Kansas Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Manhattan, Kansas

Population: 49,462

Located in Riley County

Manhattan, Kansas, "The Little Apple," offers its own unique identity and rich heritage. Our community continues to strive toward the brilliant future envisioned by its earliest settlers. Located at the juncture of the Big Blue and Kansas Rivers, we are blessed to have a stable economy due to the proximity to Kansas State University and Fort Riley. These two assets, the recent addition of jet service, and the announcement that K-State will be home to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), help us feel confident that our economy will remain stable for the foreseeable future.

We offer a wide variety of housing, from historic homes to new subdivisions. As a university town with a large military family community, we have a large rental market that stays at optimum vacancy rates. Real estate in this market is a sound investment for someone able to hold on to the property for more than two years. Commercial and investment properties are also good options in this area. All housing is close to retail centers and schools.

Education is very important in Manhattan. The city's Unified School District 383 built three new schools in the mid-1990's, and our citizens recently voted with their pocketbooks to fund renovations and improvements in all district schools. We also offer three private schools teaching grades K-12.

Commitment to post-secondary education is central to our community. Kansas State University (KSU) is a comprehensive university and a major center of teaching, research and service with an enrollment of 23,000 students in nine colleges: Agriculture; Architecture, Planning, and Design; Arts and Sciences; Business Administration; Education; Engineering; Human Ecology; Veterinary Medicine; and Technology.

In addition, Manhattan Area Technical College offers associate of applied science degrees and diplomas in 12 full-time technical education programs. Part-time continuing education courses, an associate of applied science degree in Emergency Medical Science, and customized training for individual businesses and groups are also available.

The Manhattan area offers 12,000 acres of water with 100 miles of irregular, wooded shoreline. Over 16,000 acres of land surrounding Tuttle Creek Reservoir have been enhanced to benefit wildlife, and provide excellent hunting for turkey, white-tailed deer, quail, pheasant and waterfowl. Many sites around the lake have been developed for fishing, hunting, boating, camping, picnicking, and outdoor sports. Also available are a full service marina, nature trails, equestrian trails, a disc golf course, and areas for the off-road vehicle enthusiast.

Just south of town is the Konza Prairie Research National Area, an 8,600-acre tallgrass prairie preserve owned by the The Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University. Although most of the site is restricted for research use, self-guided nature trails are open to the public from sunrise to sunset daily. You will experience the true grandeur of the Flint Hills on these trails, completely isolated from civilization while you trek out onto the prairie to see the buffalo grazing on the hillsides. At times during the year, the grass around the trail will stretch high above and around the hiker.

When it comes to shopping, Manhattan has a lot to offer. Aggieville, the first shopping center in Kansas, was named for the former K-State Aggies. Today, it is still a pre- and post-game host to Wildcat sporting events, and offers places to shop, wine, dine, dance, get a haircut or enjoy a cup of coffee. Manhattan Town Center, located downtown, provides one of the finest shopping experiences in northeast Kansas, featuring major department stores, over 60 specialty shops, and a great selection of restaurants. The historic downtown shopping area is an attractive and exciting shopping district with tree-lined walks and a nostalgic feel. From fashion to furnishings, hobbies to antiques, fast food to fine dining--great times await you in downtown Manhattan.