Pratt is a city in and the county seat of Pratt County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Kansas. The population was 6,570 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.5 km²), of which, 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (1.59%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,570 people, 2,839 households, and 1,780 families residing in the city. The population density was 886.0 people per square mile (341.9/km²). There were 3,312 housing units at an average density of 446.6/sq mi (172.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.87% White, 1.00% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.95% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% of the population.

There were 2,839 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,646, and the median income for a family was $42,412. Males had a median income of $31,186 versus $20,640 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,486. About 7.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

History

Pratt was founded in 1884 and named after Caleb Pratt, a young Civil War officer from the Kansas Infantry, who was killed in the Battle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield, Missouri

When the Parrish Hotel was built it was the tallest building in Kansas for a number of years.

The nearby Pratt Army Airfield Base served as the final staging area for B-29 outfitting in 1943-1945

The Miss Kansas Parade and Contest is held here.

The state headquarters of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks was constructed southeast of the town.

Media

Radio stations

• KHMY 93.1FM-- Hot Adult Contemporary
• KMMM 1290AM-- News, Sports, Information, and Music

Newspaper

• The Pratt Tribune

Education

Public Schools

Pratt is served by Unified School District #382 and Unified School District #438

• Pratt High School (grades 9-12)
• Skyline School (grades K-12)
• Liberty Middle School] (grades 6-8)
• Southwest Elementary School] (grades PreK-5)
• Haskins Elementary School] & Bridges to Learning (grades K-4)

Private Schools

• Sacred Heart/Holy Child (PreK-5)
• Our Savior Lutheran Preschool

Higher Education

• Pratt Community College.

Notable residents

• Brad Ziegler, current Oakland Athletics relief pitcher, set MLB record for consecutive scoreless innings to begin a career (39)

Media references

• Theodore Bagwell lies low in a Pratt bar in "The Killing Box", an episode of the television series Prison Break.
• In Stephen King's "The Stand", Nick Andros and Tom Cullen encounter the cruel, vicious and promiscuous Julie Lawry at Pratt.

References

1. Pratt Chamber of Congress, retrieved August 24, 2009
2. Pratt Chamber of Congress, retrieved August 24, 2009
3. Unified School District #382
4. Unified School District #438
5. Pratt High School
6. Liberty Middle School
7. Elementary School
8. Haskins Elementary School

External links

• Pratt, KS Website
• Pratt Community College Website