Relocation Packet

Welcome Home!

Welcome to Fort Scott! We are so pleased that you have decided to reside in this city, one that is so rich in history and culture. We sincerely believe that you have selected an outstanding place to live, work, learn, and raise a family.

We hope that you are able to enjoy and participate in the many services and amenities offered by the city, which includes Woodland Hills Golf Course, the Fort Scott Aquatic Center, Buck Run Community Center, the new Gathering Square Splash Pad and Sensory Park and numerous public parks, and recreational opportunities. The city also provides important municipal services, such as public safety, road maintenance, snow plowing, and water distribution and treatment. The City of Fort Scott prides itself on providing high quality services to our residents. 

As you settle into your new home, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the city. This packet contains information that should help you get started. Please take time to look through this material. It offers a glimpse of the activities and services provided in Fort Scott. We also encourage you to visit our Facebook page, @FortScottCity for updated information about your municipality. For more information on local events and activities visit www.visitfortscott.com and @VisitFortScottKS on Facebook.

We trust that you will enjoy your residency in Fort Scott, Kansas. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Fort Scott City Hall at (620) 223-0550. 

Again, welcome to the community.

Download the Fort Scott Welcome Packet

Are you a “boomerang?” 

Maybe you left Fort Scott for higher education or a job. There are many reasons to come home! 

For those who love the smaller-town pace of life with a good blend of pride in the local legacy, Fort Scott is the place for you!

Thriving Fort Scott and Bourbon County!

Good things are happening at home. 

The historic downtown district is experiencing robust renovation; the community supports over 50 retailers and over 20 eateries. Revitalization is ongoing and new businesses open regularly (3 new restaurants and multiple retailers recently). Fort Scott is a relatively safe community with great schools and a hometown quality of life. It’s a good place for young professionals to flourish with high-speed fiber for remote work and 4 lanes from Pittsburg to Kansas City the drive is just minutes to both. Niche.com also named Fort Scott as one of the top 25 places to retire in Kansas. Fort Scott is indeed a great place to live, to work, and a place to call home! 

Leisure Time

Living and working are just part of life. When it’s time to play you have options! 

At 155-acres, Gunn Park, the state’s largest municipal park, offers many recreational opportunities. The park features stocked fishing lakes and the Marmaton River along the west border is great for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The park has 7 W.P.A. shelter houses, two dog park areas, RV and primitive campgrounds, plus many picnic and playground areas. There is a challenging yet fun 18-hole disc golf course. Plus, Gunn Park Trails features over 6 miles of the best single-track hiking and mountain bicycling trails in the region. And if you’re into cycling, “Bourbon on the Rocks” is what we call a dozen gravel cycling routes in Bourbon County. They range from family friendly to torturesome. Find information on these and other Kansas bicycling routes at www.GravelKS.com. 

There is also tennis, pickleball, skate parks, mural trails, and walking trails. The hunting and fishing in the area is first class. Plus, there are regular arts, music, and cultural events. The LaRoche Baseball Complex is a beautiful $3.5 million dollar state of the art facility where baseball and entertainment events are held annually. Woodland Hills Golf Course is an 18-hole parkland-style course that’s been honored as a 10 Best Public Golf Courses in Kansas (3 consecutive years). Kansas Rocks Recreation Area is a 380-acre park with miles of trails, from beginner to extreme for 4 Wheel Drives, Mountain Bikes, Hikers, and UTV’s.

Rural Living Advantages

The allure of rural living has grown in recent years. With more people looking to escape the rat race for a simpler life, many are trading their city or suburban lifestyles for a taste of country living. 

There’s something to be said about the many advantages of a rural environment. A few of these advantages include: a connection with nature, potential for a healthier lifestyle, enhanced emotional well-being, strong sense of community and community bonds, serenity and peaceful surroundings, lower cost of living, and more affordable housing and land. The population of Fort Scott is 7,565 and the Bourbon County population is 14,408. 

Isn’t it time to be home? 

For more information contact:

Mary Wyatt - City Planning, Housing & Business Development Director, mwyatt@fscity.org, 620.223.0550

Lisa Dillon - City Housing & Community Development Coordinator, ldillon@fscity.org, 620-223-0550

Lindsay Madison - Chamber of Commerce President, lindsay.madison@fortscott.com, 620.223.3566 

For more information about working, living, and playing in Kansas, visit https://lovekansas.com!