Clay County Medical Center is an integral part of an eclectic, creative community. If you choose to live in Clay County, you will become part of a community that prides itself on being a safe and nurturing place to raise your children. We recognize our true strength is, and always will be, the generosity of our people. Clay County is a great place to visit, but an even greater place to live, whether raising your children or choosing a place to retire.
Clay Countians are able to enjoy the serenity of small town living while being connected to the outside world with sophisticated information technology. Our municipal airport makes travel easy. Fiber optic–to-the-premises makes it possible for our communities to have high speed Internet, digital television and telecommunications services that many metropolitan areas would envy. Clay Center, (population 4,334) is located on the western edge of the scenic Flint Hills at the Junction of U S Highway 24 and Kansas Highway 15. Clay Center is the heart of the local community, as well as the county seat of Clay County.
Located near Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, our communities are proud of the excellent school system which has earned numerous awards for grade-level achievements. Our grade school students at Garfield have been awarded the Standard of Excellence. Our successes are directly tied to the high caliber teaching staff and the low student to teacher ratio. There are many sports opportunities for our children and the competitive spirit exhibited in our children comes from supportive families who participate in exceptional programs such as Parents as Teachers for parents of children under three years of age. USD 379 also offers an early childhood development preschool.
The historical Carnegie Library has been providing reading opportunities and programs for our youth for over 100 years. It can be found on the National Register of Historic Places along with the Clay County Courthouse and Clay Center Municipal Band Shell, which hosts many City Band Concerts throughout the year. The City Band plays Wednesdays at 8:00p.m., June – July. The band shell is located in Dexter Park, surrounded by picnic areas and a Safari playground made possible by donations from our generous community.
Clay Center is proud of their beautiful golf course, zoo and parks where children can toss in a line and experience the joy of catching their first fish. A new pool in 2015 is a wonderful addition for the community. We have vibrant downtown with unique shopping opportunities. The creative, independent business community has international clientele. We have companies that ship products all over the world. We boast having one of the premier restorers of billiard tables in the world and their work has been appreciated in the White House. One business has made auto parts for the Queen of England and its owner has equipped cars in such movies as "Devil in a Blue Dress" and an Indiana Jones movie.
Clay Center, Kansas: Strong traditional values and pleasant, safe surroundings make this town a great place to visit and an even better place to live! - Find out more at www.cityofclaycenter.com
Clay County is home to numerous small communities, each with its own unique charm. All have affordable housing and land for building.
For additional shopping, recreational, and educational opportunities the cities of Salina, Manhattan, and Concordia are an easy drive away. The area is a prime location for hunting, fishing, and boating. The state's two largest lakes Tuttle Creek and Milford are both within 30 miles of Clay Center. Abilene, Kansas, home of President Dwight Eisenhower is 30 miles to the south on Interstate 70.
Salina - Salina offers a flourishing lifestyle with a sophisticated arts community, entertainment, live theater, recreation, cultural activities and a Big 12 satellite college campus. The Salina Chamber has many education and training program partners to assist expanding and incoming companies meet their personnel needs. Kansas State University at Salina is home to the College of Technology and Aviation. – Find out more at ed.salinakansas.org
Manhattan - Nestled in the heart of the scenic Flint Hills, Manhattan, KS is also known as the Little Apple. The Manhattan area features an excellent college, Kansas State University, respected army post, fine arts, the beauty of nature, exciting sports teams, and a wide range of other qualifications and attractions. - Find out more at www. Manhattan.org
Kansas State University teaches students from every continent and all 50 states. The rich, 150-year history has created memories, traditions and an exciting future for students. – Find out more at www.ksu.edu
Concordia - Concordia is a city in and the county seat of Cloud County, Kansas, United States. It is located along the Republican River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains in north-central Kansas. Within the service area, Cloud County Community College serves 23 community education outreach sites. The College also provides concurrent classes at 37 service area high schools, and more than 90 online course offerings are available through CCCC. – Find out more at www.cloud.edu