Mankato, the county seat of Jewell County, is centrally located within the county on U.S. Highway 36. It is 90 miles from I-70 in Salina, KS, and 80 miles from I-80, north of Hastings, NE. Kansas City is 234 miles to the southeast and Denver is 377 miles to the southwest. Access to four-lane highway 81 is 30 miles east at Belleville via US 36. Mankato is served by the Kyle Railroad. The Mankato Public Airport, located 1 mile north, has an 3,500 ft. lighted asphalt runway.
Mankato is 20 minutes from Lovewell Lake and State Park, which provides excellent fishing, water sports, hunting, camping and nature study.
Community Life: Mankato is a classic example of small rural Kansas community. Its 978 residents are hard-working, friendly and involved with their community and with their families. The excellent school system (elementary, junior and senior high) provides quality education in a safe environment. Many residents are active in their choice of the five churches in the community (Baptist, Catholic, Christian, Lutheran and United Methodist).
Mankato was settled in 1872 with the name of Jewell Center because the little settlement was in the center of Jewell County. Sometime prior to this, David Blank had located on the site and opened a blacksmith shop. The land which was plotted for the town was 320 acres in size. ...Three men had faith enough in starting a town in the center of the County that they campaigned for the new town. These men formed a Town Company. The confusion of delivering the mail was the main cause of changing the name of the town from Jewell Center to Mankato. Letters addressed to people living in Jewell Center would be found in the Jewell City Post Office and letters intended for Jewell City would find their way to Jewell Center. In 1880 the name of Alta was chosen to replace the name Jewell Center. That year the name Alta was used (some) months as a good name for the little town, once known as Jewell Center. By this time it was learned there was another town in Kansas with the name of Alta. One again the Mixup in the mail and a search began for a new name. ...It is believed that Mankato, Kansas and Mankato, Minnesota are the only two towns in the entire world with the name of Mankato.
The city is governed by a mayor and five city council members, assisted by a city administrator appointed by the mayor and council and supporting office staff. A well-maintained infrastructure coupled with sound fiscal position serve the residents well.
Assistance for existing, new, expanding or relocating businesses is available through the Jewell County Community Development Association, the North Central Kansas Regional Planning Commission, the Kansas Small Business Development Center, and the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing, as well as a multitude of other specialized sources.
Local venture capital for qualifying businesses is available through the City of Mankato Revolving Loan Fund (contact Jewell County Community Development for details). There are other regional and state loan and grant programs for qualifying businesses.
Mankato is designated an Enterprise Zone by the State of Kansas. Qualifying businesses are eligible for a variety of local and state incentives.
For additional information about Mankato, Kansas, contact :
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