Dodge City, Kansas - Wikipedia Dodge City, Kansas `` Dodge City '' redirects here. For others, see Dodge ( disambiguation ). City and County seat in Kansas, United States Dodge City, Kansas City and County seat El Capitan cattle drive monument ( 2008 ) Seal Nickname ( s ) : `` Cowboy Capital of The World '' ; `` Wicked Little City '' ; `` King of Cowtowns '' Motto ( s ) : `` Get The Heck Into Dodge '' ; `` The Wickedest Little City in America '' Location within Ford County and Kansas KDOT map of Ford County ( legend ) Coordinates : 37 ° 45 ′ 35 '' N 100 ° 01 ′ 06 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.75972 ° N 100.01833 ° W ﻿ / 37.75972 ; - 100.01833 Coordinates : 37 ° 45 ′ 35 '' N 100 ° 01 ′ 06 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.75972 ° N 100.01833 ° W ﻿ / 37.75972 ; - 100.01833 Country United States State Kansas County Ford Founded 1872 Incorporated 1875 Government Mayor Brian Delzeit Area Total 14.55 sq mi ( 37.68 km ) Land 14.44 sq mi ( 37.40 km ) Water 0.11 sq mi ( 0.28 km ) Elevation 2,493 ft ( 760 m ) Population ( 2010 ) Total 27,340 Estimate ( 2016 ) 27,453 Density 1,900 / sq mi ( 730 / km ) Time zone UTC − 6 ( CST ) Summer ( DST ) UTC − 5 ( CDT ) ZIP codes 67801, 67843 Area code 620 GNIS ID 485363 Website DodgeCity.org Dodge City is the county seat of Ford County, Kansas, United States, named after nearby Fort Dodge. The city is famous in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,340. Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 3 Demographics 3.1 2010 census 4 Economy 4.1 Top employers 5 Government 6 Education 6.1 Primary and secondary education 6.2 Colleges and universities 6.3 Libraries 7 Infrastructure 7.1 Transportation 7.2 Utilities 7.3 Health care 8 Media 9 Parks and recreation 10 Culture 10.1 Arts and music 10.2 Events 10.3 Points of interest 10.4 Religion 10.5 Sports 10.6 In popular culture 11 Notable people 12 Gallery 13 See also 14 Notes 15 References 16 Further reading 17 External links History Buffalo hunter Ralph Morrison who was killed and scalped December 7, 1868 near Fort Dodge Kansas by Cheyennes : Lt Reade of the 3rd Infantry and Chief of Scouts John O. Austin are in the background. Photograph by William S. Soule. See also : History of Kansas Fort Mann was the first settlement of nonindigenous people in the area that became Dodge City, built by civilians in 1847 ( then the territory being part of Mexico ) to provide protection for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Mann collapsed in 1848 after an Indian attack. In 1850, the U.S. Army arrived to provide protection in the region and constructed Fort Atkinson on the old Fort Mann site. The army abandoned Fort Atkinson in 1853. Military forces on the Santa Fe Trail were re-established farther north and east at Fort Larned in 1859, but the area remained vacant around what would become Dodge City until the end of the Civil War. In April 1865, the Indian Wars in the West began heating up, and the army constructed Fort Dodge to assist Fort Larned in providing protection on the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Dodge remained in operation until 1882. The town of Dodge City can trace its origins to 1871, when rancher Henry J. Sitler built a sod house west of Fort Dodge to oversee his cattle operations in the region, conveniently located near the Santa Fe Trail and Arkansas River, and Sitler 's house quickly became a stopping point for travelers. Others saw the commercial potential of the region with the Santa Fe Railroad rapidly approaching from the east. In 1872, Dodge City was staked out on the 100th meridian and the legal western boundary of the Fort Dodge reservation. The town site was platted and George M. Hoover established the first bar in a tent to serve thirsty soldiers from Fort Dodge. The railroad arrived in September to find a town ready and waiting for business. The early settlers in Dodge City traded in buffalo bones and hides and provided a civilian community for Fort Dodge. However, with the arrival of the railroad, Dodge City soon became involved in the cattle trade. Deputies Bat Masterson ( standing ) and Wyatt Earp in Dodge City ( 1876 ) The idea of driving Texas Longhorn cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas originated in the late 1850s, but was cut short by the Civil War. In 1866, the first Texas cattle started arriving in Baxter Springs in southeastern Kansas by way of the Shawnee Trail. However, Texas Longhorn cattle carried a tick that spread Texas cattle fever, among other breeds of cattle. Alarmed Kansas farmers persuaded the Kansas State Legislature to establish a quarantine line in central Kansas. The quarantine prohibited Texas Longhorns from the heavily settled, eastern portion of the state. With the cattle trade forced west, Texas Longhorns began moving north along the Chisholm Trail. In 1867, the main cowtown was Abilene, Kansas. Profits were high, and other towns quickly joined in the cattle boom : Newton in 1871, Ellsworth in 1872, and Wichita in 1872. However, in 1876, the Kansas State Legislature responded to pressure from farmers settling in central Kansas and once again shifted the quarantine line westward, which essentially eliminated Abilene and the other cowtowns from the cattle trade. With no place else to go, Dodge City suddenly became the `` queen of the cow towns ''. A new route known as the Great Western Cattle Trail or Western Trail branched off from the Chisholm Trail to lead cattle into Dodge City. Dodge City became a boomtown, with thousands of cattle passing annually through its stockyards. The peak years of the cattle trade in Dodge City were from 1883 to 1884, and during that time the town grew tremendously. In 1880, Dodge City got a new competitor for the cattle trade from the border town of Caldwell. For a few years, the competition between the towns was fierce, but enough cattle were available for both towns to prosper. Nevertheless, Dodge City became famous, and no town could match its reputation as a true frontier settlement of the Old West. Dodge City had more famous ( and infamous ) gunfighters working at one time or another than any other town in the West, many of whom participated in the Dodge City War of 1883. It also boasted the usual array of saloons, gambling halls, and brothels, including the famous Long Branch Saloon and China Doll brothel. For a time in 1884, Dodge City even had a bullfighting ring where Mexican bullfighters would put on a show with specially chosen Longhorn bulls. As more agricultural settlers moved into western Kansas, pressure increased on the Kansas State Legislature to do something about splenic fever. Consequently, in 1885, the quarantine line was extended across the state and the Western Trail was all but shut down. By 1886, the cowboys, saloon keepers, gamblers, and brothel owners moved west to greener pastures, and Dodge City became a sleepy little town much like other communities in western Kansas. Geography Dodge City is located at 37 ° 45 ′ 35 '' N 100 ° 1 ′ 6 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.75972 ° N 100.01833 ° W ﻿ / 37.75972 ; - 100.01833 ( 37.759671, − 100.018212 ) at an elevation of 2,493 ft ( 760 m ). It lies on the Arkansas River in the High Plains region of the Great Plains. The city sits above one of the world 's largest underground water systems, the Ogallala Aquifer, and is 25 miles ( 40 km ) from the eastern edge of the Hugoton Natural Gas Area. Located at the intersection of U.S. Routes 50, 56 and 283 in southwestern Kansas, Dodge City is 151 mi ( 243 km ) west of Wichita, 199 mi ( 320 km ) northeast of Amarillo, and 301 mi ( 484 km ) southeast of Denver. