Concordia is a city in
Cloud County,
Kansas,
United States. The population was 5,714 at the
2000 census, and it was estimated to be in the year .
It is the
county seat of
Cloud County.
Geography and climate
Concordia is located at (39.569035, -97.658398) and is at an elevation of 1,369 feet. According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
Concordia's population was estimated to be in the year , .
[ Annual estimates of the population to . Population change is from .]As of the
census of 2000, there were 5,714 people, 2,310 households, and 1,399 families residing in the city. The
population density was 1,689.0 people per square mile (652.7/km²). There were 2,671 housing units at an average density of 789.5/sq mi (305.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.90%
White, 0.58%
African American, 0.25%
Native American, 0.39%
Asian, 0.14% from
other races, and 0.75% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 2,310 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were
married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,398, and the median income for a family was $40,389. Males had a median income of $27,764 versus $20,885 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $17,019. About 7.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
1860-1900
Concordia holds the distinction of being elected the
county seat before the town was created. The founder of the town,
James M. Hagaman had created a complete layout of the town on paper including streets, blocks, courthouse, and parks. The name "Concordia" was chosen because a member of the early group of promoters ("Cap" Snyder) had once lived in
Concordia, Missouri.
December 1869 was the first election for the county seat with Concordia,
Clyde and the now defunct town
Sibley. Without a clear majority, a second election was held between Concordia and Sibley on January 4, 1870. Concordia was declared the winner over Sibley 165 votes to 129.
It was over a year later when Concordia officially became a town when the Republican Land District Office opened on January 16, 1871. The Concordia Land Office continued until February 28, 1889 when it was consolidated with the land office in
Topeka, Kansas.
Also in 1871, Concordia elected its first
mayor, R. E. Allen. Under his leadership, Concordia was officially incorporated as a third class city under Kansas law in August 1872.
Concordia was visited in its early years by many traveling shows. As early as 1876 various traveling entertainers including
Wild Bill Hickock,
Buffalo Bill Cody,
Ringling Brothers, and others came to Concordia. In 1892, the Ringling train wrecked east of the town killing two men and twenty horses, but the show played the next day to a crowd of 4,000.
A state
normal school was set up in Concordia in 1874 with F. E. Robinson as principal and former state Superintendent H. D. McCarty became president the second year. In 1876 the state ceased to provide funding and the school was closed.
Early 1900s
Carrie Nation visited Concordia in the early 1900s. Records are mixed, but the date is placed between 1908 and 1910. The
Concordia Blade newspaper (now the
Concordia Blade-Empire) reported:
"Carrie Nation is in town. That wonderfully brave little woman who started the crusade against Kansas saloons lectured at the M.E. Church this afternoon, and will talk again tonight at the courthouse. While in this city she is the guest of Mrs. George Mohr."
A major geographic change in the city and the area occurred on July 9, 1902. The
Republican River flooded near town and broke a dam. The flooding resulted in re-routing the river by 1/4 of a mile.
1910s
The year of 1912 brought a major blizzard to Concordia with snow so deep that a Union Pacific train became stuck northeast of town and snowbanks on main street piled as high as peoples' heads. Also in 1912, the first official inspection team for
Meridian Highway (now
US-81) came through Concordia on their tour from
Canada to
Mexico. In 1913, the
Missouri Pacific Railway depot was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the old building.
Another flood took place on June 20, 1915. Damage from the flood was significant but not as wide-sweeping as the flood of 1902.
Attractions
The Brown Grand Theatre
The Brown Grand Theatre, 1907
In November 1905, Concordia resident Colonel
Napoleon Bonaparte Brown announced to the townspeople his plans to build a fully outfitted opera house for Concordia. Renowned
Kansas City theatre architect Carl Boller was hired to prepare the design drawings and the blueprints.
Restored to its original 1907 splendor, the 650 seat Brown Grand Theatre now serves as a tourist attraction and performing arts/community center for Concordia and North Central Kansas.
Camp Concordia
During
World War II, a German
prisoner of war camp was maintained a few miles north of Concordia. The original guard house remains and has been restored.
