Smith Center, Kansas

**Smith Center** is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. It is also the county seat of Smith County. In 2020, 1,571 people lived there.

## History

Smith Center was created in 1871. The first post office in Smith Center was created in January 1873. Like Smith County, Smith Center was named after Maj. J. Nelson Smith of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry. He was a pre-war native of Elwood, Kansas, who died leading his regiment on October 21, 1864 at the Battle of the Little Blue River.

## Geography

Smith Center is at  (39.778550, -98.785141). The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of . All of it is land.

Smith Center is at the junction of U.S. Routes 281 and 36, about 100 miles south of Grand Island, Nebraska and 77 miles north of Russell and Interstate 70.

### 2020 census

The 2020 census says that there were 1,571 people, 727 households, and 398 families living in Smith Center. Of the households, 76.1% owned their home and 23.9% rented their home.

The median age was 49.4 years. Of the people, 94.3% were White, 0.5% were Native American, 0.3% were Black, 0.2% were Asian, 1.3% were from some other race, and 3.5% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the people.

### 2010 census

The 2010 census says that there were 1,665 people, 779 households, and 470 families living in Smith Center.

## Education

Smith Center is part of Unified School District 237.

## Famous people

- Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, silent film star
- Nolan Cromwell, NFL defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams
- Mitch Holthus, radio announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Mark Simoneau, College Football Hall of Fame linebacker for Kansas State University; played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs
- Steve Tasker, NFL wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills
- Albert F. "Jud" Wagner, Kansas' last confirmed World War I veteran

## Other websites

- City
- City of Smith Center
- Smith Center - Directory of Public Officials
- Schools
- USD 237, local school district
- Historical
- Smith Center - History
- , from _Hatteberg's People_ on KAKE TV news
- Historic Images  - Wichita State University Libraries
- Maps
- Smith Center City Map , KDOT

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Smith Center, Kansas
- **settlement type**: City and County seat
- **image skyline**: First National Bank - Smith Center, KS (1).jpg
- **image caption**: First National Bank building
- **image map**: Smith_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Smith_Center_Highlighted.svg
- **map caption**: Location within Smith County, Kansas, Smith County and Kansas
- **image map1**: Map of Smith Co, Ks, USA.png
- **map caption1**: Kansas Department of Transportation, KDOT map of Smith County, Kansas, Smith County (:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png, legend)
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision name**: United States
- **subdivision type1**: State
- **subdivision name1**: Kansas
- **subdivision type2**: List of counties in Kansas, County
- **subdivision name2**: Smith County, Kansas, Smith
- **subdivision type3**: List of townships in Kansas, Township
- **established title**: Founded
- **established date**: 1871
- **established title1**: Platted
- **established title2**: Municipal corporation, Incorporated
- **established date2**: 1886
- **named for**: Maj. J. Nelson Smith
- **leader title**: Mayor
- **area total sq mi**: 1.27
- **area land sq mi**: 1.27
- **area water sq mi**: 0.00
- **area total km2**: 3.28
- **area land km2**: 3.28
- **area water km2**: 0.00
- **unit pref**: Imperial
- **elevation ft**: 1808
- **population as of**: 2020 United States census, 2020
- **population total**: 1571
- **population density sq mi**: auto
- **population density km2**: auto
- **timezone**: Central Time Zone, CST
- **utc offset**: -6
- **timezone dst**: CDT
- **utc offset dst**: -5
- **postal code type**: ZIP code
- **postal code**: 66967
- **area code type**: North American Numbering Plan, Area code
- **area code**: Area code 785, 785
- **blank name**: Federal Information Processing Standards, FIPS code
- **blank info**: 20-65925
- **blank1 name**: Geographic Names Information System, GNIS ID
- **blank1 info**: 2395900