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.55 square miles ( 37.68 km ), of which 14.44 square miles ( 37.40 km ) is land and 0.11 square miles ( 0.28 km ) is water. Climate US Weather Bureau c. 1900 Dodge City lies at the intersection of North America 's semi-arid ( Köppen BSk ) and humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ) zones, with hot summers, highly variable winters, both warm and very cold periods, and low to moderate humidity and precipitation throughout the year ; it is part of USDA Hardiness zone 6b. Areas to the west are drier and more strongly semi-arid. Severe weather, including tornadoes, is common in the area, especially in the spring months. Dodge City is often cited as the windiest city in the United States with an average speed of 13.9 mph ( 22.4 km / h ), which results in occasional blizzards in the winter, even when snowfall does not accumulate much. On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and June is the wettest month. The normal annual mean temperature in Dodge City is 55.4 ° F ( 13.0 ° C ), while the normal monthly daily average temperature ranges from 32.2 ° F ( 0.1 ° C ) in January to 79.6 ° F ( 26.4 ° C ) in July. The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 ° F ( 32 ° C ) an average of 67 days a year and reaches or exceeds 100 ° F ( 38 ° C ) an average of 13 days a year ; the last year that failed to reach 100 ° F was 1958. The minimum temperature falls to or below 0 ° F ( − 18 ° C ) an average of 3.0 days a year. The highest officially recorded temperature was 111 ° F ( 44 ° C ) on June 27, 2012, while the lowest temperature officially recorded was − 26 ° F ( − 32 ° C ) on February 12, 1899. The record cold daily maximum is − 13 ° F ( − 25 ° C ) on January 13, 1875, and conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 81 ° F ( 27 ° C ) last set July 12, 1978. Dodge City receives an annual average of 21.6 inches ( 550 mm ) in precipitation, with the largest share being received from May through August ; annual precipitation has historically ranged from 9.97 in ( 253 mm ) in 1956 to 34.29 in ( 871 mm ) in 1944. There are, on average, 77 days of measurable precipitation each year. Snowfall averages 21.1 inches ( 54 cm ) per season, although snowfall has historically ranged from 0.2 in ( 0.51 cm ) in 1903 -- 04 to 61.3 in ( 156 cm ) in 1992 -- 93. Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 14 days a year with at least an inch of snow being received on six of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 19 days a year. The average window for overnight freezes is October 17 through April 21, allowing a growing season of 178 days. show Climate data for Dodge City Regional Airport, Kansas ( 1981 -- 2010 normals, extremes 1874 -- present ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 80 ( 27 ) 86 ( 30 ) 98 ( 37 ) 100 ( 38 ) 106 ( 41 ) 111 ( 44 ) 109 ( 43 ) 109 ( 43 ) 107 ( 42 ) 99 ( 37 ) 91 ( 33 ) 86 ( 30 ) 111 ( 44 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 44.2 ( 6.8 ) 48.4 ( 9.1 ) 57.8 ( 14.3 ) 67.5 ( 19.7 ) 76.9 ( 24.9 ) 86.7 ( 30.4 ) 92.8 ( 33.8 ) 90.8 ( 32.7 ) 82.4 ( 28 ) 69.7 ( 20.9 ) 55.9 ( 13.3 ) 44.3 ( 6.8 ) 68.2 ( 20.1 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 20.1 ( − 6.6 ) 23.4 ( − 4.8 ) 31.0 ( − 0.6 ) 40.2 ( 4.6 ) 51.5 ( 10.8 ) 61.0 ( 16.1 ) 66.3 ( 19.1 ) 65.3 ( 18.5 ) 56.0 ( 13.3 ) 43.4 ( 6.3 ) 30.3 ( − 0.9 ) 21.2 ( − 6 ) 42.6 ( 5.9 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) − 20 ( − 29 ) − 26 ( − 32 ) − 15 ( − 26 ) 9 ( − 13 ) 19 ( − 7 ) 36 ( 2 ) 46 ( 8 ) 43 ( 6 ) 29 ( − 2 ) 10 ( − 12 ) − 13 ( − 25 ) − 21 ( − 29 ) − 26 ( − 32 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 0.58 ( 14.7 ) 0.68 ( 17.3 ) 1.59 ( 40.4 ) 1.82 ( 46.2 ) 2.85 ( 72.4 ) 3.24 ( 82.3 ) 3.08 ( 78.2 ) 2.75 ( 69.9 ) 1.67 ( 42.4 ) 1.74 ( 44.2 ) 0.76 ( 19.3 ) 0.84 ( 21.3 ) 21.60 ( 548.6 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 4.9 ( 12.4 ) 3.9 ( 9.9 ) 4.9 ( 12.4 ) ( 2.8 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0.4 ( 1 ) 1.8 ( 4.6 ) 4.1 ( 10.4 ) 21.1 ( 53.6 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 3.5 4.8 6.5 7.1 8.9 8.9 8.2 8.0 5.7 6.1 4.5 4.6 76.8 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 in ) 3.4 2.8 2.3 0.6 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 3.2 13.7 Average relative humidity ( % ) 65.9 64.5 60.5 57.5 62.5 59.9 55.2 58.4 61.9 58.2 64.3 66.6 61.3 Mean monthly sunshine hours 207.2 201.6 241.1 270.0 297.6 332.9 357.8 319.0 267.6 248.8 192.9 189.2 3,125.7 Percent possible sunshine 67 67 65 68 68 75 80 76 72 71 63 63 70 Source : National Weather Service ( relative humidity and sun 1961 -- 1990 ), The Weather Channel Demographics Historical population Census Pop. % ± 1880 996 -- 1890 1,763 77.0 % 1900 1,942 10.2 % 1910 3,214 65.5 % 1920 5,061 57.5 % 1930 10,059 98.8 % 1940 8,487 − 15.6 % 1950 11,262 32.7 % 1960 13,520 20.0 % 1970 14,127 4.5 % 1980 18,001 27.4 % 21,129 17.4 % 2000 25,176 19.2 % 27,340 8.6 % Est. 2016 27,453 0.4 % U.S. Decennial Census 2010 Census As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 27,340 people, 8,777 households, and 6,241 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,893.6 people per square mile ( 731.1 / km2 ). There were 9,378 housing units at an average density of 649.5 per square mile ( 250.8 / km2 ). The racial makeup of the city was 72.5 % White, 2.5 % African American, 1.1 % American Indian, 1.6 % Asian, 0.2 % Pacific Islander, 19.3 % from other races, and 2.9 % from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 57.5 % of the population. There were 8,777 households of which 40.3 % had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5 % were married couples living together, 13.0 % had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6 % had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.9 % were non-families. 22.7 % of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3 % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05, and the average family size was 3.60. The median age in the city was 28.9 years. 31.8 % of residents were under the age of 18 ; 11.8 % were between the ages of 18 and 24 ; 27.8 % were from 25 to 44 ; 19.6 % were from 45 to 64 ; and 8.9 % were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4 % male and 48.6 % female. The median income for a household was $43,994, and the median income for a family was $49,957. Males had a median income of $31,400 versus $27,884 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,350. About 16.7 % of families and 19.0 % of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7 % of those under age 18 and 8.1 % of those age 65 or over. Economy National Beef plant, pictured in 2006. Dodge City is an important center for meat packing. Meat packing is the primary industry in Dodge City. Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef both operate large facilities in the city. The city also hosts farm implement manufacturing and serves as a supply center for area agriculture. Livestock - raising is a major activity while wheat and sorghum are the area 's main crops. In addition, a local tourism industry, including a casino resort, has developed to capitalize on Dodge City 's history as an Old West cowtown. The service sector accounts for much of the rest of the local economy. As of 2010, 70.9 % of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.3 % was in the armed forces, and 70.5 % was in the civilian labor force with 66.9 % being employed and 3.6 % unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was : 23.3 % in management, business, science, and arts ; 16.4 % in sales and office occupations ; 10.9 % in service occupations ; 15.2 % in natural resources, construction, and maintenance ; 34.2 % in production, transportation, and material moving. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were : manufacturing ( 33.0 % ) ; educational services, health care, and social assistance ( 18.1 % ) ; and retail trade ( 9.4 % ). The cost of living in Dodge City is relatively low ; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the city is 79.3. As of 2010, the median home value in the city was $83,300, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,013 for housing units with a mortgage and $450 for those without, and the median gross rent was $571. Top employers Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef are the two largest employers. Other major employers include local government, schools, retail stores, and health care providers. show Largest employers ( 100 + Employees ) Employer Employees National Beef Packing Company 2,950 Cargill Meat Solutions 2,700 Unified School District # 443 1,292 Wal - Mart Super Center 400 Western Plains Medical Complex 295 Boot Hill Casino & Resort 288 Dodge City Community College 284 Ford County Government 263 City of Dodge City 238 CrustBuster / Speed King, Inc. 150 Dillon 's Super Store 140 Dodge City Medical Center 125 Kansas Soldiers ' Home 115 Arrowhead West, Inc. 101 Government Dodge City is a city of the first class with a commission - manager form of government. The city commission consists of five members who serve either two - year or four - year terms, depending on the number of votes they receive. Every year, the commission selects one commissioner to serve as mayor and another to serve as vice-mayor. The commission meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. Appointed by the commission, the city manager leads the city administration, executes the commission 's policies, and develops operational programs to meet the city 's needs. As the county seat, Dodge City is the administrative center of Ford County. The county courthouse is located downtown, and all departments of the county government base their operations in the city. Dodge City lies within Kansas 's 1st U.S. Congressional District. For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature, the city is located in the 38th district of the Kansas Senate and the 115th and 119th districts of the Kansas House of Representatives. Dodge City has been criticized by Johnny Dunlap, Ford County Democratic Party 's chairman, for only having one polling place for 13,000 voters. For the 2018 election, it was moved outside the city limits one mile from the nearest bus stop. While the county will provide transportation, voters have to arrange for it in advance. Education Primary and secondary education Dodge City Public Schools ( USD 443 ) serves over 6,000 students and operates 14 schools in the city, including one early childhood center, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and one alternative school. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City oversees one Catholic school in the city : Sacred Heart Cathedral School ( Pre-K - 8 ). Colleges and universities Dodge City Community College ( DCCC ), a two - year public college with approximately 2,000 students, is located in the northwestern part of the city. From 1952 to 1993, Dodge City was also home to St. Mary of the Plains College, a private, four - year Catholic liberal arts college. Newman University, a Catholic university based in Wichita, now operates a branch campus on St. Mary of the Plains ' former grounds. Libraries Dodge City Public Library, located north of downtown, is the city 's main library. A member of the Southwest Kansas Library System, it has a collection of approximately 123,000 volumes, and it circulates more than 189,000 items annually. It was founded as a Carnegie library in 1905 and moved to its current facility in 1981. The library offers several services to the public, including computer classes, public internet access, and programs for children and adults. Other libraries in the city include the DCCC Library, which holds more than 30,000 volumes and serves as a federal depository library, and the Kansas Heritage Center, a non-profit resource center and research library operated by Dodge City Public Schools and dedicated to the history of Kansas, the Great Plains, and the Old West. Infrastructure Transportation The Dodge City Amtrak station ( 2008 ) Originally a stop on the Santa Fe Trail, Dodge City was later located on the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean - to - Ocean Highway, which followed the trail 's path in western Kansas upon its establishment in 1912. Currently, four U.S. Highways meet in Dodge City : U.S. Route 50, U.S. Route 56, U.S. Route 283, and U.S. Route 400. U.S. 50, an east - west route, runs through the northern part of the city. U.S. 400, which also runs east - west, runs through the southern part of the city. U.S. 56, an east - west route, and U.S. 283, a north - south route, run concurrently around the city 's southern and eastern fringe. The U.S. 50 business route runs concurrently with U.S. 56, U.S. 283, and U.S. 400 at different points through the southern part and around the eastern part of the city. Bus service is provided daily eastward towards Wichita, Kansas and westward towards Pueblo, Colorado by BeeLine Express ( a subcontractor of Greyhound Lines ). Dodge City Regional Airport is located approximately 2 miles ( 3.2 km ) east of the city. Used primarily for general aviation, it hosts one commercial airline with daily flights to Denver, CO and Liberal, KS. Three railroads serve Dodge City : the La Junta Subdivision of the BNSF Railway which runs east - west, the main line of the Cimarron Valley Railroad of which Dodge City is the northeastern terminus, and the Boot Hill and Western Railway of which the city is the northwestern terminus. Using the BNSF trackage, Amtrak provides passenger rail service on its Southwest Chief line between Chicago and Los Angeles. Amtrak 's Dodge City station is located downtown. Fixed - route bus service operates between 6am and 7pm Monday - Friday. Utilities The Utilities Division of the city government 's Public Works Department operates and maintains the city 's water and waste water distribution systems. The department 's Sanitation Division provides trash pickup. Operations Management International, Inc. ( OMI ), a private contractor, provides waste water treatment, pumping the city 's waste water to treatment holding ponds 12 miles south of the city. The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., part of the Mid-Kansas Electric Company, delivers electricity to the city. Local residents primarily use natural gas as their heating fuel ; natural gas service is provided by Black Hills Energy. Health care The Western Plains Medical Complex is the sole hospital in Dodge City. A 100 - bed hospital accredited by the