 2215
|1950= 2243
|1960= 2303
|1970= 2312
|1980= 2312
|1990= 2536
|2000= 2642
|2010= 2328
|2020= 2248
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

===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 2,328 people, 786 households, and 510 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1394.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 933 housing units at an average density of {{convert|558.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.9% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.3% of the population.

There were 786 households, of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 29.5 years. 18.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 26.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16% were from 25 to 44; 22% were from 45 to 64; and 16.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,642 people, 819 households, and 538 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,861.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 963 housing units at an average density of {{convert|678.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.42% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.51% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.76% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.68% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.72% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.91% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.74% of the population.

There were 819 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.4% under the age of 18, 32.9% from 18 to 24, 17.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,282, and the median income for a family was $40,739. Males had a median income of $32,381 versus $17,423 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,229. About 8.7% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Jacam, a chemical manufacturer serving the oil and gas industry,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jacamcatalyst.com/|title=Jacam Catalyst, Leading manufacturer and service provider for oilfield chemicals|access-date=2023-08-03}}</ref> is the largest employer in Sterling.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sterling-kansas.com/DocumentCenter/View/115 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-04-14 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055037/http://sterling-kansas.com/DocumentCenter/View/115 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Education==

===Primary and secondary education===
The community is served by [[Sterling USD 376]] public school district.<ref>[http://www.usd376.com USD 376]</ref><ref>[http://www3.ksde.org/eddir/usd_map.pdf Kansas School District Boundary Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721071446/http://www3.ksde.org/eddir/usd_map.pdf |date=2011-07-21 }}</ref>  The district has three schools in Sterling:
* [[Sterling High School (Kansas)|Sterling High School]], 308 East Washington Avenue, [[Education in the United States#School grades|Grades]] [[Ninth grade|9]] to [[Twelfth grade|12]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030829054048/http://www.usd376.com/jh/home/jhhome.htm Sterling Junior High School], 412 North 5th Street, [[Education in the United States#School grades|Grades]] [[Seventh grade|7]] to [[Eighth grade|8]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031128080225/http://www.usd376.com/gs/home/gshome.htm Sterling Grade School], 218 South 5th Street, [[Education in the United States#School grades|Grades]] [[Kindergarten|K]] to [[Sixth grade|6]].

=== College ===
[[Sterling College (Kansas)|Sterling College]] is a four-year institution formerly affiliated with the [[Presbyterian Church USA]].  The college is one of the largest employers in the city of Sterling.  The [[Sterling Warriors]] play home football games at [[Smisor Stadium]] and their home basketball games in the Clair L. Gleason PE Center on the Lonnie Kruse Court.

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

====Highway====
[[K-14 (Kansas highway)|K-14]]/[[K-96 (Kansas highway)|K-96]] runs along the north side of Sterling, with access to Broadway Ave via a diamond interchange.

The highway previously passed through Sterling on Broadway Ave. In June 2023, the highway was realigned to the current [[Controlled-access highway|limited-access highway]] that bypasses the city. Initially constructed as a [[super two]] freeway, right-of-way has been secured to enable future expansion to four lanes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Officials welcome new K-14 realignment between Hutch & Sterling |url=https://greatbendpost.com/posts/010d662e-b7b2-4ab1-a5c6-432df2729f4c |publisher=Great Bend Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712235830/https://greatbendpost.com/posts/010d662e-b7b2-4ab1-a5c6-432df2729f4c |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |date=June 16, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kansas Department of Transportation finally awards contract for Northwest Passage highway project |url=https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2021/03/17/northwest-passage-highway-project-rice-reno-counties-finally-awarded-department-of-transportation/4708494001/ |publisher=The Hutchinson News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712235320/https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2021/03/17/northwest-passage-highway-project-rice-reno-counties-finally-awarded-department-of-transportation/4708494001/ |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |date=March 17, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=K-96 Location Study |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/PDF_Files/1-K96-Final-Report-Cover.pdf |publisher=Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713001458/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/PDF_Files/1-K96-Final-Report-Cover.pdf |archive-date=July 13, 2023 |date=December 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Rail====
The [[Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad]] passes through the city.

==Notable people==
<!--- Please list only people who have spent a significant amount of time in Sterling. If the individual's tie is ''only'' as a college student, they should be listed in the college article. --->
{{See also|Sterling_College_(Kansas)#Notable_people||l1=List of Sterling College people}}
* [[Doris Fleeson]], syndicated journalist, born in Sterling
* [[Nicolle Galyon]], songwriter/singer, won AMC and CMA, raised in Sterling
* [[Lorene Harrison]], musician, educator, born in Sterling
* [[Martin Pence]], United States District Court judge, born in Sterling
* [[Richard G. Weede]], United States Marine Corps General, born in Sterling

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rice County, Kansas]]
* [[Main Street Programs in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sterling, Kansas}}
* {{official website|https://www.sterling-kansas.com/}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41261056 Sterling - Directory of Public Officials]
* {{YouTube|vBA-KYOh5mw|Harold Tilton - a personal military museum}}, from ''Hatteberg's People'' on [[KAKE]] TV news
* [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/city-pdf/sterling.pdf Sterling city map], KDOT

{{Rice County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Rice County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]