"Commemorating entry into Kansas from Russia of Turkey Red Hard Wheat by Mennonites 1874" is the inscription under Max Nixon's 1942 statue in Newton.
Once a lawless town even by the standards of the West, Newton was founded in 1871 on land secured by the Louisiana Purchase, following the launch of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was the home of James Earp, brother of the more famous lawman, Wyatt. However, the town soon settled down after its early years, perhaps under the influence of the peaceful Mennonite settlers who made it their home. So, don't worry! Newton's gun-slinging past is certainly resigned to history now. Since 2008, Newton has prohibited smoking in any public places, including some designated outdoor areas, so don't look for home rentals in the city if you can't do without the occasional cigarette. It's not too good for you anyways.
If you are looking at housing for rent in Newton, you will immediately be struck by the diversity of the accommodations
"Commemorating entry into Kansas from Russia of Turkey Red Hard Wheat by Mennonites 1874" is the inscription under Max Nixon's 1942 statue in Newton.
Once a lawless town even by the standards of the West, Newton was founded in 1871 on land secured by the Louisiana Purchase, following the launch of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was the home of James Earp, brother of the more famous lawman, Wyatt. However, the town soon settled down after its early years, perhaps under the influence of the peaceful Mennonite settlers who made it their home. So, don't worry! Newton's gun-slinging past is certainly resigned to history now. Since 2008, Newton has prohibited smoking in any public places, including some designated outdoor areas, so don't look for home rentals in the city if you can't do without the occasional cigarette. It's not too good for you anyways.
Moving to Newton
If you are looking at housing for rent in Newton, you will immediately be struck by the diversity of the accommodations. You can find an apartment to rent in most parts of the city, with the most choice probably downtown. Equally, there are larger three-bedroom houses for rent in most districts, where the properties tend to be set back from the road. With the housing stock being so varied, you will usually be able to find something suitable without too much hassle.
However, Newton's rental market does pick up in spring and early summer. As such, if you are looking for a very specific sort of accommodation, then it is a good idea to start your search early in the year. By beginning before Easter, you are you usually one step ahead of the competition for the best apartments that come up for rent. Always bring proof of your identity and some financial documents, like a recent bank statement, with you when apartment hunting in Newton. If you find the right place and want to get the ball rolling, it is handy to have these on you.
The City Layout
Newton is served by four major highways. The largest of these, Interstate 135 heads to McPherson in the northwest and to Wichita in the south. The city itself is laid out in a grid formation with the railroad cutting across the pattern at a diagonal. The Interstate skirts the city on the eastern side and the city itself is roughly split in two by Main Street, which runs north to south.
East Newton: The side of Newton that lies to the east of Main Street is home to Newton Country Club and Fox Ridge Golf Course. There are two blocks that are given over to parkland; Military Park, near to the city center by the railroad, and the wider open space at Washington Park to the south. There is also a much larger park to the north, named Centennial Park. Expect driveways and front lawns, with some of the residential streets being quite leafy.
West Newton: On the other side of Main Street you find all the railroad sidings, with only the occasional apartment for rent in this area. Instead, try looking centrally, close to Main Street, or further north in the area close to the Kauffman Museum. The museum, which is worth a visit if you are in the neighborhood, holds a rare collection of Mennonite immigrant furniture. There are a number of parks in West Newton, too, and the largest of these is home to Fischer Field Stadium, the largest in the city.
Living in Newton
Many newcomers to the city are attracted by the nearby 18-hole public course at Sand Creek, which has been ranked among the best new public courses in the country. The city is centrally located in Harvey County and the state of Kansas and this makes it an ideal center for both the transportation and shipping industries. If you don't know where it is, then stick a pin somewhere in the middle of a map of the United States and you're pretty much there. Newton boasts frequent passenger rail services that head in the direction of Los Angeles and Chicago which, combined with the nearby airport, make Newton a good place to move to if your job requires you to travel a lot.
One of the great things about Newton is that its community is thriving. Main Street has plenty of businesses, shops and offices. In terms of culture, check out the Carriage Factory Art Gallery on East 6th Street just off Main Street. There's also a community-run theater in the downtown part of the city offering entertainment as well as stimulating cultural expression. Okay, so it isn't Broadway, but there are regular high-quality concerts put on as well as Friday evening film showings.
Newton is blessed with a great deal of variety when it comes to food, too. As you might expect, most of the restaurants are clustered around Main Street. Try the German-inspired cuisine at The Breadbasket or the gluten-free options at Reba's just across the road. For fitness fans, there are gyms in both the north and the south of the city, as well as a couple in the center. Newton Recreation Commission, on North Poplar Street, has racquetball courts and a swimming pool, so most needs are catered for in the city.
