In 1871, C.C. Hutchinson purchased land here for $15 an acre and staked out what would become the city of Hutchinson, Kansas. The town grew from its extraction of salt from the earth and acquired the nickname The Salt City . Today, it is home to 40,783 people.
Hutchinson is energized by numerous retail stores and restaurants that keep the inner city alive. Everything from backyard birds to auto and trucking stores fill the town with shopping activity.
One of the most interesting attractions is the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. The Center houses numerous aeronautical vehicles, a cosmic collection (including a moon rock), an IMAX theatre, and a museum highlighting the history of space science from the Cold War time to the present.
Other points of interest include: Kansas Underground Salt Museum, Dillon Nature Center, Hutchinson Art Center, Reno County Museum, and the Yoder Amish Community.
The Salt City is spiced with recreational fun. Kids enjoy Salt City Splash Aquatic Center and Hutchinson Zoo. Everyone can take pleasure in an 18-hole game of golf at Carey Park Golf Course or tee off at one of the other two public greens in town.
At Dillion Nature Center, a 3-mile walking path weaves its way through the gardens and wildlife habitats of the preserve. A fishing pond adds to the charm. Special programs are offered for wildflower hikes and canoeing at various times of the year for a small fee. The Jim P. Martinez Sunflower Trail is a 3.5-mile paved path that's a favorite among skaters, joggers, bikers, and skateboarders.
Nature, hiking, and equestrian trails are also available at the 1,123-acre Sand Hills State Park. Sunsets are especially beautiful in this artistic blend of wetlands, sand dunes, prairie and woodlands.
Tennis courts are available at several locations, including Elmdale, Rice, and Fairgrounds Parks. At nearby Cheney State Park, brisk winds on a beautiful 9,500-acre reservoir offers awesome sailing conditions. There's also excellent fishing for bass, crappie, walleye and catfish.
Hutchinson, America's Salt City, is located in the heart of Kansas.
