Brookfield offers rural small-town living with longtime traditions
Brookfield is a small city in the countryside of northern Missouri. “A lot of people come in from out of state," says Julie Green, a broker at Century 21 McKeown & Associates who has lived in the region since 1998. "I had two closings the same week — one from Montana and the other from Texas. They come because it has a lower cost of living and they can buy more home for the money.” Downtown Main Street offers shopping and dining options, with some vacant buildings waiting for new businesses. Though the population of around 4,100 is less than what it used to be, longtime traditions like hot air ballooning and high school football rivalries are still just as popular.
Century-old homes near downtown and newer builds on the outskirts
Brookfield has a mix of homes dating from the late 1800s to the modern era. Most of the oldest homes are closer to downtown, including bungalows and National-style houses, some of which need renovations. They range from around $30,000 to $170,000. Ranch-style and split-level homes built between the mid-1900s and 2000s can be found in developments toward the city’s outskirts, selling for around $100,000 to $360,000.
Well-rated schools with a longstanding high school football rivalry
All three public school buildings are connected. Students attend Brookfield Elementary School, which receives a B-plus grade from Niche. Brookfield Middle School receives an A-minus, and Brookfield High School receives a B. The high school of fewer than 300 students has a longstanding rivalry with Marceline High School. The rivalry started in 1922, making it one of the oldest in the country. Every year, the Brookfield Bulldogs and Marceline Tigers compete in the “Bell Game,” where the winner takes home a bell trophy that was donated by the Brookfield Fire Department in 1936. In 2012, the game was voted the best football rivalry in the country by USA Today.
Local businesses on Main Street and national retailers around town
Downtown runs along Main Street on the north and south sides of the railroad tunnel. Locals can hit up Raspberry’s BBQ, head to Pigskin Pub & Pizza for a slice and some beer or order ice cream from the window at Tastee Treat and eat outside. Downtown also has several boutiques and other specialty shops, such as the Time Warp Antiques and Thrift Store. The Farmhouse Butcher Shop & Deli serves sandwiches and sells locally raised meat. Prenger Foods sells discounted produce. Several national retailers are also in town, such as Walmart, Ace Hardware and Tractor Supply Co.
The Great Pershing Balloon Derby and Linn County Youth Fair
The Great Pershing Balloon Derby has been the city’s most iconic event since it first started in 1977, and is considered the longest-running continuously sanctioned balloon event in the country. It’s held a few miles west of Brookfield every Labor Day weekend, featuring dozens of competing hot air balloons. “It’s a well-attended event, and it’s a neat seeing all the hot air balloons in the air,” Green says.
The Linn County Youth Fair is held every summer, where kids compete in various livestock shows and shooting competitions. “It’s a farming community, so you have a lot of ag-based businesses in the area, and the kids are big into 4-H,” Green says. Along with these contests, the fair features other fun activities, including a swim party, ice cream social and fish fry.
Twin Parks and South City Park offer playgrounds and other activities
Two squares, known as Twin Parks, sit across the street from each other downtown. West Twin Park has two playgrounds, while East Twin Park has a gazebo and a War Memorial. Both parks have grassy areas with benches and walkways. South City Park, Brookfield’s largest recreational space, is a 43-acre park with multiple playgrounds, a public disc golf course and rentable picnic shelters. The park is also home to the city’s outdoor pool, featuring waterslides and a climbing wall.
Avoiding train traffic and getting to Kansas City
Brookfield is primarily car-dependent. However, OATS Transit provides public bus transportation by appointment. Locals can take the bus around town, including to Pershing Memorial Hospital, and throughout the county. Industrial trains come through town and can block off a few residential streets. However, the tunnel downtown allows drivers to pass under the railway. State Route 11 and U.S. Route 36 are the main highways that intersect in Brookfield. It takes around 2 hours to drive about 115 miles to Kansas City, where travelers can fly out of Kansas City International Airport.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
