Colby offers rural charm and a strong sense of community
Colby is a rural center in northwestern Kansas, surrounded by farms, ranches and crop fields. The little city and county seat of Thomas County is a hub of daily necessities, schools and employers, and its residents are close-knit. "It's the type of place where you see people you know all the time and stop to talk to neighbors you run into at the grocery store," says Lizzie White, the president of the Colby/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce. Though small, the city has no shortage of places to gather or opportunities to connect. "I moved here for college and ended up staying because I fell in love with Colby," White says. "I found a real sense of community and belonging here."
Most homes are valued around $200,000, with limited turnover
Colby has mostly gridded streets and a dense center area with homes, warehouses and businesses. Some pocket neighborhoods with winding roads and cul-de-sacs are around the outskirts, bordered by crop fields. "There are the solid, good neighborhoods with older homes, and then there is new housing because we are growing," White says. "The growth is slow and steady, and Colby brings in a mix of people from professionals to college students who stay, to people who were born here, moved away and came back for family." Housing styles include Cape Cods, Colonial Revivals, bungalows, ranch-style homes and Victorian cottages. Limited properties have sold in the past few years, but homes have an average estimated value of about $195,000.
The community raises funds to support the local school district
Colby's grade, middle and high schools each earn a score of C-plus from Niche. With the help of local businesses and community members, the district raised over $1.5 million in donated funds to build a new agricultural education and technology center. "We just finished building it, and the ribbon cutting ceremony is in August," White says. "Colby is a very generous community. We rally together all the time to raise money for those important things." The district's next fundraising project is called the Dennen Field Project. It aims to update the high school football field's bathroom and locker rooms.
Sacred Heart Catholic School and Heartland Christian School are private schools associated with local houses of worship. Colby Community College has a campus in the city and an agricultural center with cattle and horse barns northeast of Colby. Many students come for the college's agricultural and farming-based studies, like agronomy, animal science, beef production and equine science.
Local parks offer space to play, cool off and connect
Colby residents get outside at Fike Park, Young Park and Colby City Aquatic Park. "The parks are great, and our safe and enjoyable small community is attractive to parents." Fike Park has tennis and basketball courts, while Young Park's baseball and soccer fields are where local youth leagues play. Waterslides lead into a lazy river at Colby City Aquatic Park. The public aquatic center also has a shallow kiddie section and a large pool with lap lanes and diving boards.
Colby is the shopping hub of Thomas County
Downtown Colby has row buildings with specialty shops, salons, drug stores and offices. A few restaurants are available, including B-Hive, a burger joint with leather booths, neon bar signs, arcade games and pool tables. Dillons and Walmart are south, near Interstate 70, as are fast-food chains, a pharmacy and hotels. "We're not too big or too small, and we have all the daily necessities here," White says. South of the interstate is a shopping center with a strip of locally owned stores, including a guitar shop, an antique mall, a craft store and boutiques. It's a regular pit stop for road trippers and truck drivers passing through.
Major highways and a hospital expansion support local growth
Kansas Highway 25 and U.S. Route 24 intersect in Colby, and Interstate 70 is at the city's southern border. Warehouses and manufacturers are around and ship their products using Kyle Railroad, a railroad line that carries predominantly agricultural and construction-related freight. Citizens Medical Center is a significant employer, and a hospital addition is under construction. "With that comes a lot of career opportunities," White says. McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport is 80 miles away.
Wind-related weather events are rare but possible
Though Kansas is in Tornado Alley, Colby is at minor risk from wind-related storms. According to First Street, an F1 Tornado in 2006 was the most severe tornado or storm the city experienced, causing about $120,000 worth of damage.
Written By
Heather Haggerty