Joint Commission, it serves as a referral center for southwestern Kansas. Media Main article : Media in Dodge City, Kansas The Dodge City Daily Globe is the city 's daily newspaper with a circulation of approximately 7,000 copies. In addition, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City publishes a weekly newspaper, The Southwest Kansas Catholic, formerly known as The Southwest Kansas Register. The High Plains Journal, a weekly trade journal covering regional agricultural news, is also published in the city. Along with Garden City, Dodge City is a center of broadcast media for southwestern Kansas. Two AM radio stations, seven FM radio stations, and four television stations are licensed to and / or broadcast from the area. Dodge City is located in the Wichita - Hutchinson, Kansas television market. The four stations that broadcast from the city include : one CBS and one FOX network affiliate, both of which are satellite stations of their respective affiliates in Wichita ; a satellite station of Smoky Hills Public Television, the PBS member network covering western Kansas ; and KDDC - LD a sister station of KDGL - LD in Sublette, Kansas. Parks and Recreation The city 's Parks and Recreation Department maintains 21 parks in the city. The largest is Wright Park, located immediately south of downtown and home to the Dodge City Zoo. Legends Park, in the northern part of the city, is a four - diamond, tournament - level baseball and softball complex that hosts both youth and adult league games. The city also maintains the St. Mary Soccer Complex, which includes six full - size game pads and three junior - sized fields, and the municipal pool. There are two golf courses in the city, one public and one private. Mariah Hills Municipal Golf Course, the public course, is an 18 - hole course built in 1974 and redesigned in 1990. It includes a full - service pro shop, driving range, and putting green. Dodge City Country Club, the private course, is an 18 - hole course built in 1916 and expanded in 1982. Culture Arts and music Two galleries support an arts community in the city. Located in the original public library building, The Carnegie Center for the Arts provides gallery space to local artists and houses the Dodge City Arts Council. The second gallery, the Second Avenue Art Guild, exhibits the work of regional artists in ceramics, photography, and other media. The Depot Theater Company, based in the former Santa Fe Railroad Depot, puts on theatrical productions throughout the year. Founded in 1984, the group performs in both the old depot and the Occident Theater. Events Each summer, the Dodge City Chamber of Commerce holds Dodge City Days, the city 's annual community festival. Lasting ten days, it includes the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, a parade, a beauty pageant, music concerts, a golf tournament, arts and craft shows, and other activities. Several other community events are held throughout the year. In early May, the city 's sizable Mexican community celebrates Cinco de Mayo in Wright Park with live music, folk dance performances, and traditional Mexican cuisine. To celebrate Independence Day, the city holds its Old - Fashioned Fourth of July which includes a fireworks display and children 's activities at Boot Hill. Christmas in Old Dodge City, the city 's winter holiday festival, starts in late November and lasts until Christmas. It begins with a formal Christmas tree lighting downtown, a chili cook - off, and the Parade of Lights, a parade of floats decorated with Christmas lights. Two other annual events reflect the central role of agriculture in the local economy. The Ford County Fair is held in July and includes 4 - H and FFA exhibits, competitions, and shows, as well as other activities. Also in July, the Western Kansas Manufacturers Association ( WKMA ) holds the 3i Show, an agri - business expo of agricultural products, technology, and services. Points of interest The Boot Hill Museum ( 2010 ) Located in and around the city are a number of historical sites, museums, and landmarks dedicated to Dodge City 's Old West heritage. The Boot Hill Museum, located downtown, contains thousands of artifacts and a variety of exhibits portraying the culture of the city 's early years. The museum 's larger exhibits include : Front Street, a partial reconstruction of downtown Dodge City as it existed in 1876 ; the Long Branch Saloon and the Long Branch Variety Show ; the Saratoga Saloon ; the Hardesty House, a period - typical home built in 1879 ; the city 's original Boot Hill Cemetery ; and the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame. The Santa Fe Trail Remains, located 9 miles ( 14 km ) west of the city, are preserved wagon tracks from a section of the Santa Fe Trail. The Ford County Historical Society maintains the Mueller - Schmidt House, called the `` Home of Stone. '' Built from area limestone in 1881, it is the oldest building in the city still standing at its original site. Other historical landmarks include : El Capitan, a life - sized bronze sculpture of a Texas Longhorn steer built to commemorate the cattle drives that once ended in the city ; a bronze statue of famous Dodge City lawman Wyatt Earp ; and the Santa Fe Depot, the largest extant train depot in Kansas. Dodge City maintains part of its downtown as a tourist attraction. ( 2008 ) To capitalize on this heritage, the city promotes its downtown business district as historic Old Dodge City complete with Western - themed tourist attractions, shops, and restaurants. Visitors can tour the district by trolley or by taking the Dodge City Trail of Fame walking tour. The state of Kansas operates the similarly themed Boot Hill Casino & Resort on the west side of the city -- when it opened for business in December 2009, Boot Hill became the first state - owned casino in the United States. Dodge City Civic Center and United Wireless Arena are the city 's two main indoor event venues. The Civic Center, built in 1954, is a 2,800 - seat multipurpose facility that has hosted a variety of events, including concerts and sporting events. United Wireless Arena, opened in 2011, is a 5,500 - seat multipurpose arena located next to the Boot Hill Casino on the west side of the city. Owned by the City of Dodge City and Ford County, the arena complex includes the 10,000 - square - foot ( 930 m ) Magouirk Conference Center. Other sites of interest in the city include the Dodge City Zoo and the Kansas Teachers ' Hall of Fame. The Zoo is located in Wright Park and is home to more than 45 animals. Located downtown, the Kansas Teachers ' Hall of Fame hosts exhibits on education in Kansas and claims to be the first of its kind in the United States. Religion There are 33 Christian churches in and around Dodge City. