Population:                    15,557 (2007) 
Climate:                        January- 30°F, April – 56°F. July – 81°F, October – 59°F 
Annual Precipitation:       25 inches 
Altitude:                        1,849 feet 

• Great Bend Past- Named after the "great bend" in the Arkansas River, Great Bend was founded in 1872 and declared the Barton County seat in May of 1872, "with a population of 600 souls" according to the 1886 Great Bend City Directory.
  
  Great Bend existed for a short time as a cow town, complete with shoot outs, Texas cowboys, and saloons. Following the close of the cow town phase, Great Bend took up its place as a regional trade and service center, a role that grew stronger during the growth of the oil industry, and later when it served as a major World War II Army Air Corps training base.
• Great Bend Present- Agriculture plays a large role in the Great Bend region. Wheat, corn, milo, soybeans, and sunflowers are a few of the crops grown here. The community continues to develop as a medical, legal, and technical service center, as well as a regional shopping and entertainment provider. The town's assets include central geographic resources, a safe and healthful climate, hardworking people, and a relaxed atmosphere. 
  
  Natural resources have been at the heart of the Great Bend economy since its founding, and the nature of Great Bend's natural resources has evolved over time. The most important of Great Bend's natural resources is its location between two of the world's most important wetlands; Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

Churches:                  41 
Schools:                    7 public, 1 private, 1 parochial 
Top Employers:          USD 428 School District 
                                 Barton County Community College 
                                 Fuller Brush Company 
                                 CPI Qualified Plan Consultants