Lathrop is a rural town well-positioned for growth
Once known as the "Mule Capital of the World" because of its livestock production, the small city of Lathrop still retains its rural feel today. The city only spans about one square mile of development, and it's at least 20 minutes to drive to large stores or a hospital. However, as the expanding sphere of Kansas City growth moves past Kearney , places like Lathrop are getting more attention.
"Small towns like this are going to grow because they have a good school system and good infrastructure," says city administrator Bob Burns. The city has also been investing in local parks, encouraging the family-friendly appeal of the area. Lathrop's CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
High demand is leading to a push for newer homes
Although some homes date back to the early 1900s, the majority of construction in the Lathrop area happened from the 1960s to the early 2000s. Only the small city center has curbs or sidewalks, so most neighborhoods feel rustic and tucked away under mature trees. Buyers can find smaller bungalows and ranch-style homes from $150,000 to $200,000. Larger properties that are freshly renovated or built after 2000 can range from $200,000 to $390,000.
"Every time a house becomes available, it gets sold," Burns says. "Because people want to live here, but we don't have a big inventory of houses that are empty." With expansion in mind, the city annexed several large plots of land outside its original square mile in the early 2000s. According to Burns, several developers are interested in the area. "When that starts growing, we'll take off," he says.
Lathrop has a four-day school week and standout sports
Kids can attend Lathrop Elementary School before heading across the street to Lathrop Middle School. Niche rated both of the schools with a B grade. Lathrop High School gets a B-minus. The high school is known for its sports, with a football team that was the state championship runner-up in 2018. "Boy, we filled up the stadiums," says Burns, whose son graduated that year. The entire district operates with a four-day school week, meaning students get Mondays off.
The city's main park was redesigned with accessibility in mind
Lathrop has a standard small-town selection of park amenities, including ball diamonds, soccer fields and nature trails. But the standout green space is John W. Burns Memorial Park, which was renovated in 2023 to include an all-inclusive splash pad and playground. The renovation cost nearly $1 million, a large undertaking for a town with less than 3,000 people. "Kids with unique abilities can get to the highest point of the playground," Burns says. "And grandparents who have little kids feel more comfortable." The city has plans to update the bathrooms and add a bandstand and pickleball courts in the future.
Coffee and farm-fresh produce in the small town center
A small main street is lined with a few local businesses, including a post office, a dentist's office and a few restaurants. Gentry's is the only coffee shop in town, serving fresh-baked pastries and lattes flavored with handmade syrup. The street comes to life twice a month in the summer for Oak Street Market, a farmers market with farm-fresh eggs and local produce. For regular grocery shopping, the residents can pick between DG Market and Hy-Klaus Foods. Larger options are many miles away. "You can get your essentials here," Burns says. "But we're close enough to the city that we get an awful lot of commuters. So, a lot of people will buy stuff on the way home from work."
Live music, pie-eating and greased pigs at the Friendship Festival
The city's largest event is the annual Friendship Festival, a three-day event full of live music and country fun. Locals can participate in the quilt-making contest, the pie-eating contest or run in the 5K race. Kids might enjoy the bring-your-own-frog Frog Race or chasing after a hog in the Greased Pig Contest. The main event is the parade. "We're small enough that the parade goes through town, turns around, and comes back," Burns says. "If your kid is on the other side of the float, you'll see them the next time." The Lathrop Antique Show Grounds also host a variety of smaller events throughout the year, including car shows, swap meets and a Fourth of July fireworks show.
Interstate 34 offers direct trips to Kansas City and Liberty
By hopping on the nearby Interstate 34, residents can reach Liberty in just over 20 miles, and Kansas City in under 40 miles. The Kansas City International Airport is about 40 miles away. I-34 also leads 17 miles north to the closest hospital, Cameron Regional Medical Center.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
