Housing

Allen County has a housing affordability index of 140–one of the lowest costs of living in the State of Kansas–with the median price of a single family home at $89,600 and the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment at $800/month. On average, just 14.1% of household income is spent on housing expenses, and the median home value is $112,160. In recent years, over 100 new homes have been built in Iola, the County seat, demonstrating the region’s commitment to boosting the local housing supply and attracting new residents. 

Healthcare

Allen County is home to Allen County Regional Hospital (ACRH), a Critical Access Hospital that opened in 2014. ACRH includes a Level 4 trauma unit with a helipad and 24/7 emergency care, specialized heart/stroke protocols, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and advanced imaging and 3-D mammography services. In 2017, Allen County was one of only eight recipients nationwide of the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation’s Culture of Health Award for its exceptional efforts to improve community health. It was the first community in Kansas to receive this honor.

Education

Allen County is served by three unified public school districts–USD 256, 257, and 258–and is the proud home of Allen County Community College, providing degree, certificate, and apprenticeship programs in a wide array of technical fields. Nearby Neosho County Community College and major universities, including the University of Kansas, Emporia State University, Ottawa University, and Pittsburg State University, are within a two-hours driving distance.

Dining, Shopping, & Entertainment

Allen County features a variety of cultural attractions, including the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, the Allen County Historical Society Museum, the Revival Music Hall, and Union Works Brewing, just to name a few. In 2022, the City of Humboldt was named one of the “52 Places for a Changed World” by The New York Times as a result of its burgeoning dining, retail, and cultural scene. In the past decade, new grocery stores in Humboldt, Iola, and Moran have increased access to healthy food across the County.

Outdoor Recreation

Allen County is home to the Lehigh Portland State Park, Kansas’s 28th State Park founded in 2023, and Base Camp Humboldt, a 21-acre park offering camping facilities in the Flint HIlls. Allen County also features multiple hiking and biking trails, including the 52-mile Prairie Spirit Trail and the 6.5-mile Southwind Rail Trail. To encourage outdoor recreation, Allen County offers a free Bike Share program that allows people to borrow bikes to explore the streets and trails of the Allen County community.

Communities

Cities

  • Bassett
    • Population: 20
    • The small, close-knit community of Bassett serves as a convenient quiet hub just a few miles from the US-54 and US-169 interchange.
  • Elsmore
    • Population: 50 
    • Originally founded by Swedish settlers, Elsmore, a proud farming center, has a strong community spirit, deep cultural heritage, and is located just off US-59.
  • Gas
    • Population: 475
    • Named for the abundance of natural gas that was found in the area, Gas has small town values while being located on US Highway 54, approximately 3 miles east of Iola, 100 miles south of Kansas City, and 120 miles east of Wichita. 
  • Humboldt
    • Population: 1,847
    • Humboldt was recognized onThe New York Times’s list of “52 Places for a Changed World” in 2022 due to its engaged community residents, rich Civil War history, and growing restaurant and retail scene.
  • Iola
    • Population: 5,396
    • The Allen County seat, Iola is a manufacturing and agricultural hub, anchored by major companies like Gates Rubber and Tramec LLC, but maintains its small town charm.
  • La Harpe
    • Population: 480
    • A former boom town and center of heavy industry, LaHarpe has the second lowest average age in the county (after Bassett), and fewer residents aged 65 or older than even the national average
  • Mildred
    • Population: 25
    • Located on US-59 just south of the Anderson County line, Mildred was started as a cement manufacturing town and now supports Mildred’s Market, a grocery store that doubles as a music venue, tourist attraction, and community gathering place.
  • Moran
    • Population: 466
    • Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 54 and 59, Moran features open landscapes, a peaceful retreat-like atmosphere, and a proud history, while serving as the educational, shopping and social hub for Eastern Allen County. 
  • Savonburg
    • Population: 74
    • Taking pride in its Swedish heritage and strong sense of community, Savonburg boasts one of the best community centers in the county, an outstanding and heavily used public library, and an active citizenry.

Unincorporated Communities

  • Bayard
    • Located in the northeastern corner of Allen County, Bayard serves as a rural shipping and agricultural area about 15 miles northeast of the county seat of Iola.
  • Carlyle
    • Founded in 1858 by Presbyterian settlers migrating from Ohio, Carlyle remains a neat and well-maintained community that is also a stop on the Prairie Spirit Rail Trail.
  • Geneva
    • Situated north of the Neosho River between Martin and Indian creeks, Geneva is a quiet but active civil township located in northwest Allen County, about 10 miles northwest of Iola.
  • Petrolia
    • Named to commemorate the discovery of oil in the area in 1861, Petrolia is the only Allen County community located on the west side of the Neosho River, roughly 5 miles south of Humboldt and 13 miles from the county seat of Iola.

Come visit us!

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