Kingman offers a slower pace of life and access to amenities
Kingman is a small city in south-central Kansas. “What’s nice about Kingman is its slow, easy living,” says Candice Henning Sippel, a Realtor with Cloud 9 Realty Group who grew up in Kingman. “Wichita is only around 45 minutes away, so you’re never too far from big-city life.” Although vast stretches of farmland border the community, Kingman itself is far from rural. It boasts several amenities, including a hospital, a theater/music venue and a walkable downtown with brick-paved streets and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
Early 1900s homes near downtown, larger lots on the city’s edges
Housing and lot sizes vary throughout the community. In the center of Kingman, homes rest relatively close together behind tree-shaded sidewalks. “Most of the houses in the city are older,” Henning Sippel says. Styles include early 1900s bungalows and Colonial Revivals. “There are some newer developments to the north. On the edges of the city, there are the ones that everybody wants — a couple of acres with a house,” Henning Sippel says. Ranch-style designs are prevalent in both of these areas. In general, sales in Kingman tend to run from $70,000 to $240,000, depending on size and condition. Some parts of the community are prone to flooding, so lenders may require flood insurance.
Kingman has two public schools and a private Catholic school
Children may attend Kingman Elementary School from preschool through sixth grade. It holds a C rating on Niche. They can continue at Kingman Middle-High School, which earns a C-minus for its middle grades and a C-plus for its high school grades. KMHS offers dual-credit classes through Wichita State University and other regional colleges. Some families choose to send their kids to St. Patrick Catholic School, a private school that serves preschool through eighth grade.
Red brick streets and locally owned businesses
Kingman is known for its red brick downtown streets. Sidewalks lead through downtown, passing locally owned hair salons, banks and boutiques, like Mollie’s Attic. The city also has several restaurants. Jeri’s Kitchen, a brightly lit diner, serves chicken-fried steaks and other comfort foods. Smitty’s Carry Out is a popular spot for burgers. “The inside is pretty small, so people mostly sit out front on the picnic tables,” Henning Sippel says. Houdini’s Pizza is another Kingman staple. “It’s been there forever, and it’s pretty unique — no matter what kind of toppings you get, it just looks like cheese because they load it up with cheese,” Henning Sippel says. The grocery store, White’s Foodliner, is along East D Avenue.
From youth sports and 4-H to concerts at the Kingman Historic Theatre
“One of the best things about Kingman is Riverside Park,” Henning Sippel says. “They have really nice walking paths along the river, ponds for fishing and the Rec Commission has sport leagues there.” In addition to sports through the Kingman Recreation Commission, there are active Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops and a 4-H club. Golfers can play the nine-hole Eagles Pub & Golf Course, which is open to the public. Locals also have access to several nearby hunting and fishing areas, including Kingman State Fishing Lake, less than 10 miles west.
Another major attraction is the Kingman Historic Theatre, which was originally built in the 1920s. Today, a nonprofit organization operates it, and the space serves double duty as a movie theater and concert venue. The Kingman Carnegie Library, one of several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, holds regular story times and community programs.
Kingman celebrates its aviation and agricultural roots
Kingman also hosts several events each year. Cessna Fest is an annual street festival in honor of Clyde Cessna, who designed his first airplane from his home in rural Kingman County. December brings the lighted Christmas parade. “It’s a really big deal — a lot of people make their own floats,” Henning Sippel says. The Kingman County & 4-H Fair typically takes place in late July, and it provides a chance for 4-H members and other county residents to showcase their farming, baking and sewing skills. The fair also includes rodeo competitions, carnival rides and the Cattleman’s Community Picnic.
Most residents commute by car, but city shuttles run on weekdays
On weekdays, Kingman General Public Transportation offers on-demand bus rides around the city, but most residents depend on cars for travel. There is a railroad crossing along South Main Street, and passing freight trains can sometimes cause traffic delays. “It’s pretty rare for trains to come through — they removed some of the tracks,” Sippel says.
Kingman Healthcare Center provides emergency care and employment opportunities. Fabpro Polymers is another area employer, but “a good chunk of people who live in the city commute for work,” Henning Sippel says. U.S. Route 400 connects to Pratt, about 35 miles west, and Wichita, around 45 miles east. Wichita is home to Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.
