Hillsboro is a college and industry town north of Wichita
Located 50 miles north of Wichita in central Kansas, the city of Hillsboro packs industry, golfing, a small retail scene and a private college into a small rural community. “Hillsboro has Tabor College, a Christian fine arts college, in the heart of town, and there’s also a hospital, so there are plenty of employment options,” says Patty Putter, a Realtor with Re/Max Associates who has sold nearly a dozen homes in Hillsboro. Nearly 2,700 people call this former railroad town home, many of them working in jobs like trailer manufacturing, truck repair and plastic fabrication at this city’s industrial park. “Barkman Honey's teddy bear bottles are manufactured in Hillsboro at Container Services, and then they are filled with honey before being shipped out everywhere,” Putter says. Hillsboro’s active industrial scene and its smalltown atmosphere continue to attract new residents over 150 years after its founding.
Antique and modern homes share Hillsboro's grid-patterned streets
Hillsboro’s streets are home to a diverse mixture of homes, including the odd 19th-century residence, dozens of houses built before the 1950s, and a handful of 2000s-built properties at the city’s southern edge. Bungalows and ranch-style homes built from 1900 to 1990 have sold for between $40,000 and $280,000, while ranch-style properties built since 1990 go for between $180,000 and $530,000. Houses tend to sit along grid-patterned streets with tree-shaded sidewalk access. Hillsboro’s median home price of $120,000 is well below McPherson’s median of $159,000 and McPherson’s $205,000. “A lot of times, I see people coming here from California and elsewhere because of the college, find jobs here and don’t go back,” Putter says. “It might be the smalltown vibe, as they make connections here and stay.”
Downtown Hillsboro's shops have an Old West feel
Downtown Hillsboro has the look of an Old West town, as false-front stores built in the first few years of the 20th century foster a vintage atmosphere. Pueblo Viejo Mexican Restaurant, housed within a 1900-built structure, specializes in Mexican culinary classics like fajitas and burritos. Across the street, the Rhubarb Market sells coffee and pastries within an interior inspired by a Wild West saddler’s shop. The Igloo has served ice cream near the Tabor College campus for more than 20 years, and its menu includes 50 distinct flavors. Local grocery options include Dale’s Supermarket and Dollar General.
Hillsboro is surrounded by venues for outdoor recreation
The southern edge of Hillsboro is bounded by several green spaces, including the Hillsboro Memorial Park. A baseball field, pool and disc golf course at this park are open to the public, as is the neighboring, 9-hole Hillsboro Municipal Golf Course. Downtown Hillsboro is home to a small splash pad on the corner of Washington Street and A Street. Nature lovers can drive 10 miles down U.S. Route 56 to swim, boat or camp at the 6,200-acre Marion Reservoir. “Marion Reservoir, together with Marion County Lake, is usually very busy with boating, fishing and jet skis on summer weekends,” Putter says. “People come from all over to camp.”
Hillsboro High and Tabor College offer competitive athletics
Students can start their education at Hillsboro Elementary School, which receives an A-minus rating from Niche, while Hillsboro Middle/High School scores a B-plus. Hillsboro High takes football seriously; summertime sees the school host camps where Marine Corps veterans train the “Trojans” in offensive and defensive skills. Hillsboro is also home to Tabor College, founded in 1908 by members of this city’s sizeable Mennonite Brethren Church community. This small college has a heavy emphasis on Anabaptist Christian theology, and many students opt to take part in missions and educational trips around the world. Tabor is also locally known for its athletics, particularly football. “Hillsboro College has been very successful in sports for as long as I can remember; they have a great group of coaches,” Putter says.
Highways provide easy access to nearby cities
Hillsboro is located near the intersection of U.S. Route 56 and State Route 15, putting it within a 60-mile drive from the major cities of Wichita, Salina and Emporia and just over 25 miles from the regional hub of McPherson. “We’re surrounded by a lot of big companies where people go to work,” Putter says. “A lot of people In Hillsboro work at the refinery and larger businesses in McPherson.” Hillsboro has its own health care center, the Hillsboro Community Hospital, along Route 56.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
