Higginsville has small-town charm and fresh country air
Higginsville is a proud agricultural community with a small-town heart. Interstate 70 runs south of the city, connecting to Kansas City in less than an hour. "We are still, to a point, a bedroom community," says Teri Ray, Higginsville Chamber of Commerce executive director and lifelong resident. "People live here, but they work outside of the town." However, she notes that the city has seen an increase in young families, many of them original residents deciding to move back home. Ray says she loves living in Higginsville because of the tight-knit community and the slower pace of an agricultural town. "The sunrises and sunsets here are exquisite," she says. "And I know it sounds strange, but it's fresh air."
Quiet residential streets with growing new construction
Higginsville's housing options range from 19th-century Victorians to modern New Traditional construction. "New housing has increased in the last couple of years," Ray says. From $40,000 to $200,000, most options are typically smaller ranch-style homes and bungalows from the early and mid-1900s. Houses built after 2000, or freshly renovated properties, can range from $200,000 to $425,000. Sprawling homes with plenty of space can get up to $580,000. Most neighborhoods have uniform rows of houses, and yards are typically around a quarter acre. Roads are quiet and there aren't many sidewalks.
Students can explore vocational training in high school
Kids can attend Grandview Elementary before moving to Lafayette County C-1 Middle School. Both receive a C-plus rating from Niche. Lafayette County C-1 High gets a B grade. The middle and high schools share a building. High school students can apply to attend Lex La-Ray Technical Center, a vocational school with career-focused courses like agriculture, culinary arts and health occupations.
Montessori Schoolhouse and Immanuel Lutheran School are private education alternatives for kindergarten through eighth grade.
Family friendly parks and a fishing lake
Higginsville's main recreation space is Fairground Park, which has ball fields, a playground and a gated arena for horse competitions and rodeos. Right across the street, the Family Aquatic Center is a popular summer pool, and Higginsville Community Center offers indoor sports like pickleball. Over at Higginsville Lake, there are boat launches for fishing. The Higginsville Country Club is situated along the lake's edge, with a public nine-hole course.
Higginsville is home to the Confederate Memorial State Historic Site, a 135-acre park with fishing ponds, a disc golf course and remnants of a Civil War veteran's home.
Local staples include an antique shop and a barbecue joint
The city's historic Main Street has local shops and homestyle restaurants. Ray says she has been encouraged by the younger generation's decision to open more retail businesses around town. "To invest in the community of a population of less than 5,000, I think that speaks volumes," she says. "They want to see this community stay." Some of the local staples for the area include Running Rabbit Antiques and General Store and Red Shanty BBQ & Roadside Cafe, known for its eclectic atmosphere and house-smoked meats. Kleinschmidt's Western Store, just south of the city, is Missouri's largest cowboy boot store.
Moose's Market is the only large grocery store in town. There is a Walmart, but it's not a supercenter, so food options are limited.
Old-school fun with bowling, fireworks and carnival rides
Entertainment in the city often has a vintage feel. Higginsville Lanes bowling alley has been open since 1957, and Davis Theatre might show the latest blockbusters, but its interior is straight out of the 1930s, with a red curtain that opens to reveal the movie screen. One of the city's largest events is the Fourth of July fireworks. According to Ray, more than 3,000 people snag spots in Fairgrounds Park, and hundreds more line the surrounding streets to watch the show. "It's massive," she says. The week-long Higginsville Country Fair also draws crowds, with entertainment options including a rodeo, pageant and carnival. "Right now we have 120 vendors coming, which may not sound big to somebody in Blue Springs," Ray says. "But that's every spot I can find."
It takes less than an hour to reach Kansas City
By connecting south to Interstate 70, locals are just over 50 miles away from downtown Kansas City. The trip typically takes less than an hour. It's about 75 miles to pass through the city and make it to the Kansas City International Airport. Other city suburbs, like Independence and Blue Springs , are a shorter drive. The closest hospital is Lafayette Regional Health Center, 15 miles north in Lexington .
Written By
Catherine Lashley
