Every town has its own unique story, traveling a path filled with twists and turns as the years march on.
Seth Varner, a 23-year-old college student from Nebraska, is making it his goal to make note of those highlights.
Varner is visiting each of Kansas’ 627 incorporated cities. He’s documenting each town with photos and a short narrative, which he will compile in a book that will be part history, part travel guide and part photo album.
Varner has already completed similar projects in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota as part of his one-man company, Wandermore Publishing.
He visited Allen County last week, except for Humboldt which he plans for a later stop.
“It’s fascinating to see how Allen County developed predominantly around the gas industry,” he said. “Most counties don’t have so many towns located so close together and it was a little bizarre that I was able to get from one community to the next in only a few minutes.”
He was impressed by the museum and murals in Iola, as well as efforts to increase businesses and activities in smaller towns such as Elsmore.
“I love that Gas follows the fuel-related theme and embraces their unique name.”
The tiny burg of Bassett is an example of just how different Kansas communities can be. He’s visited many such towns that never quite maintained the optimistic potential under which they were settled.
Most of those towns have been nearly abandoned, with populations less than 100 — “I call them double-digiters,” Varner says.
“Typically those sorts of towns like Bassett are quick visits but they’re also my favorites because I find it fascinating that people are willing to stick around and support their small-town church or bar, even if it means they have to drive 30 minutes out of town for groceries.”
Varner spent the first 10 years of his life near the small towns of Colon, Malmo and Prague, Nebraska, so he has a special appreciation for those types of closely-knit communities.
His travels also take him to large metropolis areas such as Topeka, Manhattan and Lawrence. Rather than document the entire town he tries to focus more on well-known attractions and take time to enjoy their shops, museums, restaurants and other tourism activities.
With so many different facets to appreciate about Kansas towns, Varner can’t pick a favorite.
“I’m always taking on towns from different angles and trying to enjoy whatever that may have to offer,” he said.
“I enjoyed climbing to the dome of the state capitol in Topeka — one of the scariest things I’ve ever done in my life; finding the Dala horses and enjoying Swedish culture throughout Lindsborg and Olsburg; making the drive out to the middle of nowhere Monument Rocks near Oakley, and trying out different breweries in Phillipsburg — sadly now closed since my visit — Washington, and some other medium-sized towns.”