Cloud County Historical Museum
The Museum preserves and exhibits objects and documents of historical items representing early-day Kansas. It is housed in the former 1908
Andrew Carnegie Library building and a large newer annex. The treasures of
Cloud County, Kansas are exhibited for your viewing - nature, radio, railroads, quilts, photography, toys, vintage clothing and furniture, musical instruments, fossils, tools, and stained glass.
Records are on display of the military Prisoner of War Camp, churches, organizations, schools, and businesses. Displays of glass cutting, rare coins and books, rock and gem shop, micro-film of county newspapers and many others too numerous to list.
Large displays in the annex include the "must see" 1908 Lincoln-Page
Airplane, an 1898
Holsman belt driven
horseless carriage, and a 1915
Model T Ford.
Cloud County Veterans Memorial
The Veterans Memorial is housed in the courthouse block of Concordia. The memorial includes an "eternal flame" that has been burning since the monument was established on November 11, 1968.
National Orphan Train complex
Concordia is the home of the national
Orphan Train complex, housed in the restored historic
Union Pacific Railroad Depot. The complex currently houses a museum and research center dedicated to the preservation of the stories and artifacts of those who were part of the Orphan Train Movement from 1854-1929.
Nazareth Motherhouse
The
Nazareth Convent and Academy is the official Motherhouse and Home for the 260
Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia. It was built in 1903 and is listed in the
National Register of Historic Places.
The sisters quickly gained a fine reputation for the
education of young women at Nazareth, giving them a sound academic program and instruction in the fine arts, music, French and the social graces. In 1903, the Sisters of St. Joseph entered the health care field in Concordia with the establishment of the
St. Joseph Hospital on the original site after the new Nazareth Motherhouse was built at its present location.
Historic bridges
The most common historic bridge visited is the
Republican River Pegram Truss, a three-span through
truss bridge built in 1893 for the
Union Pacific Railway. As of 2007 the bridge is used for local automobile traffic. Other bridges in the area are the
County Line Bowstring bridge near
Hollis and the
Pott's Ford Bridge near
Glasco. All three bridges are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Stained Glass Tour
Concordia claims the title "The
Stained Glass Capital of Kansas" and a local tour has been established. Although common in many houses of worship, many private residences also have quality stained glass installed and available for viewing on the tour.
Small game hunting
Small game hunting (particularly game birds such as
pheasant,
quail, and
dove) attracts a large number of people from all over the world. Opening Day of hunting season is an especially active day for Concordia as it brings a large number of visitors and a boost to the local economy.
Camping
The city of Concordia has complementary overnight camping available at Airport Park, one of several city parks. Airport Park is located at the
Blosser Municipal Airport (see below).
Aviation
Concordia is the host of
Blosser Municipal Airport (CNK). Blosser Municipal Airport is publicly owned by the City of Concordia. The
National Weather Service and the
Kansas National Guard maintain facilities at this location.
Communications
Radio
Radio Stations
KNCK (1390 AM) and
KCKS (94.9 FM) operate from the same broadcasting facility in Concordia and are privately owned. Radio Station
KVCO (88.3 FM) operates as a broadcast journalism project by Cloud County Community College in Concordia. KVCO is publicly owned and operated by the school.
Newspaper
The
Concordia Blade-Empire is the official county newspaper and publishes its edition five days a week from its location in Concordia.
Education
The first schoolteacher to teach inside the city limits was Milo Stevens, who was paid a salary of twenty dollars per month.
Elementary and secondary education
The city maintains an active elementary and secondary school district. Public Elementary Education for grades K-6 are completed in the district across several buildings. Public secondary education for grades 7-12 is completed at
Concordia Junior-Senior High School. Class sizes typically range between 80 to 120 students.
The school district also runs the Cloud County Alternative High School, primarily for area
non-traditional students. Students can earn their diploma online or through computer-based classes. Enrollment is very small, typically graduating less than ten students each year.
The Catholic Church in Concordia operated Notre Dame High School a private Catholic High School from 1962 to 1969. It remained open as a Catholic grade school until 1971, when the local district purchased the property and has used it for fifth and sixth grades under the name
Concordia Middle School.
Post-secondary education
Concordia is the location of
Cloud County Community College, a two-year
junior college.
Public library
Concordia is home to the
Frank Carlson Library, a public
library named for former Kansas governor
Frank Carlson.
Notable residents
- Marilyn Schreffler, American actress who provided voice-overs for several animated TV programs
