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History
Mennonite Church |
Founded largely by Russian Mennonite immigrants,
the City of Halstead was incorporated in 1877 and named in honor
of journalist Murat Halstead. With the hard red winter wheat (Turkey
Red) they brought from Russia, the Mennonites established Halstead
as a farming community, and built the Bernard Warkentine Mill
at the confluence of the Little Arkansas River and Black Kettle
Creek. A famous "pow wow" between the frontiersman Kit
Carson and the Native American Chief Black Kettle had taken place
some years earlier at this same confluence.
City Hall
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Halstead, which occupies a land area of just over one square mile, is located approximately ten minutes west of Newton, Kansas, via US-50 and K-89 highways; about 25 minutes east of Hutchinson on US-50; and about 30 minutes northwest of Wichita, which is a metropolitan area of approximately 400,000 in population. The 1999 population of Halstead was 2,077. Halstead is a "city of the second class" under Kansas statutes, but has retained the "city of the third class" governance plan that provides for an elected mayor who serves a two-year term, and five council members elected at-large for two and four-year terms, which are determined by the vote outcome. Management of the city is delegated to a city administrator, hired by the governing body.
Municipal services include: water, wastewater, gas utility, weekly curbside refuse collection and bi-weekly curbside recycling collection. The city also operates a large municipal cemetery and a mausoleum.
Electric service is furnished through Westar Energy, the cable television server is Cox Communications, and local-call internet service is available through various providers.
All public service departments including EMS, Fire, & Police are equipped with up-to-date and sophisticated vehicles and other equipment.
A volunteer board oversees the operation of the Halstead Library (located at 3rd & Main) which provides a full range of services including internet access.
The City also operates a new family aquatic center (316-835-3377) located on the north edge of town and Wedgewood Golf Course, a nine-hole, public golf course, (316-835-2991) located approximately three miles northeast of town.
The Recreation Commission (employing a full-time director), 316-835-2517, directs many programs including: youth baseball and basketball, youth softball and soccer, adult softball and volleyball.
Other citizen boards and commissions appointed by the governing body include: Planning Commission (Halstead's Comprehensive Plan was completed in 1990), Halstead Housing Authority ( a full-time director and staff oversee three housing projects), Tree Board (Halstead has been a "Tree City" for many years), Old Settlers' Committee and a Library Board.
Halstead is served by an active Chamber of Commerce. The current secretary is Stacey Weesner, 316-835-2622. Annual events sponsored by the chamber are: City wide garage sale in the spring; the Fine Arts & Crafts Festival, 3rd Saturday in October; a Christmas promotion in December and the Old Settlers Celebration.
The older residents of Halstead enjoy many activities at the Halstead Senior Citizens Center located at 523 Poplar, phone number 316-835-2283.
Since 1902, when Arthur Hertzler, the "Horse and Buggy Doctor", established his clinic and hospital, the city has been widely known as a medical community. This facility was recently purchased by the Valley Hope Association, a nationally recognized, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality alcohol and drug addiction treatment services.
Other medical services available in Halstead are Halstead Place, a 30-unit assisted living facility located at 715 W. 6th Street and Halstead Health and Rehabilitation, a 60-resident skilled nursing facility located at 915 McNair.
For many years, Halstead was "home" to a semi-pro baseball team, the Halstead Cowboys, and produced many fine ball players, including Larry Gura. Halstead is the boyhood home of the late Adolph Rupp, legendary basketball coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. Halstead High School has hosted the annual Rupp tournament since 1976. Conrad Nightingale, a HHS graduate, competed in the 1968 Olympics. Since 1971 Halstead High School has hosted the Conrad Nightingale Invitational Track Meet.
Halstead High School |
Halstead is served by Unified School District
440. Grades K through 3 are located in the neighboring community
of Bentley, eight miles south of Halstead. Grades 4 through 12
have attendance centers located in Halstead. Halstead High School
is in the class "3A" category, and competes in the "mid" division
of the Mid-Central Activities Association.
Halstead has a three-block, "true downtown" business district which includes the following businesses: restaurants, banks, historical society, interior decoration, meat market, grocery store, convenience store, beauty & barber
shops, a chiropractic clinic, weekly newspaper, hotel, hardware store, insurance
office, realtor, dental office, video store, flower and
gift shops, tax accounting firm and post office.
For a special shopping event which would include unique gift ideas,
be sure to stop at The Old Hardware Store, Vintage Boutique, Tortoise Gallery,
Halstead Floral & Gifts, and Troy's True Value.
Businesses off Main Street include: a convenience store, a funeral home, a photography studio, a gold and silver recovery shop, an auto repair shop, a car/truck wash, and various building related contractors. One mile west of town is a climate controlled storage facility. Within
3 miles of town are 2 auto repair shops and an auto body shop.
Halstead is proud of its industrial and commercial business sectors.
Major industries in Halstead include: Legg Company, which manufactures
agricultural and industrial belting; and the Farmers Co-op, which sells grain, feeds, fertilizer,
etc. Other growing companies include a welding/ machine shop, a
cabinet making company, and a maker of wooden pallets. Located
in an industrial park on the west edge of Halstead are: E & V Motors, an auto repair shop and seller of semi trucks and grain trailers; Forest Green, self-storage units; Idaho Timber, a wholesale lumber company which builds rafters, trusses and counter tops; Patrick Industries, a supplier of mobile home components; a KGE substation; the Co-op's
ammonia plant, and Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc., an asphalt blending facility.
Halstead is proud of its city parks, one of which has a "Hollywood" connection. The famous 1955 MGM movie "Picnic" starring Kim Novak, William Holden and Cliff Robertson, was filmed primarily in Halstead's Riverside Park, located at the river confluence that marks the city's
earliest beginnings. The Old Settlers Picnic, held in Riverside
Park is the oldest continuous celebration in Harvey County and
has been held every August, rain or shine, since 1887. Scout Park
is a well-developed one-block square park located near the center
of town. Williams Park, located at the southwestern-most edge of
the city, is currently under development.
An $11 million federal flood control project, completed in 1994, now protects the city from the periodic flooding which had caused serious problems throughout the history of Halstead.
Kansas Learning Center |
Halstead is home to the well-known and highly-respected Kansas Learning Center for Health, formerly known as the Kansas Health Museum, which features Valeda, the talking glass lady. It is located at 6th and Main, phone number 316-835-2662.
Halstead was originally a Mennonite community, but later German Catholic immigrants
made their home in the community as well. Today the City of Halstead and surrounding areas are home to the following church denominations: First
Mennonite Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, First United Methodist Church,
First Presbyterian Church, Halstead Baptist Church, Grace Mennonite Church, and
Gardenview Mennonite Church.
Recently completed City projects include a $1,400,000 outdoor family aquatic center completed in 2009; the Halstead Industrial Park on the west edge of the city; a water acquisition and consolidation project in cooperation with the cities of Newton, North Newton and Sedgwick; planning and development of Cedar Meadows, a new residential housing subdivision; and a walking trail along the top of the levee.
Halstead is clearly a city "on the move". It has an active Chamber of Commerce. Community leaders are positive and energetic. Truly a city of the future, Halstead has the "livability" of a bygone era. Life in Halstead consists of a wonderful blend of small-town friendliness, safety, and "family",
while also providing access to services and amenities normally associated with
communities much larger.
Those interested in learning more about Halstead, or wishing to have specific questions answered should call City Hall at 316-835-2286.
HALSTEAD - THE BIGGEST LITTLE CITY IN KANSAS |
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