A small city with a close community and big city connections
Augusta may be a small city in Butler County , but it offers more than one might imagine. “We have so many cool things,” says Diana Burress. “People are often surprised by how much there is to do here.” Downtown is full of local businesses – an area where people frequently gather for community events along the old red brick streets. The population has hovered around 9,200 since 2010. And while the city isn’t particularly growing, residents, city officials and businesses have worked hard to enhance it. Burress says a lot of it has to do with Augusta being a church-going community. “We are a pretty faithful town,” says Burress. “We have a lot of churches. I’d say St. James Catholic Church and First Baptist Church have the biggest congregations.” Augusta is a short drive from Wichita, known as the Air Capital of the World for its many aerospace manufacturing plants. Two of Augusta’s biggest employers are actually D-J Engineering and VSE Aviation, both of which provided maintenance services for aircraft parts. With plenty of job opportunities, a thriving downtown and several parks, Augusta still offers a slow-paced atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The Red Brick District in Downtown Augusta is full of local businesses.
For a faith based education, kids may attend St. James. Catholic School.
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Home prices lower than the national median
Single-family homes are predominant throughout Augusta. The median sale price for a house is $165,000, which is 60% below the national median. Homes on the south side closer to downtown are generally built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The center of the city features houses from the mid-1900s. And newer houses built between the late 1900s through today can be found on the north side. The city’s newest houses sell between the high $200,000s and mid-$300,000s.
Many houses are built with basements, and part of the reason is because Augusta is in Tornado Alley, a Midwest region with high tornado activity between March and June. The most recent tornado was in 2001, only causing damage to a windmill. While tornados often touch down in the open country, tornado warnings are common.
Many of the homes in Augusta are ranch-styled dwellings built in the 1900's.
There are several new housing developments throughout Augusta as well.
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Shopping and dining in the Red Brick District
The downtown area is on the city’s south side with an old-time feel, featuring red brick streets and century-old buildings where local shops and restaurants have set up shop. “We call it the Red Brick District and it’s kind of iconic,” says Burress. “It’s four blocks long and we have all types of businesses, including a historic theater built in 1935.” The city also has two major department stores: Walmart and Dillons. Walmart is on 7th Street, a section of U.S. Route 400 that has a variety of businesses, such as gas stations, hotels and a mix of local and national chain restaurants.
Millers Five Drive-Inn & Carry Out is a popular eatery option in Augusta.
Downtown Augusta is lined with shops along the street.
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Two large lakes maintained by the city
Augusta’s Parks & Recreation Division maintains more than a dozen parks and recreational facilities. Robert Shryock Park is one of the city’s most prominent parks sitting next to Augusta Lake and complete with a fairy-tail-themed splash pad the Castle Park Playground. “Castle Park Playground is community built,” says Burress. “We had over 2,000 volunteers to help build it. If the local businesses weren’t there to help, they were donating something. Our mayor was there every single day. Our local Walmart even donated $45,000.” People can take boats out at slow speeds on Augusta Lake and Santa Fe Lake about 10 minutes away. Dalton Palmer Park is located downtown, featuring a 30-foot-tall playground, the largest in Kansas.
Augusta is a neighborhood full of natural beauty.
Castle Park Playground is a popular park in Augusta.
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An annual car show and lots of events for kids
The city has several events throughout the year. The WFO Guys Augusta Car Show features hundreds of car entries on the downtown brick streets every August. Many events are geared toward kids, such as the Bugs Bunny Club. “I went to the Bugs Bunny Club when I was a kid, so it’s been more than 50 years,” says Burress. “It’s held at the historic theater and costs a quarter to get in and they give away bicycles.” Trick-or-Treat Street also starts with a movie at the theater, and then kids walk out to get candy from the local businesses. Several parades are held throughout the year as well, including a homecoming parade for the high school and a Christmas parade.
Education through Augusta USD 402
Augusta Unified School District 402 earns a B-minus grade from Niche. Students are split between three elementary school before merging into one student body at Augusta Middle and Augusta High. The school district also serves students in Gordon and other surrounding communities in Southwest Butler County.
Garfield Elementary is just one of many elementary schools in Augusta.
After elementary school, students can attend Augusta Middle School.
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A 25-minute drive to Wichita
U.S. Route 400 runs 20 miles west to Wichita, which takes about 25 minutes. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is the closest option for commercial flights. There are no public bus routes in Augusta, but Butler County Public Transportation provides shuttle rides around the city and to Wichita by appointment.
Crime rates down from 2019
Rather than having a police department, Augusta operates a Public Safety Department, where personnel are trained in both policing and firefighting. The city’s overall crime rate has slightly risen since 2020, but is lower than what it was in 2019 and years prior.
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