While the history of Newton dates as far back as 1541, when Spanish explorer Coronado investigated the area, the city began to truly take shape through the expansion of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1871, which was primarily used to haul cattle. By 1872, Newton was incorporated as a city and named the county seat of Harvey County, where today, the railroad is still active and runs right through the middle of town. “We get about 40 trains a day, so people are very much used to waiting on them,” says Erin McDaniel, Newton’s Director of Communications, who grew up in the city. “In fact, when we celebrated our 150th anniversary, we made T-shirts that said, ‘Waiting on trains since 1872.’” Though the city of more than 18,000 people, known as Newtonians, may be surrounded by Harvey County’s expansive farmland, its residential landscape, historic downtown and public parks give off a more suburban vibe with small-town connections. "It's quite an interactive area," says Ron Harder, a local Realtor with RE/MAX. "If you go to a coffee shop or a restaurant, people will stop by to talk. People feel a sense of community in Newton."
Newton has around 50 houses of worship, most of which are of Christian denominations. However, that certainly wasn’t always the case. “Newton was a very wild cow town in its origins,” says McDaniel. “There was an infamous shootout at a saloon that we re-enact every year. But eventually, the cattle trail traffic moved north, and Mennonites from Ukraine started immigrating here. That’s when Newton let go of its wild and rowdy ways and settled down.” Newton is also shaped by Latino culture, as 19.5% of the population is Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census. “Many Mexican families immigrated here to work on the railroad,” says McDaniel, “The Latino community is still growing, so we’re a very diverse city, especially for our size.”
The cost of living in Newton is about 13% lower than the national average, even lower than nearby Wichita's below-average levels. So, some choose to live in Newton and commute 30 miles south to Wichita. Newton still has several employment opportunities, though, with the Newton Unified School District 363 being the largest employer with about 800 workers. Other top organizations include NMC Health, a local hospital, the city itself and Bethel College, which is technically in North Newton, a small town of about 1,800 people on the other side of the train tracks. “Newton and North Newton are technically two different cities but are one and the same,” says McDaniel. “We have all the stores, though, so people in North Newton come here to shop.”
The Newton water tower stands tall over the city.
Newton homes often border farmland.
Visits the train memorial at Military Park in Newton.
Stop by Newton Station to catch an Amtrak ride.
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Newton's historic downtown
Downtown Main Street is the heart of Newton, lined with local shops and restaurants in buildings that date as far back as city's frontier days, putting many of them in the National Register of Historic Places. The city's Latino heritage is evident in the many Mexican restaurants on and near Main Street. While there is one bar that stays open until midnight, this is the type of downtown where most businesses close between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. The city also has a few big box retailers, including Walmart and Dillons, for groceries and everyday essentials.
Downtown Newton offers a wide variety of shops and retail.
Enjoy a bike ride down the many paths in Newton.
Downtown Newton has an abundance of small businesses.
Newton has an abundance of local Mexican Restaurants.
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Parks beaming with pride and outdoor recreation
More than 670 acres of parks, trails and waterways are maintained by The Newton Park Division. Of the city’s 18 parks, Athletic Park offers the most amenities, where it’s clear the city is proud of its history. The park is home to the Newton High School football stadium, where people come to cheer on the Railers – a name that pays tribute to the town’s railroad days. Behind the grandstand, a straight 450-foot path runs through a large field to the Mennonite Settler statue, a nod to the immigrants who made Newton what it is today. People also enjoy the park’s water activities, from swimming in the community pool to kayaking Sand Creek. “The creek runs from Athletic Park on the south end of Newton up to Centennial Park on the north end,” says McDaniel, “So people will walk along the trail or launch their canoes to go from one park to the other.” Centennial Park has several ball fields, which are used by the Newton Railers and local youth leagues. Meanwhile, Military Park has an 1880 locomotive on display as another nod to the city’s railroad history.
There is a small playground located at Newton's Roosevelt Park.
Newton YMCA offers plenty of indoor and outdoor recreational activities.
Watch a local baseball game in Newton at Centennial Park.
Kids love to climb on the playground at Washington Park.
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Taste of Newton and other hometown events
Newtonians come together all year long for community events, especially during the fall. “We have a full calendar of events,” says McDaniel, “But September and October is our peak festival season.” Taste of Newton is the most highly anticipated event, held every first Thursday of October since 1987. The food festival closes the downtown streets and fills with pedestrians to enjoy food from local restaurants and food trucks. Many events are also held at Athletic Park, including Blues, Brews and Barbecues.
From historic to modern houses
Newton is predominantly made up of single-family homes with a median price of $185,000, compared to Wichita’s median house price of $235,000. Houses closer to downtown, including those in the Historic McKinley District, are the oldest in the city, dating from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. “McKinley is really the only identifiable neighborhood,” says McDaniel. “It has beautiful Victorian homes and brick streets. The rest is really just Newton.” Expanding from the historic homes, Newton transitions into subdivisions of modest mid-century homes. Toward the outskirts, modern developments with brand-new homes continue to be built in the Harvey County countryside and are among the city’s most expensive homes, selling between $250,00 and $600,000.
There are also rows of older ranch-styled dwellings in Newton as well.
Red brick siding is a very common feature among Newton homes.
Many homes in Newton are newly-built traditional homes.
There is a wide variety of home-styles throughout Newton.
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Newton Public Schools and Bethel College
The Newton Unified School District earns a C-plus grade from Niche, serving the community through four elementary schools, a fifth- and sixth-grade center, one middle school and one high school. High schoolers also have the option of attending the Newton Career and Technical Education Center. Bethel College, established in 1887, is the oldest Mennonite college in the country. It earns a B-minus grade from Niche and offers more than 40 areas of study.
Younger students may attend Slate Creek Elementary.
Santa Fe Fifth and Sixth Grade School is also located in the area.
Older students may attend Newton High School.
Get a college degree from Bethel College in Newton.
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Getting around Newton, the Wichita metro and beyond
Using a car is the primary method of transportation in Newton, and the area is connected to Wichita and beyond by Interstate 135, a branch of Interstate 35 that connects town to the north. When heading to Wichita, those who get stuck waiting on the train to access I-135 from the city’s south side will sometimes turn around and drive 2.5 miles to hop on the interstate from the north side of town. While the railroad is primarily used by freight trains, there is an Amtrak station where the Southwest Chief comes through daily, running from Chicago to Los Angeles. “We are actually Amtrak’s busiest station in Kansas,” says McDaniel, “It comes through Newton at about 2 or 3 in the morning, so Newtonians don’t usually see the Amtrak train unless they are traveling.” Travelers can also make the 30-mile drive to Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and fly to 16 major cities across the country.
Law Enforcement Advisory Panel established to reduce crime
Violent crime in Newton has gradually increased over the years. According to FBI statistics, as reported by the city, Newton’s rate of violent crime has risen since 2015, though property crimes -- more prevalent -- have been trending downward over the same period. A five-member Law Enforcement Advisory Panel was assembled to provide feedback to the Newton Police Department on areas such as policy development, community outreach and complaints of bias-based actions. The mayor appoints the panel, which consists of representatives from the faith community, a racial-justice organization, a mental-health professional and two other diverse members. Newton's Police Department has been in operation since 1872 and consists of 40 full-time commissioned officers.
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