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City is based in the city. Established in 1951, it comprises 28 Kansas counties, roughly the southwestern quarter of the state. The city is home to the diocese 's current cathedral as well as its former cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Sacred Heart Cathedral, respectively. Also headquartered in the city is the Dodge City District of the United Methodist Church which consists of 22 counties in southwestern Kansas. Sports Dodge City Community College 's athletic teams, the Dodge City Conquistadors ( or `` Conqs '' for short ), compete in several sports in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference ( KJCCC ). Beyond DCCC sports, Dodge City also hosts amateur baseball and professional motorsports. The Dodge City Athletics, nicknamed the `` A 's '', are a collegiate summer baseball team in the Jayhawk Collegiate League of the National Baseball Congress. Both the A 's and the DCCC Conquistadors baseball team use Cavalier Field, located on the former St. Mary of the Plains College campus, as their home field. Dodge City Raceway Park, located immediately south of the city, is a 3 / 8 - mile dirt track that hosts midget and sprint car racing from April through October. Past events at the park have included National Sprint Tour and World of Outlaws races. The Western Kansas Dirt Riders, a motocross team, race at Tumbleweed Raceway adjacent to the Raceway Park. In the past, Dodge City hosted college football and professional basketball as well. From 1970 to 1980, the annual Boot Hill Bowl post-season college football game was played in Dodge City. The bowl was sanctioned by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and featured schools such as Washburn University and Emporia State University. The last game was played on November 21, 1980. From 2000 to 2007, the city was home to a minor league professional basketball team, the Dodge City Legend of the United States Basketball League. In popular culture For the idiom, see Wiktionary : get out of Dodge. Starting in the 1870s, the violent episodes of early Dodge City history, particularly the exploits of Wyatt Earp, attracted national media attention. National news coverage of the 1883 Dodge City War civil strife fueled public perceptions of frontier turmoil and established Dodge City as the `` Sodom of the West '' in the public consciousness. Gunfighters and lawmen such as Earp and his brothers and partners became celebrities, and sensationalized versions of their activities entered period popular culture as the subject of dime novels. Over time, the level and scale of the violence in early Dodge City were significantly embellished, becoming the stuff of legend. This trend continued into the 20th century, particularly after the 1931 publication of Stuart N. Lake 's book Wyatt Earp : Frontier Marshal. Regarded in American folklore as the quintessential rough and rowdy Old West frontier town, Dodge City served as the setting for numerous works of Western - themed media, including later popular films and television series. Dodge City was the setting of the long - running radio and television series Gunsmoke. The series followed the adventures of fictional U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon portrayed first by William Conrad and then by James Arness, as he dealt with gunfighters, cattle rustlers, gamblers and other criminals while enforcing the law in the frontier town. The radio series starring William Conrad lasted from 1952 to 1961 while the television series ran from 1955 to 1975, on the CBS television network ( Columbia Broadcasting System ), the longest - running prime - time TV drama in American history. The show proved to be culturally influential and promoted the legend of Dodge City 's Old West era. It also served as the source of the idiom `` get ( the hell ) out of Dodge '' which means to leave a dangerous area quickly. In honor of the series, the city government changed the name of Walnut Street, one of its downtown streets, to Gunsmoke Street, in 1959. The city has also been a setting for a number of films and television series dramatizing the career of Wyatt Earp. These include several seasons of the series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp starring Hugh O'Brian on the ABC television network from 1955 to 1961, and the films Winchester ' 73 ( 1950 ), with James Stewart Masterson of Kansas ( 1954 ), with George Montgomery, Cheyenne Autumn ( 1964 ), featuring Richard Widmark, James Stewart and Edward G. Robinson and directed by John Ford and Wyatt Earp ( 1994 ) with Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman. In the 1939 film Dodge City the fictional lawman Wade Hatton, played by Errol Flynn, was modeled on Earp. In the television series Smallville, Metropolis is said to be southwest of Dodge City with Smallville, `` Superman '' / Clark Kent 's childhood and adolescent residence, located 200 miles ( 320 km ) west of Wichita. More recently, Dodge City served as a setting for the 2005 multi-platform video game Gun. Notable people Main article : List of people from Dodge City, Kansas See also : List of Dodge City Community College people Numerous figures of the American Old West lived in Dodge City during its period as a frontier cowtown. These included, most notably, lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson as well as gunfighter Doc Holliday. Other notable natives and residents have included Vaudeville actor and comedian Eddie Foy Sr., wrestler Sputnik Monroe, and actor Dennis Hopper. Gallery Reconstructed shops on Front Street at the Boot Hill Museum ( 2010 ) Hanging Tree at Museum ( 1959 ) Graves at Museum ( 1959 ) Historic Images of Dodge City, Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library Historic Images of Fort Dodge, Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library See also Kansas portal Jones Plummer Trail National Old Trails Road Santa Fe Trail Notes Jump up ^ Official temperature records for Dodge City kept downtown from 15 September 1874 to June 1942 and at Dodge City Regional Airport since July 1942. Precipitation, snowfall, and snow depth records date from 1 October 1874, 1 January 1893, and 1 January 1948, respectively. References ^ Jump up to : `` Ford County Historical Society -- Dodge City, Kansas ''. Ford County Historical Society. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 30. ^ Jump up to : `` US Gazetteer files 2010 ''. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012 - 07 - 14. Retrieved 2012 - 07 - 06. Jump up ^ `` American FactFinder ''. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012 - 07 - 06. ^ Jump up to : `` Population and Housing Unit Estimates ''. Retrieved June 9, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` US Board on Geographic Names ''. United States Geological Survey. 2007 - 10 - 25. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. Jump up ^ Wright, Robert M. Dodge City, The Cowboy Capital, 1913. Jump up ^ Schmidt, Heinie, `` Fort Dodge State Soldiers ' Home '', High Plains Journal, January 15, 1948. ^ Jump up to : `` Dodge City ''. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 08. ^ Jump up to : `` American FactFinder 2 ''. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Will Soule : Scalped Hunter Near Fort Dodge, Kansas ''. The American Museum of Photography. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 08. Jump up ^ Ramos, Mary ( 1990 ). `` Cattle Drives Started in Earnest After the Civil War ''. Texas Historical Association. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 16. Jump up ^ Smith, Jessica ( 2013 ). `` Morality and Money : A Look at how the Respectable Community Battled the Sporting Community over Prostitution in Kansas Cowtowns, 1867 -- 1885 '' ( PDF ). Kansas State University. Jump up ^ `` US Gazetteer files : 2010, 2000, and 1990 ''. United States Census Bureau. 2011 - 02 - 12. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 23. ^ Jump up to : `` 2003 - 2004 Official Transportation Map '' ( PDF ). Kansas Department of Transportation. 