Goodland, the county seat of Sherman county and one of the most progressive cities in western Kansas, is situated almost in the exact geographical center of the county on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R. It was settled in 1887. The railroad company established shops, round house and power house, coal chutes, and the largest stock yards between Topeka and Denver. The company also erected a fine passenger station and office building. Goodland has electric lights, waterworks, a telephone exchange, 3 banks, 2 weekly newspapers (the News-Republic and the Sherman County Record), 2 opera houses, telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with four rural routes. Among the industries are the railroad shops, flour mills, a cigar factory, grain elevators, etc. The city has spent in recent years about $750,000 for improvements, with the result that the streets are well paved, and practically all the sidewalks are of cement. Much of the progress is due to the energy of the commercial club, which is composed of the active business men of the city. A $20,000 high school building was erected a few years ago, and the graded schools are equal to those in any city of similar size. The fraternal organizations are well represented, especially the railroad orders, and the Freemasons have a fine temple. The population in 1910 was 1,993, a gain of 934 during the preceding decade.