Sterling

History

For millennia, the land and future state known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, Rice County was founded. Sterling was founded in 1872, originally called Peace for Mr. Ninde, a Quaker. In 1876, the name was changed to Sterling, by two brothers after their father Sterling Rosan. In the 1890s, Jonathan S. Dillon sold groceries at his general store in Sterling. Later in 1913, he opened his first J.S. Dillon Cash Food Market in Hutchinson. Later he expanded into the Dillons grocery supermarket chain. In the 1970s, Sterling was considered a national "Broomcorn Capital." * Cooper Hall (NRHP), North Broadway Avenue. * Shay Building (NRHP), 202 South Broadway Avenue. * Sterling Carnegie Library (NRHP), 132 North Broadway Avenue.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Most-observed species

• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  188
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  155
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  137
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  115
• Red-tailed Hawk

  Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  101
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  96
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  91
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  84

Largest nearby schools

• Sterling Grade School
  Elementary · Sterling · 260 students · 13.7:1 ratio
• Sterling Junior High/Senior High
  High · Sterling · 214 students · 11.3:1 ratio
• Lyons High School
  High · Lyons · 212 students · 10.6:1 ratio
• Lyons Middle School
  Middle · Lyons · 187 students · 9.8:1 ratio
• Lyons Park Elementary
  Elementary · Lyons · 181 students · 9.5:1 ratio
• Lyons Central Elementary
  Elementary · Lyons · 157 students · 11.2:1 ratio