Editing Valley Center, Kansas

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

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

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

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|49|47|N|97|22|10|W|region:US-KS_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Sedgwick County, Kansas|Sedgwick]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1870s
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1885
|named_for                = [[Little Arkansas River]] valley

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

<!-- 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         = 7.11
|area_land_sq_mi          = 7.11
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 18.41
|area_land_km2            = 18.40
|area_water_km2           = 0.01
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1345

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/><ref name="Census-2020-QF"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 7340
|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              = 67147
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 316|316]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 20-73250<ref name="GNIS"/>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 473852<ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis2|473852|Valley Center, Kansas}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://valleycenterks.org/|valleycenterks.org}}
}}

'''Valley Center''' is a city in [[Sedgwick County, Kansas|Sedgwick County]], [[Kansas]], United States,<ref name="GNIS"/> and a [[suburb]] of [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]].  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 7,340.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Valley Center, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2073250 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115012507/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2073250 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Census-2020-QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Valley Center, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/valleycentercitykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827071602/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/valleycentercitykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 27, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
Valley Center was incorporated on September 29, 1885,<ref>[http://www.valleycenterks.org/index.asp?NID=210 Valley Center City Website]</ref> and was named for its location in the valley of the [[Arkansas River]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_fk0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA643 | title=History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: Past and Present | publisher=Windmill Publications | author=Bentley, Orsemus Hills | year=1910 | pages=643}}</ref>

The former Valley Center rail depot for Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company and the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company was moved to south of [[Hillsboro, Kansas|Hillsboro]] at the southeastern corner of Indigo Rd and 140th Street and is currently a private residence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company and the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company depot, Valley Center, Kansas. |url=https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/446592 |website=Kansas Historical Society}}</ref>

On the morning of July 17, 2007, a large explosion occurred at the Barton Solvents chemical plant in Valley Center, destroying the plant and forcing the temporary evacuation of the city.<ref>Finger, Stan.  [http://www.wichitaeagle.com/news/updates/story/156166.html Valley Center's Barton Solvents begins removing destroyed tanks], ''[[The Wichita Eagle]]'', 2007-08-23.  Accessed 2007-08-25.</ref>  Cleanup began several weeks later,<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20418533 Explosion probe shifts away from Valley Center; cleanup begins]{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, [[MSNBC]], 2007-08-23.  Accessed 2007-08-25.</ref> and the investigation was completed by mid-August.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2007/08/20/daily19.html?jst=b_ln_hl Barton Solvents investigation complete], ''[[Wichita Business Journal]]'', 2007-08-23.  Accessed 2007-08-25.</ref>

==Geography==
Valley Center is located at {{coord|37|49|47|N|97|22|10|W|type:city}} (37.829719, -97.369341).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.95|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all  land.<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|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|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Valley Center is located two miles west of the combined [[Interstate 135 (Kansas)|Interstate 135]], [[U.S. Route 81 in Kansas|U.S. Route 81]] and [[K-15 (Kansas highway)|K-15]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1880 = 71
| 1890 = 167
| 1900 = 312
| 1910 = 381
| 1920 = 486
| 1930 = 896
| 1940 = 700
| 1950 = 854
| 1960 = 2570
| 1970 = 2551
| 1980 = 3300
| 1990 = 3624
| 2000 = 4883
| 2010 = 6822
| 2020 = 7340
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 7347
| 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 = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 15, 2014}}</ref><br/>2010-2020<ref name="Census-2020-QF"/>
}}
Valley Center is part of the [[Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-12-15 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> counted 7,340 people, 2,599 households, and 1,967 families in Valley Center. The population density was 1,032.3 per square mile (398.9/km{{sup|2}}). There were 2,799 housing units at an average density of 393.7 per square mile (152.1/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 86.14% (6,323) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]], 1.38% (101) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black or African-American]], 1.05% (77) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.61% (45) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% (1) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.18% (160) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 8.62% (633) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 5.5% (430) of the population.

Of the 2,599 households, 44.1% had children under the age of 18; 63.1% were married couples living together; 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present. 22.3% of households consisted of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.0 and the average family size was 3.6.

40.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 82.6 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-12-15|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> estimates show that the median household income was $66,250 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,521) and the median family income $73,183 (+/- $6,598). Males had a median income of $44,175 (+/- $9,121) versus $27,475 (+/- $8,688) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $37,107 (+/- $6,335). Approximately, 1.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.9% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those ages 65 or over.

===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 6,822 people, 2,484 households, and 1,862 families living 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}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|981.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,601 housing units at an average density of {{convert|374.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.6% of the population.

There were 2,484 households, of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.0% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.22.

The median age in the city was 34.3 years. 31.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 4,883 people, 1,761 households, and 1,368 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,464.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,826 housing units at an average density of {{convert|547.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.78% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.33% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.55% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.37% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.70% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.27% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 1,761 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,683, and the median income for a family was $56,667. Males had a median income of $42,917 versus $26,639 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,259. About 1.0% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[Valley Center USD 262]] employs approximately 370 people and serves more than 2,760 children from the communities of Valley Center, Park City, Kechi, and Wichita. The schools include one Pre-K - 3 building, two K-3 schools, an intermediate school that houses the fourth and fifth grades, a sixth, seventh and eighth grade middle school, and a high school. There is also an alternative school, The Learning Center, which assists students of all ages earning their high school diploma. The Valley Center school district mascot is the Hornets.

==Events==
* Fall Festival - Annual event in September.

==Notable people==
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Valley Center include:
* [[Cady Groves]] (1989-2020), pop-country singer
* [[Patrick Miller (soldier)|Patrick Miller]] (1980-), [[U.S. Army]] Staff Sergeant, prisoner of war<ref>{{cite news | last = Hegeman | first = Roxana | title = Valley Center welcomes home Private Miller | newspaper = The Topeka Capital-Journal | date = 2003-05-11 | url = http://cjonline.com/stories/051103/kan_millerpow.shtml#.VwUyu_krKXI | access-date = 2016-04-05}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway]]
* [[Theorosa's Bridge]], a reportedly haunted bridge and site of local folklore<ref>{{Cite web |last=writer |first=Mike Matson Contributing |date=2022-10-15 |title=MATSON {{!}} Infrastructure comes and goes, but ghost stories endure |url=https://themercury.com/opinion/matson-infrastructure-comes-and-goes-but-ghost-stories-endure/article_59c3db59-9ba0-54a9-abf3-8279a6f71347.html |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=The Mercury |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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

==External links==
{{Commons category|Valley Center, Kansas}}
* [https://valleycenterks.org/ City of Valley Center]
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41261082 Valley Center - Directory of Public Officials]

{{Sedgwick County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Sedgwick County, Kansas]]
[[Category:Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1885]]