2003. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ `` High Plains / Ogallala Aquifer Information ''. University of Kansas -- Kansas Geological Survey. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ `` City Distance Tool ''. Geobytes. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 08. Jump up ^ Peel, M.C., Finlayson, B.L., and McMahon, T.A. : Updated world map of the Köppen - Geiger climate classification, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1633 -- 1644, doi : 10.5194 / hess - 11 - 1633 - 2007, 2007. Jump up ^ `` USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ''. planthardiness.ars.usda.gov. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Wind -- Average Wind Speed ( MPH ) ''. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 09. ; http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/sty/2006/windy_Kansas013006.htm, accessed 19 May 2011 ^ Jump up to : `` Average weather for Dodge City, KS ''. The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011 - 11 - 01. ^ Jump up to : `` Station Name : KS DODGE CITY ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 26. ^ Jump up to : `` NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data ''. Dodge City, Kansas : National Weather Service Forecast Office. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ ThreadEx Jump up ^ `` WMO Climate Normals for DODGE CITY / MUNICIPAL, KS 1961 -- 1990 ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 11. ^ Jump up to : `` Major Employers ''. Dodge City Development Corporation. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Attractions ''. Dodge City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 19. ^ Jump up to : `` Dodge City, Kansas ''. City - Data. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Existing Industry ''. Dodge City / Ford County Development Corporation. Retrieved 6 February 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Dodge City ''. Directory of Kansas Public Officials. The League of Kansas Municipalities. Archived from the original on 2011 - 12 - 13. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Commission ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 19. Jump up ^ `` City Manager 's Office ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Ford County Directory ''. Ford County, Kansas. Retrieved 2012 - 07 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Iconic Dodge City, Kansas, Moves Only Polling Place Outside Town ''. Associated Press via KTLA 5. Retrieved 2018 - 10 - 21. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City 's one and only polling location is moving ''. KSN. Retrieved 2018 - 10 - 21. Jump up ^ `` District ''. Dodge City Public Schools. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Dodge City ''. Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Community College and Area Technical Center -- 2011 -- 2012 Catalog '' ( PDF ). Dodge City Community College. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Frequently Asked Questions ''. Dodge City Community College. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` St. Mary of the Plains Academy, High School and College ''. St. Mary of the Plains Alumni Association. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Western Kansas ''. Newman University. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Public Library -- Dodge City, KS ''. lib - web - cats - A directory of libraries throughout the world. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 23. Jump up ^ `` About DCPL ''. Dodge City Public Library. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Public Services ''. Dodge City Public Library. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Facilities ''. Dodge City Community College. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 23. Jump up ^ `` GPO Federal Library Directory ''. United States Government Printing Office. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 23. Jump up ^ `` About the Kansas Heritage Center ''. Kansas Heritage Center. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ Weingroff, Richard F. `` The National Old Trails Road Part 1 : The Quest for a National Road '' ( PDF ). Federal Highway Administration. pp. 20 -- 21. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. ^ Jump up to : `` City of Dodge City ( Map ) '' ( PDF ). Kansas Department of Transportation. Apr 2009. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ BeeLine Express Jump up ^ `` Locations : States : Kansas ''. Greyhound Lines. Archived from the original on 2011 - 07 - 12. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. ^ Jump up to : `` General Highway Map -- Ford County, Kansas '' ( PDF ). Kansas Department of Transportation. 2010 - 06 - 01. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ `` KDDC -- Dodge City Regional Airport ''. AirNav.com. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Transportation ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Kansas Operating Division '' ( PDF ). BNSF Railway. 2009 - 04 - 01. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2011 - 03 - 25. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Southwest Chief ''. Amtrak. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City, KS ( DDG ) ''. Amtrak. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ https://www.dodgecity.org/727/Public-Transportation Jump up ^ `` Utilities Division ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Sanitation Division ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Wastewater Treatment Division ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` About Us ''. Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` About Us ''. Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLC. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Black Hills Corporation to Acquire Aquila 's Gas Utility Operations in Kansas '' ( PDF ). Black Hills Energy. 2007 - 02 - 07. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Western Plains Medical Center & Our Community ''. Western Plains Medical Complex. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Daily Globe ''. Mondo Times. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 23. Jump up ^ `` About this Newspaper : The Southwest Kansas Register ''. Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2009 - 09 - 27. Jump up ^ `` High Plains Journal ''. Mondo Times. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 23. ^ Jump up to : `` Radio Stations in Dodge City, Kansas ''. Radio - Locator. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Stations for Garden City, Kansas ''. RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 23. ^ Jump up to : `` TVQ TV Database Query ''. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2013 - 07 - 01. ^ Jump up to : `` About Us ''. KWCH - DT. Archived from the original on 2011 - 07 - 13. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 28. Jump up ^ `` TV Market Maps ''. EchoStar Knowledge Base. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 28. Jump up ^ `` KSAS Coverage Map '' ( PDF ). KSAS - TV. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2011 - 09 - 29. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 28. Jump up ^ `` History ''. Smoky Hills Public Television. Archived from the original on 2012 - 03 - 20. