Most of Kingman County is prairie. At the same time, two rivers flow through different parts of the county: the South Fork of the Ninnescah River runs through the north, while the Chikaskia River crosses the south. Lakes, river courses, and historic sites give the region several different facets to explore, depending on your interests.
Prairie, Rivers, and Lakes
The lakes are also located in different areas. Cheney Lake touches the northeastern corner of Kingman County; Kingman State Lake lies near Calista in the center. The Byron Walker game preserve is also in the center, and its visitor area is called Byron Walker Wildlife Area. This geographic overview thus includes both a lake on the county’s edge and destinations in the central area.
The Cheney Wildlife Area watershed includes parts of Kingman County and four other counties: Reno, Stafford, Pratt, and Sedgwick. It therefore extends beyond Kingman County’s borders. At Kingman State Fishing Lake, you can fish for largemouth bass, sunfish, redear sunfish, pike, and catfish. Fish populations and regulations may change.
Historic Traces in Kingman
The Kingman County Historical Museum is housed in an 1888 building that served as a fire station, jail, and city hall. The Kingman Carnegie Library offers a different architectural note: it is housed in a three-story Neoclassical-style building dating from 1914. The two buildings illustrate different facets of Kingman’s architectural history.
Kingman’s Main Street is easy to explore on foot. Six of its buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and another is on the State Register. Visitors can also discover seven murals in the downtown area. A theater in downtown was designed by the Boller Brothers.
The Kingman County Courthouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the First National Bank Building is on the State Register. Furry Homestead offers a different material touch: it was built from locally sourced red sandstone. Together, these buildings show how architecture, materials, and register listings offer different ways to explore the county’s history.
Market, Arena, and Golf
The Kingman Farmers Market @ The Binyard takes place in downtown Kingman at the corner of East Sherman Street and North Main Street. Its market season runs from the first Saturday in June through the last Saturday in October. This seasonal timeframe is a helpful guide if you’d like to include the market in your stay.
Events at the Kingman Expo Center include horse shows, horse sales, and rodeos. The Indoor Arena has seating for 1,000 people; capacity figures may change. The event schedule may also change, so it’s worth checking the dates before visiting.
Golf enthusiasts can find a 9-hole, par-36 course at Eagles Pub & Golf Course. Course details may change. Kingman County’s natural surroundings, local history, seasonal market, and variety of recreational activities each offer a different way to explore.
Discover more destinations: Cunningham, Saline County, Cloud County, Neosho County, Wilson, Riley County, Barton County, Smith County.
For the broader travel overview: Kansas.
