Concordia is a city in and the county seat of Cloud County, Kansas, United States. It is located along the Republican River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains in North Central Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 5,111. Concordia is home of the Cloud County Community College and the Nazareth Convent and Academy.
History
19th century
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, and liked the name because it paid homage to the settlers-to-be's German heritage; the name "Concordia" is a German name found in many early Germanic poems.
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 community 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 Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, Ringling Brothers, and others came to Concordia. In 1892, the Ringling train wrecked east of the town killing two men and 20 horses, but the show played the next day to a crowd of 4,000.
The first schoolteacher to teach inside the city limits was Milo Stevens, who was paid a salary of $20 per month.Biographical history of Cloud County, Kansas "First School in Concordia" by E.F. Hollibaugh, 1903 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.A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans , by William E. Connelley, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, 2000
In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (three miles west of Strong City) through Concordia to Superior, Nebraska. In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe."
In 1897, Pope Leo XIII founded the Roman Catholic Diocese of Concordia, Kansas. The diocese was renamed in 1947 when the see was transferred to Salina, and it is now known as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina. It was later restored as a titular see in 1995.
20th century 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.A Proud Past... A Pictorial History of Concordia, Kansas, by Bell, Rachel Lowrey (1998), Marceline, Missouri: D-Books Publishing, p 10-21
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.A Proud Past... A Pictorial History of Concordia, Kansas, by Bell, Rachel Lowrey (1998), Marceline, Missouri: D-Books Publishing, p 22-33
From May 1, 1943, through November 8, 1945, Camp Concordia was a World War II internment camp for German prisoners of war.
Geography Concordia lies on the south side of the Republican River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains. Lost Creek, a tributary of the Republican, flows north along the western edge of the city. Located in north-central Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 81 and K-9, Concordia is approximately north of Wichita, southwest of Omaha, and west-northwest of Kansas City.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
Climate Concordia has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters; it is part of USDA Hardiness zone 6a. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from in January to in July. On average, there are 7.1 days that reach or higher, 50.2 days that reach or higher, 28.4 days that do not climb above freezing, and 4.1 days with a low of or below. Extreme temperatures officially range from on January 8, 1886, up to on August 12, 1936; the record cold daily maximum is on January 14, 1888, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is on July 1, 1933.
Precipitation is greatest in May and has ranged from in 1956 to in 1993. Snowfall averages per season, and has historically ranged from in 1903–04 to in 1959–60.
Demographics
According to the census ( estimate), Concordia is the most populous city in the county and of all six adjacent counties. Annual estimates of the population to . Released .
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Concordia had a population of 5,111, with 2,023 households and 1,169 families. The population density was 1,134.8 inhabitants per square mile (438.1/km), and there were 2,512 housing units at an average density of 557.7 per square mile (215.3/km).
The median age was 37.5 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 13.3% were from 18 to 24, 22.6% were from 25 to 44, 21.9% were from 45 to 64, and 20.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.8 males age 18 and over.
98.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.6% lived in rural areas.
There were 2,023 households in Concordia, of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.4% were married-couple households, 21.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,512 housing units, of which 19.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.5%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 4,578 89.6% Black or African American 113 2.2% American Indian and Alaska Native 29 0.6% Asian 32 0.6% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 8 0.2% Some other race 75 1.5% Two or more races 276 5.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 297 5.8%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, made up 87.63% of the population.
Demographic estimates The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.7.
The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 16.8% of the population.
Income and poverty The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $44,185 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,603) and the median family income was $48,333 (+/- $12,035). Males had a median income of $28,219 (+/- $5,160) versus $21,441 (+/- $4,464) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,147 (+/- $4,160). Approximately, 6.9% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under the age of 18 and 4.9% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 5,395 people, 2,186 households, and 1,301 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,545 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% White, 0.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.
There were 2,186 households, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.5% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the city was 38.7 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 14.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
Government
City government The Concordia city government consists of five commissioners, of which one is elected mayor each year by the other four members. The commission meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:30PM.Concordia - Directory of Public Officials Other government facilities include city services such as water, sewer, police, and fire departments.
Other government services Concordia holds other government services in its city limits. The town is home to various county services such as the county sheriff and county court house as well as state government buildings including an armory for the Kansas National Guard. There also are federal offices and buildings common to small communities such as the United States Post Office.
Education
Colleges and universities Concordia is the location of Cloud County Community College, a two-year junior college. Other post-secondary schools in Concordia's history are Concordia Normal SchoolA Standard History of Kansas and Kansans "State Normal School, Concordia" by William E. Connelley, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, 2000 and Concordia Business College.The Nebraskana Society Guy James Rice
Primary and secondary education The community is served by Concordia USD 333 public school district. 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 and 120 students. The school district also runs the Cloud County Alternative High School,Concordia Kansas Public Schools 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.Notre Dame High School Class Of It remained open as a Catholic grade school until 1971, when the local district purchased the property and has since used it for fifth and sixth grades under the name Concordia Middle School.
Libraries