In south-central Kansas, El Dorado has a history reaching back to the 1860s, but the modern story of the city begins in 1915 when oil was discovered here. Within three years this oilfield was the single largest oil producer in the country, responsible for almost 13% of the United States’ total production. With those days …
In a picturesque spot by the Missouri River, Atchison is a city that was long held as the gateway to the West. Lewis and Clark passed through in the summer 1804, and from the end of the Civil War the city became a cradle of industry and entrepreneurship at the eastern terminus of the Atchison, …
On the west flank of the famous Flint Hills, the seat of Cowley County has twice been named among the 100 Best Small Towns in America. And little wonder, as Winfield is a lovable place, with a dynamic downtown area, beautiful architecture and a sprinkling of youth thanks to Southwestern College. One of many annual …
A southern suburb of Wichita, Haysville is a city of some 11,000 and has a small-town feel, independent of its larger neighbor. This place, founded in the 1890s, has also overcome some adversity, rebuilding after an F4 tornado ripped through the historic heart of the city in 1999, destroying almost everything in its path. There’s …
With the I-35 running down its spine, Merriam is a suburb of Kansas City, around seven miles southwest of downtown. Roughly speaking, on the east side of I-35 is a commercial hub with the likes of Ikea and Marshalls, while on the west side is Turkey Creek and its accompanying trail extending through the community. …
Close to the bank of the Missouri River, Lansing is a small city on the northwestern edge of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Lansing has had a maximum security prison, now the Lansing Correctional Facility, within its limits since 1859, and this is the state’s largest and oldest prison. You can find out about this …
Sitting just west of the junction of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers, Arkansas City is in south-central Kansas a few miles from the border with Oklahoma. The local population grew suddenly in the early 1890s awaiting the Land Run of 1893, when six million acres of what is now northern Oklahoma was opened to settlement …
Founded in 1872, McPherson is a city of 14,000 in Central Kansas, with a reputation for industry, agriculture and education, thanks to two colleges. It’s no stretch to call McPherson an ideal small town, and there’s a flourishing Main Street, cute public parks, one-of-a-kind events and ample inspiration for things to do. If you’re a …
Named for its location where the Smoky Hill and Republican rivers become the Kansas River, Junction City has a history entwined with Fort Riley, a major U.S. Army Post close by. Fort Riley needs to be on your agenda for its museums and historical sites linked to George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876), and the U.S. Cavalry. …
This suburban city in the Kansas City area sits against the border between Kansas and Missouri. In Prairie Village you can acquaint yourself with Kansas City signatures, tasting the famous local barbecue and tapping your toes to Kansas City jazz at the summer Jazz Festival. Prairie Village has an upmarket atmosphere, unmistakable at shopping and …