Kansas towns that have sought ‘capital’ designation

Here are Kansas communities identified as capitals. Some may be familiar in Kansas culture; others may be lesser known.

The list is ongoing.

Marci Penner, executive director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, said leaders of towns who haven’t been identified as capitals can submit ideas to Penner at marci@kansassampler.org. She recommends communities look for uniqueness and be able to back up their claim.

An asterisk (*) indicates official legislative designation.

Abilene – Greyhound Capital, Museum Capital

Beattie – Milo Capital

Burlington – Restoration Capital, Pressed Metal Ceiling Capital

Cassoday – Prairie Chicken Capital

Chetopa – Catfish Capital, Pecan Capital

*Cloud County – Stained Glass Capital

Clyde – Watermelon Capital

Coffey County – Catfish Capital, Energy Capital

*Cowley County – Stone Bridge Capital

Dodge City – Cowboy Capital

Doniphan County – Historic Barn Capital

Downs – Storytelling Capital

Elk Falls – Outhouse Capital

Ellis County – German Capital

Ellsworth – Drovers Capital

Ellsworth County – Chicken Fried Steak Capital

Erie – Bean Feed Capital

Eureka – Horse Racing Capital

Garden City – Cutting Horse Capital

Geary County – Fishing Capital

Girard – Printing Capital of the Nation

Goodland – Sunflower Capital

Great Bend – Lustron Home Capital (town boasts 18 of the pre-fab all-steel houses)

Haysville – Peach Capital

Hiawatha – Halloween Capital

Holton – Brome Grass Capital

Hugoton – Natural Gas Capital

Inman – Custom Harvesting Capital

Jefferson County – Threshing Show Capital

Johnson County – Bluebird Capital

*Kechi – Antique Capital

Kingman – Plow Capital

Kinsley – Carnival Heritage Capital

Kirwin – Goose Capital

LaCrosse – Barbed Wire Capital

Lenexa – Spinach Capital

Leoti – Pinto Bean Capital

Liberal – Pancake Capital

Longton – White-Tail Deer Capital

Lucas – Grassroots Art Capital

*Lincoln County – Post Rock Capital

Marysville – Black Squirrel Capital

McPherson – Light Capital (because of its street light program)

Mound City – Original Jayhawker Capital (James Montgomery, one of the most infamous Jayhawkers during the territorial period of Kansas and the Civil War, lived nearby.)

Norton – Pheasant Capital

Norton County – Wiper Fish Capital

Oakley – Fossil Capital

Olathe – Cowboy Boot Capital

Osage County – Water Sports Capital

Osborne County – Homestead Literature Capital

*Oswego – Art Treasures Capital

Parsons – Purple Martin Capital

Phillips County – Cow/Calf Capital, Hamburger Capital

Pittsburg – Fried Chicken Capital

Russell Springs – Cow Chip Capital

Salina – Terra Cotta Capital

Sumner County – Wheat Capital

Thayer – Watermelon Capital

*Topeka – State Capital

WaKeeney – Bass Fishing Capital, Sunshine Capital

Washington – “AC” Allis Capital of the World, Pie Capital

Waterville – Stock Trailer Capital

Wichita – Air Capital

Wilson – Czech Capital

Windom – Covered Dish Capital

Winfield – Mural Capital

Yates Center – Prairie Hay Capital

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Kansas towns that have sought ‘capital’ designation."