Area Information

Hays City was founded in August of 1867 as the Union Pacific Railway Eastern Division worked its way west. The early days of Hays City were wild and dangerous. Skirmishes between some of the local citizens, railroad workers and soldiers only added to its reputation as a tough “end-of-the-tracks” town. The colorful lives and interesting stories of many notable names in history are an exciting part of our heritage. Such famous figures include “Wild Bill” Hickok, Gen. George A. Custer, Calamity Jane, “Buffalo Bill” Cody and “Rattlesnake Pete” Lanahan. With the arrival of businessmen and families from the east, and Volga German settlers in the late 1870s, the rough little town became a growing and prosperous community. In 1885, the word “city” was officially dropped from the name and the town grew to become the largest city in northwest Kansas.

The Hays Medical Center is located in our community and three hospitals are within less than half an hour away. Greyhound Lines, providing long-distance bus service, offers a stop in our town. Hays Regional Airport is used primarily for general aviation, but hosts a commercial airline with daily flights to Denver, Colo. The Kansas Pacific (KP) Line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs southeast-northwest through downtown in the southern part of the city. Experience the many opportunities that our charming community has to offer. Visit the unique museums and tourist attractions to learn about our military past and Volga German heritage. Discover the scenic beauty and natural history of western Kansas with an outing to Frontier Park, the Hays F.E.E.T. trails and the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Our region boasts a plethora of state parks, campgrounds, reservoirs and lakes to partake in the outdoor recreational activities of your choice. Some the outstanding attractions in our region include the Boot Hill Cemetery, Cheyenne Indian Raid Gravesite, Historic Fort Hays and Volga German house replica just to name a few. The self-guided Historical Downtown Walking Tour provides information about the famous and not so famous people who walked the streets of Hays during the 1860s to 1880s. Twenty-five bronze plaques mark the route for the walking tour telling of the historical significance of buildings and individuals. The Volga German Society Oktoberfest is an annual celebration of the Germans from Russia heritage of Ellis County. Our area is home to what was once the largest herd of buffalo in North America, estimated to number in the millions at one time. The Hays Parks Department currently maintains the herd. We are proud of our colorful history as a wild frontier town, and we encourage you to explore our city so you can find out for yourself “where history walked the streets.” Stop by our United Country office, and let us share Hays with you.

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