From "The wickedest little city in America" to "Queen of the Cowtowns"
Once known as the “wickedest little city in America,’’ Dodge City clings to its wild-west image of outlaws, cowboys and even TV’s “Gunsmoke.’’ Established in the 1860s as an anything-goes companion town to the U.S. Army’s dry outpost of Fort Dodge, Dodge City quickly piled up enough of a reputation to warrant the “get out of Dodge’’ idiom.
But these days, it’s curiosity and history propelling that rough-and-tumble storyline, not beer halls and gunfights, says Joel Vinson, director of the Heritage Center at Dodge City Public Library. “We have a lot of tourism for all the Old West stuff,’’ he says, referring to rodeos, landmark tours and a series of murals, one of which focuses on “Miss Kitty,’’ the female lead in the TV western that ran 20 seasons with Dodge City as its setting.
People aren’t completely stuck in the past, though, as the city has expanded with modern attractions, businesses and housing developments extending to the countryside. The surrounding farmland plays a significant role in the city’s economy, with agricultural companies such as Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef employing thousands and continuing the legacy of Dodge City as “Queen of the Cowtowns.”
Dodge City is a small Kansas town located about 2.5 hours from Wichita.
Learn more about the history behind Dodge City at the Boot Hill Museum.
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Older homes to the south and newer homes to the north
The median home price in Dodge City is $245,000, with values increasing by around 4% each year. Homes stay on the market for an average of 44 days, which is right around the national average. The city’s oldest streets are between Wyatt Earp Boulevard and Comanche Street, and it’s evident as many are still laid with original red bricks. The area’s grid-pattern layout is lined with houses mostly built in the early 1900s. Homes get newer north of Comanche Street. “The north side is expanding quite a bit,” says Vinson. “It’s mostly new construction the farther north you go.” These modern homes sell close to the city median and up to $550,000. Like most of Kansas, Dodge City is in Tornado Alley, a Midwest region with a high volume of tornadoes between March and June. The most recent significant storm took place in March 2016, when 12 tornadoes touched down in communities close to Dodge City. There are four tornado shelters, which include three schools and a student activity center.
The median home price in Dodge City is $245,000
New homes can be found in the northern side of Dodge City.
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Celebrating Western heritage at Boot Hill Museum and during Dodge City Days
Many of Dodge City’s annual events celebrate Western heritage, including Dodge City Days, a 10-day festival that has been going strong for more than 75 years. It’s considered the second-largest community festival in Kansas that draws in hundreds of thousands of people. The event isn’t complete without the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, featuring the country’s best contestants in bull and bronc riding, barrel racing and calf roping. By no coincidence, National Day of the Cowboy falls within the festival.
People can really take a step back in time to the Old West at Boot Hill Museum. From the Can-Can dancers at the saloon to the gunfighting re-enactments, the museum replicates life in the early years of Dodge City.
Boot Hill Casino opened in 2009 and is connected to United Wireless Arena, where the Southwest Kansas Storm play professional indoor football.
Visit the original Dodge City downtown district at the Boot Hill Museum.
Many residents take a break during a long road trip at the Boot Hill Casino & Resort in Dodge City.
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Western-themed bars and restaurants in the Downtown Historic District
Wyatt Earp Boulevard and its side streets make up Dodge City’s Downtown Historic District. This area is where people generally go to dine out, and is known for its Mexican and Western-themed bars and restaurants. Several big-box retailers and local grocery stores can be found closer to Comanche Street on the city's north side.
Downtown Dodge City offers a wide selection of shopping and retail options.
Enjoy a steak diner at The Cowboy Capital Salon & Grill in Dodge City.
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Visiting the zoo at Wright Park
Dodge City Parks & Recreation maintains 19 parks throughout the city, along with a water park, the Mariah Hills Golf Course and the Wright Park Zoo. Wright Park is the largest green space with 61 acres of nature, recreational activities and a bandshell used for local events. The Arkansas River has been mostly dry for the past few decades, much of which is due to irrigation in Eastern Colorado. However, Ford County State Park is about 10 miles away where people go boating and fishing in the 45-acre lake.
Kids can enjoy the playground at Wright Park in Dodge City.
Ford Lake is a great spot to get away for the weekend in Dodge City.
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Dodge City USD 443 is the third-largest school district in the state
Dodge City Unified School District 443 earns a C-plus grade from Niche. With more than 2,200 students, it’s the third-largest school district in the state. “It’s kind of surprising how big the school district is,” says Vinson, “But it’s because there are so many small communities around us. So a lot of those students out in the country come here.” Students are split between eight elementary schools and two middle schools before all merging into Dodge City High School. The school district also has an alternative school that allows high schoolers to learn online. Kindergarten through eighth-grade students can get a private education at Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic School. Newman University – Western Kansas also provides a Catholic education with bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in education. The other post-secondary option is Dodge City Community College.
Dodge City High School is the only public school option in the city after kids graduate from middle school.
Newman University offers college courses in Dodge City.
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A 2.5-hour drive to Wichita
Most people drive to get around Dodge City. However, D-TRAN offers fixed bus routes with 55 stops throughout the city. The main highways include U.S. Routes 50, 56, 283 and 400. Locals can take U.S. 400 one hour west to Garden City or two and a half hours east to Wichita, the closest major city. Amtrak operates two daily train services on the Southwest Chief route, which runs to Chicago and Los Angeles. Dodge City Regional Airport allows travelers to fly via United Airlines to Denver International Airport, where they can make connecting flights.
Lowest property crime rates since 1973
According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s most recent statistics released in 2022, the property crime rate in Dodge City was at it its lowest since 1973. While the violent crime rate is higher than the city’s 10-year average, it has been dropping since 2020. According to Dodge City’s 2023 annual report, the police department is staffed with 50 sworn officers, serves the school district with resource officers and provides a Citizens Police Academy to give residents an understanding of how they keep the community safe.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
Photography Contributed By
Zach Manwell
Video By
Kyo Nguyen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Dodge City, KS sell after 60 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Dodge City, KS over the last 12 months is $255,000, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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