Girard

History

Girard was founded in the spring of 1868, in opposition to Crawfordsville, and named after the town of Girard, Pennsylvania, the former home of trustee Charles Strong. It was based around the surveyed line of the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad, in an attempt to gain an advantage over its rival. The first post office in Girard was established in September 1868. The first celebration in Girard was held on July 4, 1868, marking Sunday school and Independence Day. Under a law passed in March 1871, Girard became a city of the third class. In early April, the first city officers were elected. The last meeting of the trustees was held April 5, and the first meeting of the new Council was held on April 7. Franklin Playter started the first bank in Girard in June 1871. In 1872, he erected for the accommodation of his business a two-story brick building, the first brick building in the city. In June 1879, this bank was succeeded by the Bank of Girard, established by E. R. Moffit. The Bank of Girard was then succeeded in 1882 by the Girard Bank. In the 1960s, many of the mines closed. Today the landscape of southeastern Crawford County is covered with long strip mines now full of water and serving as fishing lakes and unfarmed wildlife habitat. The ruins of abandoned zinc and lead smelters can also be seen; many are Superfund sites polluted with the toxic remains of smelter operations. The economy that was driven by industrialized mining and smelting during the first half of the 20th century and the early 21st century is dominated by agriculture. With the growth of the mining industry in Crawford County, large numbers of immigrants from Southern Europe and the Balkans were brought in to work in the mines. These immigrants were more often adherents of Catholicism,…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. This city is located on a gently undulating prairie at the center of the county. It is regularly laid out and has a public square in the center. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Girard has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Pittsburg Middle School
  Middle · Pittsburg · 720 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• Westside Elem
  Elementary · Pittsburg · 527 students · 25.1:1 ratio
• R V Haderlein Elem
  Elementary · Girard · 503 students · 16.2:1 ratio
• Frank Layden Elem
  Elementary · Frontenac · 467 students · 14.6:1 ratio
• Northeast Elem
  Elementary · Arma · 341 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Girard High
  High · Girard · 297 students · 15.6:1 ratio
• Frontenac Sr. High School
  High · Frontenac · 267 students · 15.7:1 ratio
• Girard Middle
  Middle · Girard · 230 students · 16.4:1 ratio