Concordia is a small rural hub in northern Kansas
Among the Smoky Hills of northern Kansas, the city of Concordia is the center of life, business and politics in Cloud County. “While we have people who travel an hour to Salina for work, most of us work in the area, and people from surrounding communities commute here," says Michelle Bombardier, co-director of Cloud County Tourism. "We have almost everything you could need in town, from groceries to shopping." More than 5,100 people live in this small rural hub, where major employers include the North Central Kansas Medical Center and manufacturers like Concordia Technologies. An annual county fair, outdoor recreation and a small downtown area bring neighbors together and help define Concordia’s daily life and culture.
Antique cottages mix with recently built ranch-style homes
Concordia’s streets are arrayed in a grid pattern, and residential lanes tend to feature thick foliage and sidewalks on either side of the road. Founded in 1870, Concordia offers a mixture of antique homes and newer construction. Small ranch-style homes or cottages built from the 1890s to the 1950s have sold for $70,000 to $110,000. Larger homes built in the 20th century, including Foursquare, bungalow and ranch-style residences, go for $120,000 to $350,000. Ranch-style and log cabin properties built since 2000 have sold for $320,000 to $550,000.
A full downtown area is home to diverse eateries
Concordia’s downtown retains the feel of an Old West main street. “We still have an original downtown. Most of its buildings were built in the early 1900s,” Bombardier says. Diverse eateries occupy many of these buildings. “Our downtown is full - we don’t have open storefronts,” Bombardier says. El Puerto and Mi Ranchito Tex-Mex each specialize in Mexican fare, with Mi Ranchito doubling as the local café serving anytime breakfast. Easy G Sports Grill offers a lively sports bar atmosphere and traditional bar fare like burgers and wings. Mavericks Steakhouse serves a combination of comfort food and fine dining, including ribeye and chicken fried steak. Grocery options include Rod’s Food Store and Dollar General.
Concordia has outdoor activities for every season
Downtown Concordia is surrounded by outdoor spaces and cultural venues. Broadway Plaza, right downtown, includes a splash pad and space for public film screenings, plus Saturday night live music in summer. The Concordia City Playground includes a farm-themed playground, a skate park, tennis and basketball courts, a baseball diamond and the city’s public pool. The Concordia Country Club and its nine-hole course are open to the public. This same section of the city hosts the Cloud County Fair every July, featuring goat and cow shows, crop judging competitions, ice cream socials and youth barn dances. “Our county fair is fairly localized, and it’s mostly a time for Future Farmers of America and 4-H to showcase what they’ve done all year,” Bombardier says. “It’s a very old-time, county fair kind of scene.”
Concordia schools emphasize athletics and personal growth
Students can start at Concordia Elementary School, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche, before attending the B-rated Concordia Middle School. The B-minus-rated Concordia Junior-Senior High School has a strong emphasis on its Panthers athletic programs, offering summer camps for football, volleyball, basketball and basic skills like aerobics and flexibility. “In Concordia, kids can be involved in activities and sports without having to try out for anything,” Bombardier says. “Most classrooms have 20 or so students per teacher, so they get individualized teaching and more opportunities with teachers who know who you are.” Concordia is also home to the main campus of Cloud County Community College.
Abilene is an hour's drive from Concordia
U.S. Route 81 connects Concordia to the nearby urban hub of Salina, a 55-mile drive, while Abilene is less than 70 miles away. North Central Kansas Medical Center serves as the county’s main hospital and one of Concordia’s main employers.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
