Best small town in KS? Why?

[cattalk1]

Lindsborg is adorable. Also like Council Grove for charm - neat town, nice people but not best business situation unless you are invited to live there.

[MojoBen]

First places that come to mind for me when thinking about best small towns in Kansas, I generally think of places like Lindsborg, Council Grove or Marysville. You have others like Ellinwood, Beloit, Marion, Halstead, Norton, Seneca, etc. that have a lot of charm and historical aspects to them that make them great places to live or visit.

Sadly some of the decline of population and importance of "your" community has hurt some of these iconic communities. I know Ellinwood is not quite what it use to be as the population got smaller and the older generations (the pillars) are no longer as strong there. Ellinwood was one of those communities that had a lot of history (German), iconic under ground tunnels, oil money and After Harvest Festival. It was a beautiful and thriving town that had the same charm Lindsborg or Council Grove still has. Still a very nice community but not what it once was but sadly you hear that a lot across the state. The brain train and the world becoming such a small world (killing ones downtown) has led to many of the founding family names to move away or just pass away in time. Doesn't help that there just isn't the same oil money as there once was. Ellinwood is just one example though.

Still love going across the state and seeing communities that take a lot of pride in themselves and try to keep their towns looking nice and not letting go of their heritage.

[AnywhereElse]

I believe the economic downturn of our country really hurt the small towns. People simply do not have the money to maintain things the way they should be maintained. It is very sad. Buildings in particular can only be neglected for a few years before it becomes cost prohibitive to restore them.

I like Council Grove, rarely is anything affordable in real estate there. I have heard that Hillsboro is nice and that Marion has become a little rundown.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by AnywhereElse

I believe the economic downturn of our country really hurt the small towns. People simply do not have the money to maintain things the way they should be maintained. It is very sad. Buildings in particular can only be neglected for a few years before it becomes cost prohibitive to restore them.

I like Council Grove, rarely is anything affordable in real estate there. I have heard that Hillsboro is nice and that Marion has become a little rundown.

No, it is the ongoing dichotomy/divide playing out around the US that is leading to most economic and population growth occurring in larger metropolitan areas- where the economy is doing quite well at the moment. Rural areas contend with a myriad of forces related to out-migration, brain drain, and aging in place that impacts how well they function. As a whole, rural counties lost population so far this decade. Nearly all population and job growth in Kansas is in metropolitan counties.