Hiawatha offers small-town warmth and access to big-city amenities
Named for one of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s most famous narrative poems, the city of Hiawatha is a community steeped in history and small-town values. “We have that small, hometown feel, but we’re only 40 minutes away from St. Joseph, so we have those big-city amenities as well,” says Dawn Boyles, Hiawatha’s city clerk. “Everybody knows everybody, and your neighbors have got your back. When a tree fell down in our yard, our neighbors came together in our time of need, and it was totally cleaned up in three hours.” In addition to downtown retail, agribusiness remains a major employer. “We also have a cabinet factory that brings in people from as far as Topeka, and they have buses that run every day to bring workers in,” Boyles says. Nearly 3,300 people call this city home, and unique, yearly events bring neighbors together.
Hiawatha offers a mixture of century-old and 2000s-built homes
Hiawatha’s grid-patterned streets feature a diverse array of homes built between the first decades of the 20th and 21st centuries. Newer ranch-style homes sit beside older Craftsman properties on streets with abundant shade. Houses under 2,000 square feet in size have sold for between $60,000 and $230,000, and larger residences go for between $200,000 and $360,000.
Downtown is home to a vibrant business scene and a famous parade
Oregon Street serves as Hiawatha’s main drag, and brick buildings built from the 1880s to 1900s add a historic character to downtown Hiawatha. “We have a very active downtown with very few empty buildings, and we have a quilt shop, jewelry store, two flower shops and a lot of other businesses,” Boyles says. This downtown area has hosted the Halloween Frolic parade since 1914, making it the longest-running Halloween parade in the country. “Almost everything is centered around Halloween and fall here,” Boyles says. “We offer two nights of trick-or-treating every year, as you get Halloween off from school for the parade.” This downtown area is also home to a handful of diverse eateries. The Hiawatha Creamery, founded in 2022, has quickly become a refuge for residents during hot summer months. The New China Restaurant serves as the local Chinese takeout venue while also offering buffets and family dinner specials. The BB Brothers Mexican Store, housed in a historic bank building, sells imported Mexican groceries while also making fresh street food from its grill section. Even Hiawatha’s outskirts are home to popular eateries. “The Country Cabin, a steakhouse right outside of town, has cabin accommodations for people who want to stay,” Boyles says. Walmart serves as Hiawatha’s main grocery store.
Autumn is Hiawatha's peak recreation season
Hiawatha is surrounded by outdoor recreation venues. “We have a very active parks and rec department that’s amazing,” Boyles says. “On Christmas, they have candy cane hunts for all the kids, and they also host 5-Ks for almost every holiday and in between.” At the city’s southeast corner, the Noble Ball Park includes a baseball field and a playground, while the Hiawatha Aquatic Park next door makes a pool with two water slides open to the public. When the Noble Ball Park is full, Bruning Park offers three more ball fields. The Hiawatha Country Club not only makes its 9-hole course available to the public; it has also hosted the local high school’s cross-country races. “We’re also the ‘City of Beautiful Maples,’ so, in the fall, we’re just like the upper East Coast - it’s beautiful here,” Boyles says. “We also host the county fair at Courthouse Square, where we have vendors, different crafts, food trucks and usually a magician show, a petting zoo, music, jump houses and lots of events for kids to do.”
Hiawatha High also teaches life skills
Students can start their education at Hiawatha Elementary School, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche, before attending the B-rated Hiawatha Middle School and the B-plus-rated Hiawatha High School. Hiawatha High helps its students prepare for independent futures through events like Redhawk Ready for Life Day, where students learn life skills like cooking or changing tires.
Highway access to St. Joseph, Topeka and beyond
Hiawatha’s location at the crossroads of U.S. Routes 36 and 73 puts it within a 40-mile journey from St. Joseph, 70 miles from Topeka, 70 miles from Kansas City and 115 miles from Omaha. Amberwell Hiawatha puts a general hospital at the heart of this small city.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
