Bethany is a northwest Missouri hub along a major highway
The city of Bethany serves as the center of life in northwest Missouri’s Harrison County. “The location halfway between Kansas City and Des Moines is key,” says Anita Riley, broker-owner of Re/Max Town and Country. “Bethany is located on an interstate highway, so it’s easy to get to airports and such.” This former railroad and industrial center has a population of nearly 3,000 people, many of them employed in local retail and health care jobs. “It’s kind of a growing area where they’re building a new hospital,” Riley says. “The necessities are all in place.”
Major highways double as Bethany's main shopping corridors
Proximity to highways like U.S. Routes 69 and 136 and Interstate 35 means that Bethany’s shopping scene is spread along several major roads. Main Street’s historic buildings house boutique shops and home goods stores. 25th Street runs past the local Hy-Vee and Dollar General supermarkets. On Route 136, Toot-Toot Restaurant & Lounge offers a family-style buffet with Midwest classics like meatloaf and sliced roast. Across the street, China King serves as the local Chinese takeout venue. El Nopal Mexican Restaurant occupies a Spanish mission-influenced building, and its interior is decked out with chairs and paintings depicting scenes of Mexican pastoral life. Route 136 also includes the local Walmart and Tractor Supply Company.
Ranch-styles are common on city streets and in suburban sections
Bethany’s hilly streets often feature ranch-style homes built throughout the 20th century, sizeable front yards with curbside trees and the occasional sidewalk. “It’s an agricultural sort of area, and there are a lot of homes on acreages outside of the city limits,” Riley says. Houses below 1,500 square feet have sold for $50,000 to $160,000, while larger properties go for $190,000 to $270,000. Bethany’s median sale price of $140,000 is slightly lower than that of the northern Missouri hub of St. Joseph, with a median of $178,000.
Bethany offers sports in the park, golfing, racing and a state fair
Memorial Park is the center of outdoor recreation in Bethany. This park includes spaces for basketball, baseball and tennis as well as a small skate park, a playground, a swimming pool and forested paths. Every Labor Day weekend, Bethany hosts the Northwest Missouri State Fair, where live music, a cornhole tournament, livestock shows and a demolition derby contribute to a lively atmosphere. “The state fair is kind of like a big reunion for the locals,” Riley says. “It’s a big event for the community – they have a concert series with a couple of well-known people.” Members of the private Bethany Country Club can make use of its nine-hole golf course and swimming pool. The Thunder Valley Raceway, founded in 1965, has long been a regionally popular venue for weekly drag races.
South Harrison schools each receive B ratings from Niche
Students can start at South Harrison Elementary School before attending South Harrison Middle School and South Harrison High School; each school receives a B rating from Niche. South Harrison High offers career-oriented extracurriculars like Future Business Leaders of America, Future Teachers of America and a large Science Olympiad team.
Interstate 35 puts Bethany halfway between Des Moines and Kansas City
Bethany’s location along Interstate 35 puts it 90 miles northeast of Kansas City and 105 miles southwest of Des Moines. Residents don’t have to travel far for health care, as Bethany is home to the Harrison County Community Hospital.
![Jacob Adelhoch]()
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