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 27. Jump up ^ `` TV23 KDGL - TV -- Coverage ''. Kdgltv.com. Archived from the original on 2013 - 08 - 11. Retrieved 2013 - 07 - 15. ^ Jump up to : `` City Parks Map ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Wright Park Zoo ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Legends Park ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` St. Mary Soccer Complex ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Municipal Pool ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Golf Resources ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` About Carnegie Arts Center ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Carnegie Center History ''. The Carnegie Center for the Arts. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Second Avenue Art Guild ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 25. Jump up ^ `` About the Company ''. The Depot Theater Company. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Days History ''. Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Events ''. Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 25. ^ Jump up to : `` 2011 Annual Events Calendar ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 25. Jump up ^ Perez, Candy ( 2011 - 05 - 06 ). `` Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Wright Park ''. Dodge City Daily Globe. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Old Fashioned Fourth of July ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Christmas in Old Dodge City ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` 2011 Fair Schedule ''. Ford County K - State Research and Extension. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 08. Jump up ^ `` 3i Show ''. Western Kansas Manufacturers Association. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Live the Legend of the West at Boot Hill Museum ''. Boot Hill Museum. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Boot Hill Museum Exhibits ''. Boot Hill Museum. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` The Mueller - Schmidt House ( 1881 ) Museum ''. Ford County Historical Society. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Other Dodge City Sites of Interest ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ Hanks, Kathy ( 2010 - 10 - 08 ). `` Car crash damages Dodge City longhorn statue El Capitan ''. Lawrence Journal - World. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Historic Downtown Dodge City ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Historic Trolley Tours ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Trail of Fame ''. The Dodge City Trail of Fame, Inc. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` About Us ''. Boot Hill Casino & Resort. Archived from the original on 2011 - 10 - 04. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ Stephens, Ken ( December 16, 2009 ). `` Dodge casino opens doors ''. Garden City Telegram. p. 1. Retrieved August 12, 2014 -- via Newspapers.com. Jump up ^ `` Civic Center ''. City of Dodge City. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Civic Center ''. City of Dodge City. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ `` United Wireless Arena ''. VenuWorks. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Zoo ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Kansas Teachers ' Hall of Fame ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Find a Church in Dodge City, KS ''. Patheos. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` History ''. Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe ''. Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Welcome to Dodge City District ''. The Dodge City District of the United Methodist Church. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Community College Conquistador Athletics ''. Dodge City Community College. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Athletics ''. Dodge City Athletics. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Cavalier Field ''. City of Dodge City, Kansas. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Raceway Park ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Western Kansas Dirt Riders -- 2010 Schedule ''. Western Kansas Dirt Riders. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 23. Jump up ^ Games Jump up ^ `` Dodge City Legend News ''. Dodge City Legend. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 23. Jump up ^ Ellis, Mark R. `` Frontier Violence ''. Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. University of Nebraska -- Lincoln. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 12. Jump up ^ `` Gunsmoke ''. IMDb. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 12. Jump up ^ `` Gunsmoke ( 1955 ) -- Trivia ''. IMDb. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 12. Jump up ^ Dykstra, Robert R. `` Dodge City, Kansas ''. Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. University of Nebraska -- Lincoln. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 12. Jump up ^ Reagan, Mark ( 2011 - 06 - 04 ). `` Remembering James Arness ''. Dodge City Daily Globe. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 12. Jump up ^ `` The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ( 1955 ) -- Trivia ''. IMDb. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 14. Jump up ^ Mann, Anthony ( director ) ( 1950 ). Winchester ' 73 ( Film ). U.S.A. : Universal Studios. Jump up ^ Castle, William ( director ) ( 1954 ). Masterson of Kansas ( Film ). U.S.A. : Columbia Pictures. Jump up ^ Ford, John ( director ) ( 1964 ). Cheyenne Autumn ( Film ). U.S.A. : Warner Bros. Jump up ^ Kasdan, Lawrence ( director ) ( 1994 ). Wyatt Earp ( Film ). U.S.A. : Warner Bros. Jump up ^ `` Photo Gallery : Wyatt Earp in Popular Culture ''. American Experience. PBS. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ Kasavin, Greg ( 2005 - 11 - 08 ). `` Gun Review ''. GameSpot. Retrieved 2011 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ `` More Dodge City History ''. Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Eddie Foy -- Biography ''. IMDB. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Sputnik Monroe Biography ''. Georgia Wrestling History. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Dennis Hopper -- Biography ''. IMDB. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 23. Further reading See also : List of books about State of Kansas ( which includes historical information about its counties and cities too ) Britz, Kevin ( October 1, 2003 ). `` ' Boot Hill Burlesque ' : The Frontier Cemetery as Tourist Attraction in Tombstone, Arizona, and Dodge City, Kansas ''. Journal of Arizona History. Arizona Historical Society. ASIN B00E428MGY. Clavin, Tom ( 2017 ). Dodge City : Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West. St. Martin 's Press. ISBN 978 - 1250071484. Dykstra, Robert R. The Cattle Towns. University of Nebraska Press, 1968. Dykstra, Robert R. and JoAnn Manfra. Dodge City and the Birth of the Wild West. University Press of Kansas, 2017. Miner, Craig. West of Wichita : Settling the High Plains of Kansas, 1865 -- 1890. University Press of Kansas, 1988. Vestal, Stanley. Dodge City : Queen of Cowtowns : `` the Wickedest Little City in America '' 1872 -- 1886. University of Nebraska Press, 1998. ISBN 0 - 8032 - 9617 - 7 External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dodge City, Kansas. Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Dodge City. City Official website Dodge City -- Directory of Public Officials Dodge City Community Forum Schools USD 443, local school district Historical General Grenville Dodge History Santa Fe Trail Research Boot Hill Museum Boot Hill Cemetery at Find a Grave Access documents, photographs, and other primary sources on Kansas Memory, the Kansas State Historical Society 's digital portal Fort Larned Historic Site Dodge City video -- YouTube Maps Dodge City Map, KDOT Municipalities and communities of Ford County, Kansas, United States County seat : Dodge City Cities Bucklin Dodge City Ford Spearville CDPs Fort Dodge Wilroads Gardens Wright Other unincorporated communities Bellefont Bloom Howell Kingsdown South Dodge City Windhorst Townships Bloom Bucklin Concord Dodge Enterprise Fairview Ford Grandview Richland Royal Sodville Spearville Wheatland Wilburn American Frontier c. 1650 to 1912 Notable people Explorers and pioneers John Bozeman Jim Bridger William Clark Davy Crockett John C. Frémont Liver - Eating Johnson Meriwether Lewis Joe Mayer William John Murphy John Wesley Powell Levi Ruggles Jedediah Smith Jack Swilling Trinidad Swilling Ora Rush Weed Henry Wickenburg Brigham Young Native Americans Black Hawk Black Kettle Bloody Knife Chief Joseph Cochise Crazy Horse Geronimo Irataba Mangas Coloradas Manuelito Massai Quanah Parker Red Cloud Sacagawea Sitting Bull Ten Bears Touch the Clouds Tuvi Victorio Lawmen Elfego Baca Charlie Bassett Roy Bean Morgan Earp Virgil Earp Wyatt Earp Henry Garfias Pat Garrett Jack Helm `` Wild Bill '' Hickok Bat Masterson `` Mysterious Dave '' Mather Bass Reeves George Scarborough John Selman John Horton Slaughter William `` Bill '' Tilghman James Timberlake Harry C. Wheeler Outlaws Billy the Kid Dalton Gang Black Bart `` Curly Bill '' Brocius Butch Cassidy Billy Clanton Ike Clanton Bill Dalton Bill Doolin John Wesley Hardin Johnny Ringo Jesse James Tom Ketchum Frank McLaury Tom McLaury Joaquin Murrieta Cochise County Cowboys Belle Starr Soapy Smith Sundance Kid Cole Younger Soldiers and scouts Frederick Russell Burnham Kit Carson `` Buffalo Bill '' Cody Texas Jack Omohundro James C. Cooney George Crook George Armstrong Custer Samuel P. Heintzelman Tom Horn Calamity Jane Luther Kelly Ranald S. Mackenzie Charley Reynolds Philip Sheridan Al Sieber Others John Jacob Astor William H. Boring Jonathan R. Davis George Flavel C.S. Fly John Joel Glanton George E. Goodfellow Doc Holliday Andrew Jackson Zephaniah Kingsley Seth Kinman Nat Love Sylvester Mowry Emperor Norton Annie Oakley Thomas William Sweeny Jack Swilling Native Americans Apache Arapaho Arikara Assiniboine ( Nakota ) Blackfoot Cahuilla Cayuse Cheyenne Chinook Chippewa ( Ojibwe ) Caddo Cocopah Comanche Crow Dakota Five Civilized Tribes Hidatsa Hopi Hualapai Kickapoo Kiowa Ktunaxa Kumeyaay Lakota Mandan Maricopa Modoc Mohave Muscogee Navajo Nez Perce Northern Paiute Nootka ( Nuu - chah - nulth ) Pawnee Pend d'Oreilles Pima Pueblo Seminoles Shoshone Sioux Southern Paiute Tohono O'odham Tonkawa Umpqua Ute Washoe Yaqui Yavapai Yuma ( Quechan ) Frontier culture American bison Barbed wire Boot Hill Cattle drive Cowboy poetry Cattle rustling Cow town Fast draw Ghost town Gunfights Homesteading Land rush Manifest destiny Moonshine One - room schoolhouse Rodeo Stagecoach Train robbery Vigilante justice Western saloon Tack piano Westward expansion Wild West shows Transport and trails Barlow Road Bozeman Trail Butterfield Trail California Trail Chisholm Trail Great Platte River Road Great Western Cattle Trail Lolo Pass Meek Cutoff Mormon Trail Oregon Trail Pony Express Santa Fe Trail Southern Emigrant Trail Tanner Trail First Transcontinental Railroad Folklore Dead man 's hand Dime novel John Henry Johnny Kaw Lone Ranger Long Tom 's treasure Lost Dutchman 's Gold Mine Lost Ship of the Desert Montezuma 's treasure Paul Bunyan Pecos Bill Seven Cities of Gold Gold rushes Black Hills Gold Rush California Gold Rush Confederate Gulch and Diamond City Klondike Gold Rush Pike 's Peak Gold Rush Gunfights Battle of Coffeyville Battle of Lincoln Frisco shootout Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Long Branch Saloon gunfight Variety Hall shootout Military conflicts Battle of the Alamo Battle of Glorieta Pass Battle of the Little Bighorn Battle of San Jacinto Battle of Washita River Bear Flag Revolt First Battle of Adobe Walls Indian Wars Mexican War Sand Creek massacre Seminole Wars Texas Revolution Wounded Knee Massacre Range wars and feuds Earp - Clanton feud Johnson County War Lincoln County War Mason County War Pleasant Valley War Sheep Wars Sutton -- Taylor feud Lists Arizona Rangers Cowboys and cowgirls Gangs Gunfights Lawmen Mountain men Outlaws Timeline of the American Old West Influence Western genre Western lifestyle Western wear Places Alaska Anchorage Iditarod Nome Seward Skagway Arizona Territory Canyon Diablo Fort Grant Prescott Phoenix Tombstone Tucson Yuma California Bakersfield Fresno Jamestown Los Angeles Sacramento San Diego San Francisco Colorado Creede Denver Telluride Trinidad Dakota Territory Bismarck Deadwood Fargo Pine Ridge Rapid City Yankton Florida Territory Angola Negro Fort Pensacola Prospect Bluff St. Augustine St. Marks Tallahassee Idaho Territory Fort Boise Fort Hall Illinois Fort Dearborn Kansas Abilene Dodge City Ellsworth Hays Leavenworth Wichita Missouri Independence Kansas City St. Louis Montana Territory Billings Bozeman Deer Lodge Fort Benton Fort Peck Helena Livingston Missoula Virginia City Nebraska Chadron Fort Atkinson Fort Robinson Nebraska City Ogallala Omaha Valentine Nevada Carson City Virginia City Reno New Mexico Territory Alamogordo Albuquerque Cimarron Fort Sumner Gallup Las Vegas Lincoln Mesilla Mogollon Roswell Santa Fe Tucumcari Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory Broken Arrow Fort Sill Oklahoma City Oregon Territory Astoria The Dalles La Grande McMinnville Oregon City Portland Salem Vale Texas Austin Abilene El Paso Fort Worth Gonzales Lubbock San Antonio Utah Territory Salt Lake City Washington Territory Everett Port Townsend Seattle Vancouver Wyoming Territory Fort Bridger Fort Laramie Portal Commons WorldCat Identities GND : 4285708 - 9 LCCN : n82000716 NARA : 10045544 VIAF : 150112938 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dodge_City,_Kansas&oldid=866180789 '' Categories : Populated places on the Arkansas River Dodge City, Kansas Cities in Ford County, Kansas Cities in Kansas County seats in Kansas Populated places established in 1872 American Old West Micropolitan areas of Kansas Boot Hill cemeteries 1872 establishments in Kansas Hidden categories : Articles with short description Coordinates on Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2008 Articles with unsourced statements from October 2011 Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with NARA identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Bân - lâm - gú Български Català Cebuano Dansk Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Ido Italiano Kreyòl ayisyen Malagasy मराठी Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Polski Português Русский Scots Simple English Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt Volapük Winaray 27 more Edit links This page was last edited on 28 October 2018, at 20 : 04 ( UTC ). 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Question: who was the first person to settle dodge city
Answer: civilians