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.

People

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.USD 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

References

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

Category:Cities in Smith County, Kansas
Category:County seats in Kansas
Category:1871 establishments in Kansas