Girard is a small, rural city with easy access to amenities
Progressive publishing houses once enlivened the small city of Girard, which was known in the 1900s as a bastion of socialist ideals. Today, the printing presses are quiet, and the town of 2,500 is a sleepy rural hub on the Kansas-Missouri border. “It’s a great small town that’s close to shopping and has a great school system,” says Shelly Hildebrandt, a Realtor with Cobb Realty who has sold over a dozen homes in the area. “There are a lot of farms around the area, and it’s very agricultural. Though it’s got a very rural feel, it’s big enough that you don’t feel like you’re far from amenities.” As the seat of Crawford County, Girard is about 20 minutes from the main regional center, Pittsburg. However, the town has its own small-business scene and its own medical center, and many locals now work in the health care sector.
Vintage homes sell for competitive prices
Much of Girard’s housing stock dates to the first half of the 20th century, when the city was in the midst of a coal mining and publishing boom. Most homes sit on streets flanked by sidewalks and large trees, though some residential areas trade sidewalks for bigger lawns. Bungalows and ranch-style homes built to house the area’s large blue-collar community are still on the market, now selling for $50,000 to $80,000. Larger, more recently built ranch-style homes sell for $100,000 to $200,000. The median home sale price is $120,000, slightly lower than nearby Pittsburg.
Girard has a small but diverse retail scene
Girard has a small selection of shops and restaurants along St. John and Summit Streets, including both brand-name outlets and small businesses. Since 1995, Opie’s Pizza has served as Girard’s primary pizza venue, and its menu also includes other Italian staples like calzones and subs. Girard Lotus Express serves Chinese dishes with a Midwestern twist, including Missouri-style cashew chicken. The C4 Coffeehouse & Country Store has a farmhouse-themed interior, with saddle-mounted stools for seating and country curios for sale. G&W Foods serves as the local supermarket.
Small parks and a golf course are available to the public
Close to this city’s heart, the Girard City Park includes pickleball and basketball courts as well as a small skate park. Farther down Carbon Street, Winston Park includes a playground and a public pool. Red Wutke Park hosts youth baseball tournaments on its two fields. East of town, the 9-hole Girard Municipal Golf Course is open to the public and hosts league tournaments.
Girard High offers smaller classroom sizes and strong athletics
Students can start their education at R.V. Haderlein Elementary School before attending Girard Middle School and Girard High School; all three schools receive a B-plus rating from Niche. “The schools here are not so crowded, and they’re small enough that homebuyers feel like their kids can be competitive in the classroom,” Hildebrandt says. Girard High also has a competitive athletics program, with top-performing teams in football, volleyball and girls basketball.
Health care and the regional hub are easily accessible
Girard is about 15 miles from the regional hub of Pittsburg via state routes 7 and 126. Locals don’t have to travel far for health care, as this city is home to the Girard Medical Center.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
