Боннер-Спрингс, Канзас: История и современность

Bonner Springs is a city in Wyandotte, Leavenworth, and Johnson counties, Kansas, United States. Bonner Springs was incorporated as a city on November 10, 1898. Bonner Springs is home to the Azura Amphitheater (previously named the Sandstone Amphitheater), the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, Wyandotte County Historical Museum, and the annual Kansas City Renaissance Festival.

The Kanza people had settled the area because of the mineral springs and abundant fish and game when, in 1812, two French fur traders, the Chouteau brothers, made their way from St. Louis and temporally settled in the area that would eventually become Bonner Springs, starting a trading post named "Four Houses". The location allowed easy access to trade items, and a ferry to cross the Kansas River was added. With a date of 1812, it is reputed to be the first commercial center and permanent settlement in Kansas. Tiblow was a Delaware Indian who worked as an interpreter for the government. He lived in a small cabin on the west side of the city. The town was named after Robert E. Bonner, a publisher of the New York Ledger, who was a trotting horse breeder of note, and Clark believed would help fund the proposed racetrack. However, there is no record this occurred.

Bonner Springs continued to be prosperous, with a growing population and new businesses. In 1908, a fire caused over $70,000 worth of damage ($ in dollars) and destroyed between 19 and 21 local businesses.

Bonner Springs is located primarily on the north side of the Kansas River. It is mainly in southwestern Wyandotte County, with small portions extending west into Leavenworth County and south across the Kansas River into Johnson County. It is bordered to the north by Kansas City, Kansas, to the east by Edwardsville, and to the south across the Kansas River by Shawnee. Interstate 70, the Kansas Turnpike, passes through the northern part of the city, with access from Exits 224 and 224A (U. S. Route 73 and Kansas Highway 7). I 70 leads east 17 mile (27 km) to Kansas City, Missouri, and west 21 mile (34 km) to Lawrence, while US 73 leads north 16 mile (26 km) to Leavenworth, and K 7 leads south the same distance to Olathe. K 32 runs through the center of Bonner Springs close to the Kansas River, leading east 4 mile (6 km) into Edwardsville and west 10 mile (16 km) to Linwood. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 2.26%, are water.

Bonner Springs has a humid continental climate, typically experiencing hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters.

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,314 people, 2,810 households, and 1,917 families residing in the city. The population density was There were 3,025 housing units at an average density of The racial makeup of the city was 84.8% White, 5.4% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.0% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.8% of the population. There were 2,810 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.8% were non families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age in the city was 35.7 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 11.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,768 people, 2,592 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. The population density was There were 2,754 housing units at an average density of The racial makeup of the city was 90.2% White, 4.1% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.2% of the population. 22.1% were of German, 13.3% American, 12.8% Irish and 10.9% English ancestry. There were 2,592 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $43,234, and the median income for a family was $50,476. Males had a median income of $36,390 versus $26,957 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,730. About 6.8% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Bonner Springs is home to the Azura Amphitheater, first opened in 1984 as the Sandstone Amphitheater. This open air venue can seat approximately 18,000 guests, including 3,100 private box and reserved seats, with a large grass lawn area at the rear of the amphitheater. The venue has undergone several renovations, including an improved layout for seating, and state of the art, updated sound and video systems.

Bonner Springs is home to the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, a privately funded charitable institution chartered by the U. S. Congress to "educate society on the historical and present value of American agriculture and to honor leadership in Agri Business and Academia by providing education, information, experience and recognition."

The city is host of the annual Kansas City Renaissance Festival. The fair begins on Labor Day weekend and continues for seven weekends, open on Saturdays and Sundays as well as Labor Day and Columbus Day. The fair began in 1977 as a benefit for the Kansas City Art Institute, and became a stand alone event in the late 1990s. The fair has 165 booths and 13 stages, entertaining 180,000 patrons annually on 16 operating days.

Wyandotte County Park has numerous picnic areas with A frame structures. The park also includes soccer fields, tennis courts, a skate park, disc golf course, a model airplane flying area, and baseball diamonds. The Park is home to numerous attractions, including the Wyandotte County Museum and Historical Society, Trowbridge Archival Library, and the George Meyn Community Center.

Sunflower Hills Golf Course, opened in 1977, is an 18 hole course located at Wyandotte County Park. The championship Golf course was designed by renowned architect Roger Packard. Sunflower Hills is home to the Wyandotte County Open, the longest running tournament of its kind in the Greater Kansas City area. The Junior golf course features six holes with three sets of tees, driving range, putting green and practice bunker.

Each year, during the last weekend of August, the city hosts Tiblow Days, a heritage festival in honor of early settler Henry Tiblow, and former namesake of the community.

The Bonner Springs City Council consists of nine members who are elected in non partisan elections across four wards. The mayor is elected at large, and together with the council, select and appoint a professional city manager to operate the city. Operating as the legislative branch of the city, the council provides policy direction to the city manager. The vast majority of Bonner Springs lies in Wyandotte County as the other parts of Bonner Springs lie in neighboring Leavenworth and Johnson County. Bonner Springs acts as an incorporated city retaining its own government and autonomy while also being part of the consolidated city county government known as the "Unified Government". The UG consolidates the governmental functions of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, under one entity, while also performing typical county government functions for the incorporated cities of Bonner Springs and Edwardsville.

The city is served by Bonner Springs–Edwardsville USD 204 public school district, which includes Bonner Springs High School, Robert E. Clark Middle School, and three elementary schools, Bonner Springs Elementary School, Delaware Ridge Elementary School, and Edwardsville Elementary school. Bonner Springs residents also contribute to funding Kansas City Kansas Community College.

The City of Bonner Springs operates one library, the Bonner Springs City Library.