Frontenac is a coal mining town turned family friendly community
Italians, Croatians and Poles came to Frontenac in the late 1800s to work the coal mines. That industry has since faded, but the town grew into Crawford County’s second-largest, now home to around 3,500 residents. Its heritage lives on through vibrant community events, like Festa Italiana. “People in Frontenac take a lot of pride in their community, and the festivals are always well-attended,” says Nichole Hamblin, a broker with ReeceNichols Sunflower Realty Group, who has sold several homes in the area. Located about 4 miles north of Pittsburg, Frontenac is also known as the college town’s family friendly neighbor, with highly rated public schools, big lawns and a small downtown. “People who live here typically work in Pittsburg,” Hamblin says. “But they want something quieter and less busy than living near Pittsburg State University.”
Houses may cost more than they do in Pittsburg
Frontenac’s oldest homes include cottages and bungalows dating back to the early 1900s. Ranch styles from the mid-20th century and New Traditionals built between the 1990s and early 2000s are also common. Oak and elm trees typically shade lawns, with the median lot size slightly over a quarter acre. Homes on the outskirts may sit on farmland with livestock and wheat fields. Smaller homes can cost between $100,000 and $265,000, while larger houses usually range from about $300,000 to around $500,000. The median single-family home price is around $210,000, which is higher than Pittsburg’s $146,000. “There’s more space in Frontenac than in Pittsburg, so prices can get a little higher,” Hamblin says. Residents should be aware that tornadoes occasionally impact the area, and sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of each month.
Frontenac High is the home of the Raiders
Frontenac USD 259 serves the community. Kids can attend Frank Layden Elementary and Frontenac Junior High, both of which earn B grades from Niche. They may continue to A-minus-rated Frontenac High, where the boys' teams are called the Raiders and the girls' teams go by the Lady Raiders. “Most high schools in the area view Frontenac as their biggest competition,” Hamblin says. The school’s athletic program offers sports like football, wrestling and baseball. Several higher education facilities are in the area, including a Fort Scott Community College campus. Pittsburg State University, about 5 miles south, employs around 1,500 people and educates about 6,500 students. The college offers over 200 degree programs, including construction management and engineering.
Festa Italiana is at the Raiders Sports Complex
Frontenac Rotary Park is home to the city pool, playground equipment and baseball diamonds that host games for the Little League and high school teams. Adjacent to the green space, Raiders Sports Complex hosts more high school games and Festa Italiana every September. Visitors stroll around the football and soccer fields, enjoying Italian cuisine and wine, with all proceeds supporting scholarships for graduating seniors. Around 4 miles of trailways stretch through hardwood forests and around fishing pits at Wilderness Park, on Frontenac’s west side. Several other recreation spots are in Pittsburg and Crawford State Park, about 23 miles north, has campgrounds, a beach and boat launches on a lake.
The downtown district hosts Frontenac Mining Days
A post office, a deli and a few locally owned restaurants make up downtown Frontenac on McKay Street. “It’s small, but people up in Frontenac want there to be less, so it's not rowdy like Pittsburg,” Hamblin says. Pool tables and neon beer signs decorate Pickled Pete’s, regularly hosting trivia nights and live music. Fire trucks and vintage cars parade through downtown to kick off Frontenac Mining Days, a weekend-long event in June that also includes an arm wrestling contest and carnival rides. Pittsburg has big-box grocery stores like Aldi and Walmart Supercenter, and college bars and more restaurants are in the downtown district.
Major employers are in Pittsburg
Though locals often walk around town with their dogs and families, Frontenac is a car-dependent community. Rouse Street leads directly to Pittsburg, where other major employers include Mercy Hospital and the Kansas Crossing Casino. Joplin Regional Airport, 28 miles south, has flights to Denver and Chicago. U.S. Route 69, on Frontenac’s western edge, reaches Kansas City, 123 miles north.
