Scott City’s strong roots keep locals close to home
Scott City is a rural farming community with deep pride and ever-improving amenities. Stable industry and friendly residents keep locals around and attract new ones. "There are a good number of people who stay here for their whole lives, and there are others who go away to get more education and then return," says Brad Pendergast, city administrator for Scott City. "We have a bit of brain drain with younger folk leaving, but there are also doctors and professionals who come to Scott City for work." The area first thrived around livestock production, which is still the most significant industry. They even have an annual festival to celebrate beef. Locals are friendly, accepting and greet new residents with a welcome bag. In it are flyers with important information and enough Scott City merch to start displaying local pride right away. "We're the type of people who like to come together and take care of where we live," Pendergast says.
Duplexes for seniors could free up larger homes for growing families
Ranch-style homes and small cottages range from $90,000 to $320,000. Prices often reflect the home's condition or the number of bedrooms. While not as prevalent, there are bungalows, Cape Cods, Colonial Revivals and New Traditional houses in the area that rarely go on the market but have an average estimated value of around $190,000. Scott City is slowly building small duplexes for senior living. "A lot of our older population are in large houses that they may not be able to maintain anymore," Pendergast says. "Moving into duplexes would be more manageable and open existing homes for growing families."
Schools have small class sizes
According to the district website, Scott County Schools has just under 1,000 students and an average class size of 20 students or fewer. Scott City Elementary School teaches prekindergarten through second grade and is rated B by Niche. Scott City Middle School, for third through eighth grade, is rated C-plus. Scott Community High School earns a B-minus and has improved athletic spaces, like a new turf football field. The district's baseball, softball and golf teams practice and play at city-maintained facilities.
Community-funded upgrades enhance Scott City’s outdoor spaces
Palmer Park, where the high school baseball and softball teams play, has four diamonds and an updated play space. "We just recently purchased and installed a very large piece of playground equipment, and that's the park where my kids always want to go now," Pendergast says. Volleyball, tennis and pickleball players can practice on Palmer Park's courts and then cool off in the public pool. Smaller parks around Scott City have other attractions: Maddox Park has a skate park, and Mahler Dog Park has enclosures and obstacles for both large and small breeds. Patton Park has a huge western and train-themed playground, remodeled to improve accessibility for residents with disabilities. "It has a pour-in-place rubber surface now," Pendergast says. "The whole project was funded and done by community members."
Fifteen miles north, Lake Scott State Park has over 1,000 acres of hunting, camping, fishing and hiking.
Annual events draw thousands for crafts, cattle and fireworks
Since 1972, Patton Park has hosted the Whimmydiddle Arts & Crafts Fair. Over 200 vendors and thousands of shoppers visit the park yearly on the last Saturday in September. "Our population almost triples for that one day," Pendergast says. "We go from a city of about 4,000 to almost 11,000 people." Scott City also puts on the Scott County Free Fair, Fourth of July fireworks and a beef festival, called Beefiesta. "Scott County is known for raising cattle, and there are large livestock operations around and outside the city," Pendergast says. "There are barbecue contests and local beef sample tastings."
Unique upscale dining and casual restaurants are along Main Street
Main and East 5th streets intersect in the middle of Scott City, forming a small downtown area with locally owned businesses. "The welcome bags we give out have coupons to local shops and restaurants," Pendergast says. Act II at the Majestic is an upscale American restaurant, converted from an old theater. The restaurant still has its original stage, where pianists perform during dinner service. Heading south on Main Street leads to many Mexican restaurants, including The Original Grande, La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant and El Dos De Oros. Dollar General and White's Foodliner are where to stock up on groceries and essentials.
U.S. Route 83 connects to Garden City and more diverse conveniences
"The nice thing about Scott City is that you have that small-town feel, but you're only 30 miles north of Garden City," Pendergast says. "It's the main hub in southwest Kansas with all kinds of industries and stores." Garden City is south via U.S. Route 83, and Garden City Regional Airport is about 47 miles south. It has direct flights twice a day to and from Dallas-Fort Worth. Scott County Hospital is in the city.
Written By
Heather Haggerty
