Manhattan, Kansas – Nestled in the heart of the scenic Flint Hills, Manhattan is a thriving center for trade, education, government, health care and entertainment. The Manhattan area features an excellent university, respected army post, fine arts, the beauty of nature, exciting sports teams and a wide range of other qualifications and attractions.
Population, Location and Transportation
Manhattan is the county seat of Riley County. The city has a population of 46,803 and the county is home to 63,019 people. Click here for more extensive population and demographic information.
Located at the juncture of the Big Blue and Kansas Rivers, Manhattan is just nine miles north of Interstate 70, and is served by Highways 18 and 177 and U.S. Highway 24. Highway 177, connecting Manhattan with Interstate 70, makes access to Manhattan as simple as turning off the Interstate.
It has never been easier to get to Manhattan. Aside from the several highway systems used to enter Manhattan, there are a variety of other transportation options available.
Manhattan offers flight service out of Manhattan Regional Airport. Flights running from Manhattan Regional to Kansas City International Airport are offered several times per day. US Airways Express, and two rental car agencies operate out of the passenger terminal.
ATA Bus is an inter-county bus service established in 1976. Public transport is granted on demand and is subsidized by the state, county and city governments. The service offers a scheduled grocery run on Thursdays and a twice-monthly all-county run. Occasional trips to Topeka are also available.
In addition, there are several taxi services that operate in Manhattan, and Greyhound Bus Lines, which offers morning and evening arrivals and departures.
Manhattan Regional Airport (785) 537-1188
Kansas Air Center (785) 776-1991
Bell Taxi Transportation, Inc. (800) 826-8294
Taxi-4-Less (785) 776-5508
Yellow Cab Company (785) 537-2080
Fort Riley - Milford Lake - Health Care - Education
In the heart of the Midwest and the geographic center of the United States, Junction City and Geary County, Kansas offer small-town living with big-city resources.
The history of Geary County is the story of optimistic settlers who developed a trading center for Fort Riley, at what was known in 1858 as the western edge of civilization. Settlers from Germany, Scandinavia and the British Isles made the area productive, prosperous and progressive in agriculture, industry and service, through hard work and innovative ideas.
Junction City is nestled in the heart of northeast Kansas in the rolling Flint Hills country. It is the people who make the area special. Diversity was the key in our early history and it remains so today. A short drive through any of the community’s business sections highlights the multi-cultural makeup of our area.
Derived from the location at the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill rivers, Junction City is influenced by historic Fort Riley. Fort Riley came into existence in 1852 as Camp Center. In 1853 the camp was renamed after Major General Bennett Riley. From its gates, the cavalry rode to such famous campaigns as Beecher’s Island, Washita River Fight, and the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Fort Riley stood as the major horse cavalry training school in the country, and was boasted as one of the best in the world. Camp Funston and Camp Forsyth, two sections of today’s post, were vital training areas during both world wars when modernization changed the country’s need to a mechanized cavalry. The First Infantry Division, more commonly known as the Big Red One, or the Fighting First, came to Fort Riley from Germany in 1955, and returned to Germany in 1995. Today, Fort Riley is known as the home of America’s Army, and is home to the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) – the Victory Division. The Big Red One returned to Fort Riley in the fall of 2006.
Sitting next to Junction City, Milford Lake is the largest man-made lake in Kansas; it was authorized by Congress in 1954 and constructed by the Corps of Engineers in the early 1960s. It provides flood control, navigation, improved water quality, water supply, recreation, plus fish and wildlife benefits. On average, half a million people visit Milford Lake each year. Eleven parks offer camping, picnicking, swimming, boat ramps and fishing access. Approximately 23,000 acres are managed for wildlife and hunting opportunities. Milford is home to the 2005 World Series of Walleye Fishing, the PWT Mercury Championship, the Kansas State Ahern Scholarship Tournament, and the 2005 Governor’s Cup.
A 92-bed not-for-profit hospital located in the heart of Geary County, Geary Community Hospital is committed to making its services available to people who will benefit from them, and to offer services in an economical manner. Its history spans more than 85 years and exemplifies quality patient care, constant growth, and outstanding leadership. Twenty physicians representing 11 specialties provide care for approximately 2,200 inpatients and 36,000 outpatients each year.
Major renovation projects have occupied a good portion of the last 15 years. They include –
A medical arts building, home to physician’s offices.
An expansion of the surgical department.
A major expansion of the emergency room, laboratory, diagnostic imaging, outpatient surgery and more.
A consolidation and expansion of cardiopulmonary services.
The Martha K. Hoover Women’s Health Center, complete with six labor-delivery-recovery-post partum birthing rooms, and gynecological surgery.
The Senior Health Center (geriatric mental health unit), and the Fred C. Bramlage Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.
A home equipment store.
The new Occupational Health Program provides wellness programs and health assessment for employees of area businesses. The clinic staff treats Worker’s Compensation injuries fast, efficiently, and less expensively than a trip to an emergency room. The hospital is home to the University of Kansas Family Practice Residency Program also known as Junction City Rural Track.
Konza Prairie Community Health Center is a non-profit, federally qualified health care center that serves the Junction City area. By receiving financial support from the Federal government, the center offers services on a sliding fee scale determined by a patient’s income level. Additionally, it allows Konza Prairie Community Health Center to offer some services at no cost to patients.
The center’s mission statement is to provide high quality comprehensive health care that is accessible, coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent, and community directed. The center fulfills this mission by providing –
Comprehensive primary health care.
A sliding fee scale.
Medical transportation services within Junction City, and aid in finding transportation to medical appointments outside Junction City.
Translation services in 99 languages.
Dental pain abatement.
Immunizations.
Public health education.
Vision service program for low-income children.
Special pharmacy program for low-income individuals.
Limited lab testing.
Help with Health Wave enrollment, Medicaid, and disability forms.
Assistance with case management, household budgeting, death and dying issues, pregnancy, affordable housing options, and alcohol and drug dependency.
24-hour switchboard.
Walk-in service.
Acceptance of Medicare/Medicaid, TRICARE/CHAMPUS, and all other insurance.
Education
USD 475 proudly serves families in the Junction City, Fort Riley, Grandview Plaza and Milford Communities. We operate 13 grade schools, two middle schools and one high school.
Thirteen of our schools met the state Standard of Excellence for the 2005 State Mathematics Assessments and nine USD 475 schools met the state Standard of Excellence for the 2005 State Reading Assessments.
We offer a wide variety of academic and social programs for the entire community - classes and activities for the pre-kindergarten child as well as courses and workshops for parents and other Geary County residents. For more information regarding our innovative programming, award-winning instructors and exciting learning environments, contact us at (785) 717-4000 or online at www.usd475.org.
Saint Xavier educates the whole person - body, mind and spirit - in accordance with Catholic faith and tradition. "St X" provides continuous enrollment for any students who wish to attend preschool through grade 12. Call (785) 238-2841 to set up an appointment or request more information.
