Goddard is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. It is a suburb of Wichita. In 2010, 4,344 people lived there.
History
In 1883, Ezekiel Wilder bought farmland on the planned railway of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway south of Blendon, Kansas. It was about west of Wichita. There, he built the town of Goddard. It was named after J. F. Goddard, former third vice-president of the ATSF Railway. The railroad reached Goddard in 1884. A post office was built there the same year. Several buildings were moved from Blendon, including the town hall and the planned Methodist church. Goddard was officially incorporated in 1910.
On June 23, 1969, an F4 tornado hit Goddard. No people died, but six people were injured.
Geography
Goddard is at (37.659706, -97.574271) at an elevation of 1,463 feet (446 m). Goddard is on U.S. Route 54 in south-central Kansas immediately west of Wichita.
Goddard is about southwest of the Arkansas River and north-northeast of the Ninnescah River in the Wellington-McPherson Lowlands region of the Great Plains.
The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of . Of that, is land and is water.
People
Goddard is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.
2010 census
The 2010 United States Census says that there were 4,344 people, 1,442 households, and 1,124 families living in Goddard.
Education
Primary and secondary education
Goddard USD 265 has eleven schools in and around the city.
Libraries
The Goddard Public Library, which is in downtown, has a collection of over 28,000 volumes. It also has technology services and reading programs for the people.
Infrastructure
Utilities
The city government's Public Works Department is responsible for both providing water and waste water management. Westar Energy provides electric power. Most people use natural gas for heating fuel; service is provided by Kansas Gas Service.
Media
Goddard is in both the Wichita radio and television markets.
Parks and recreation
The city government maintains two parks in Goddard as well as a city swimming pool.