Derby, Kansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Derby, Kansas
City
Location within Sedgwick County and Kansas
KDOT map of Sedgwick County (legend)
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Sedgwick
Founded	1870s
Platted	1871 (El Paso)
Incorporated	1903 (El Paso) 1956 (Derby)
Named for	C.F. Derby
Area
• Total	10.32 sq mi (26.74 km2)
• Land	10.26 sq mi (26.57 km2)
• Water	0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2)
Elevation	1,293 ft (394 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	25,625
• Density	2,483.0/sq mi (958.30/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	67037
Area code	316
FIPS code	20-17800
GNIS ID	474332

Derby is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. It is the largest suburb of Wichita. In 2020, about 25,625 people lived in Derby.

History of Derby

For thousands of years, the Great Plains of North America were home to Native American tribes. In the 16th to 18th centuries, France claimed much of North America. In 1762, France secretly gave New France to Spain after a war.

Early Days: 19th Century

In 1802, Spain returned most of this land to France. Then, in 1803, the United States bought a huge area, including what is now Kansas, from France. This was part of the Louisiana Purchase.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was created. In 1861, Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. Sedgwick County, where Derby is located, was set up in 1867.

In 1870, settlers John Haufbauer and J.H. Minich built the first homes and shops here. In 1871, the community was named El Paso, like a town in Illinois. In 1880, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway changed its train station's name to Derby. This was to avoid confusion with El Paso, Texas, and was named after a railroad official, C.F. Derby.

Growth in the 20th Century

In 1903, the city officially became a town under the name El Paso. However, it stayed a small, farming community until after World War II.

The aviation industry grew in Wichita during the 1920s. When the war needed more airplanes, companies like Boeing, Cessna, and Beechcraft became very busy. Boeing was close by, offering jobs for many people. During the Cold War, Boeing continued to make planes for the military, keeping jobs in the area.

In 1952, the Air Force took over Wichita Municipal Airport. They created McConnell Air Force Base between Wichita and Derby. Many airmen and their families moved to Derby because it was close to the base. From 1950 to 1956, Derby's population grew from 432 to about 5,000 people!

In 1956, the city's name was officially changed to Derby.

Geography of Derby

Derby is located at 37°33′9″N 97°15′41″W / 37.55250°N 97.26139°W / 37.55250; -97.26139. The city covers about 9.60 square miles (24.86 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Derby's Climate

Derby has hot, humid summers. Its winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.

Fun Places to Visit in Derby

Derby has many cool places to explore!

• Rock River Rapids Aquatic Park: This water park opened in 2004. It has six water slides, a fun tree-house play area, and three heated pools. You can float along a 603-foot lazy river or swim laps in a 50-meter pool.
• Derby Historical Museum: This museum is in an old school building from 1923. It has thousands of old items, including a log cabin from 1870. You can see one of the biggest arrowhead collections in Kansas here. There's also an old school room, a general store, and a covered wagon from the 1860s.
• Derby Skate Park: This park has a large flat area of 9,000 square feet. It also has nine concrete structures for skating. There's a deep bowl with ramps, stairs, and rails for skaters to enjoy.

Derby's Population

Derby is part of the larger Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Population in 2020

In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 25,625 people living in Derby. There were 9,991 households and 6,888 families. About 83.4% of the people were white. Around 7.68% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 25.9% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in Derby was 36.2 years.

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 22,158 people living in Derby. The city had 8,300 households and 6,226 families. Most residents (91.6%) were White. About 5.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 28.1% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age was 34.7 years.

Derby's Economy

Derby is home to over 532 businesses. These range from small home-based companies to larger factories. Some big companies include BRG Precision Products, which makes digital clocks, and Mid Continent Controls, which makes entertainment systems for jets.

The city's economy is strongest in construction, retail (stores), finance, and healthcare. Many people in Derby also work for aircraft makers like Spirit AeroSystems and Textron Aviation. The Derby Public Schools and McConnell Air Force Base also provide many jobs.

Derby's Culture and Community

Derby is known for its beautiful green spaces and 25 miles of paths for biking and walking. The city has many parks, some for quiet relaxation and others with playgrounds or sports fields.

High Park is Derby's largest park. It has a lake for fishing, soccer fields, and softball diamonds. Its outdoor theater hosts the city's Fourth of July celebration and the Derby BBQ Festival. This festival brings in cooking teams from all over the Midwest.

Derby has strong connections with its neighbor, McConnell Air Force Base (MAFB). Many active military members live in Derby. Also, military retirees often choose to live here because it's a great place to live, close to the base, and affordable.

Derby Recreation Center

The Derby Recreation Center is a large fitness building with many features. It offers activities for all ages and skill levels.

• Fitness Center
• Gymnasium with three basketball courts
• Indoor Track
• Three Program Studios
• Indoor Pool
• Two Racquetball Courts
• Spin Room
• Locker Rooms
• Nursery with an Outdoor Playground

Derby Public Library

The Derby Public Library is a big building opened in 2009. It has over 100,000 items, including books and electronic media. The library offers free Wi-Fi, public computers, and printing services. It has meeting rooms for groups, from small study rooms to a large community room for 180 people. The library also has programs for all ages throughout the year.

The library works with the City of Derby to run the Derby Business Center. This center helps new businesses grow and supports job creation in the area.

Derby Senior Center

The Senior Center plans activities for people aged 55 and older. It has programs for seniors who stay at home, like a calling program and meal delivery. The center is modern, with a computer lab and fitness room. It offers health services and fun learning programs. Seniors can play cards, listen to music, use treadmills, or play pool.

Getting Around Derby

It's easy to get to places in Derby. Besides the bike and walking paths, the city also has public transportation. For a small fee, the Derby Dash bus service takes residents anywhere they want to go within the city.

The Derby Dash helps people who are elderly or have special needs. It provides low-cost rides, so people don't have to rely on others for basic trips. You can use it to go to grocery stores, banks, the post office, doctors, the Senior Center, and many other places.

Media in Derby

Radio Stations

A Top 40 (CHR) radio station, KZCH, is licensed to Derby. However, it broadcasts from Wichita.

Television Stations

The main Univision TV channel, KDCU-DT, is also licensed to Derby. Like the radio station, it broadcasts from Wichita.

Education in Derby

The community is served by the Derby USD 260 public school district. It has one high school, two middle schools, and nine elementary schools.

• Derby High School (Panthers)
• Derby Middle School (Bulldogs)
• Derby North Middle School (Falcons)

USD 260 elementary schools:

• Cooper
• Derby Hills
• El Paso
• Oaklawn
• Park Hill
• Pleasantview
• Swaney
• Tanglewood
• Wineteer
• Stone Creek

Private Schools:

• St. Mary Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th grade)
• Faith Lutheran School (Pre-K through 7th grade)

Notable People from Derby

Many interesting people were born or have lived in Derby, including:

• Sherrone Moore (1986- ) — football coach
• Woody Austin (1964- ) — professional golfer
• Billy Campfield (1956- ) — football running back
• Caitlynn French (1989- ) — voice actress
• Jason Gamble (1975- ) — football offensive guard
• Nick Reid (1983- ) — football linebacker
• David Rickels (1989- ) — mixed martial artist
• Grant Snider — cartoonist
• George Teague (1971- ) — football safety

See also

In Spanish: Derby (Kansas) para niños