[5][6] In 1854, Andrew J. Mead of New York of the Cincinnati-Manhattan Company, Free Staters connected to the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company planned a community there called Manhattan (there was also a discussion to call it New Cincinnati).

[7] When the steamship Hartford delivering the immigrants could not reach the community because of low water on the Kansas River, the Free Staters settled 20 miles east in what today is Manhattan, Kansas.

Brinkley used the station to espouse his belief that goat testicles could be implanted in men to enhance their virility.

Ninth Street specifically refers to a bawdy area of the community that was frequented by Fort Riley soldiers in the 1960s.

The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 121.8 days per year.

[12] The 2020 United States census counted 22,932 people, 9,104 households, and 5,851 families in Junction City.

29.2% of households consisted of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Each Commissioner serves for either two or four years, depending on the number of votes they received.

The mayor is a Commissioner that is "elected" by the other members of the Commission and serves for a minimum two-year term.

The community is served by Geary County USD 475 public school district.

The Junction City Daily Union is the local newspaper, published five days a week.

[38] In Sidney Sheldon's New York Times bestseller Windmills of the Gods, the heroine of the novel is from Junction City.

The 13th mission of the video game Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel takes place in a location based on Junction City.

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Junction City include U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, Jr.,[39] inventor Amanda Jones,[40] playwright Velina Hasu Houston, and wrestler Bobby Lashley.