Valley Center is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States, and a suburb of Wichita. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 7,340.

Valley Center was incorporated on September 29, 1885, and was named for its location in the valley of the Arkansas River.

The former Valley Center rail depot for Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company and the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company was moved to south of Hillsboro, Kansas at the southeast corner of Indigo Rd & 140th St, and is currently a private residence.

On the morning of July 17, 2007, a large explosion occurred at the Barton Solvents chemical plant in Valley Center, destroying the plant and forcing the temporary evacuation of the city. Cleanup began several weeks later, and the investigation was completed by mid-August.

Valley Center is located at 37°49′47″N 97°22′10″W / 37.82972°N 97.36944°W / 37.82972; -97.36944 (37.829719, -97.369341). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.95 square miles (18.00 km), all of it land.

Valley Center is located two miles west of combined Interstate 135, U.S. Route 81, and K-15.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	71		—
1890	167		135.2%
1900	312		86.8%
1910	381		22.1%
1920	486		27.6%
1930	896		84.4%
1940	700		−21.9%
1950	854		22.0%
1960	2,570		200.9%
1970	2,551		−0.7%
1980	3,300		29.4%
1990	3,624		9.8%
2000	4,883		34.7%
2010	6,822		39.7%
2020	7,340		7.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 2010-2020

Valley Center is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The 2020 United States census counted 7,340 people, 2,599 households, and 1,967 families in Valley Center. The population density was 1,032.3 per square mile (398.9/km). There were 2,799 housing units at an average density of 393.7 per square mile (152.1/km). The racial makeup was 86.14% (6,323) white, 1.38% (101) black or African-American, 1.05% (77) Native American, 0.61% (45) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 2.18% (160) from other races, and 8.62% (633) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 5.5% (430) of the population.

Of the 2,599 households, 44.1% had children under the age of 18; 63.1% were married couples living together; 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present. 22.3% of households consisted of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.0 and the average family size was 3.6.

40.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 82.6 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $66,250 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,521) and the median family income $73,183 (+/- $6,598). Males had a median income of $44,175 (+/- $9,121) versus $27,475 (+/- $8,688) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $37,107 (+/- $6,335). Approximately, 1.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those ages 65 or over.

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,822 people, 2,484 households, and 1,862 families living in the city. The population density was 981.6 inhabitants per square mile (379.0/km). There were 2,601 housing units at an average density of 374.2 per square mile (144.5/km). The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 0.8% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.6% of the population.

There were 2,484 households, of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.0% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.22.

The median age in the city was 34.3 years. 31.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,883 people, 1,761 households, and 1,368 families living in the city. The population density was 1,464.2 inhabitants per square mile (565.3/km). There were 1,826 housing units at an average density of 547.5 per square mile (211.4/km). The racial makeup of the city was 96.78% White, 0.33% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.70% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 1,761 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.2% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,683, and the median income for a family was $56,667. Males had a median income of $42,917 versus $26,639 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,259. About 1.0% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

Valley Center USD 262 employs approximately 370 people and serves more than 2,760 children from the communities of Valley Center, Park City, Kechi, and Wichita. The schools include one Pre-K - 3 building, two K-3 schools, an intermediate school that houses the fourth and fifth grades, a sixth, seventh and eighth grade middle school, and a high school. There is also an alternative school, The Learning Center, which assists students of all ages earning their high school diploma. The Valley Center school district mascot is the Hornets.

• Fall Festival - Annual event in September.

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Valley Center include:

• Cady Groves (1989-2020), pop-country singer
• Patrick Miller (1980-), U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, prisoner of war

• Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway
• Theorosa's Bridge, a reportedly haunted bridge and site of local folklore

• City of Valley Center
• Valley Center - Directory of Public Officials
• Valley Center city map, KDOT