Parsons, Kansas
Parsons is a city of 9,425 people in Labette County, Kansas, founded in 1870.
Why visit Parsons
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 14 parks and trails, 22 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Parsons Theater, Carnegie Library and Parsons Katy Hospital.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Parsons
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Parsons
Parsons is a city in Labette County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 9,600. It is the most populous city of Labette County, and the second-most populous city in the southeastern region of Kansas. It is home to Labette Community College and the Parsons State Hospital & Training Center.
From the Wikipedia article Parsons, Kansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks9
Carnegie Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic building in Parsons, Kansas, United States
Parsons Katy Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Hospital in Kansas, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds14
2 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes22
Chinese Chef
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.1 mi
900 North 16th Street
Tu-Th 11:00-20:30;Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00;Su 11:00-15:00;Mo off
Joe's Italian Restaurant & Pizza
Restaurant · American, Italian · 1.4 mi
3330 Main Street
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
10 more on the map.
History
Parsons was named after Levi Parsons, president of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) Railroad. The town was founded in 1870 and incorporated the following year by the railroad. The location for the town was chosen because it was on a flat ridge between the Labette Creek and Little Labette Creek and provided an ideal site for where the two branches of the railroad being built from Junction City, Kansas and Sedalia, Missouri would meet. The creeks were soon dammed to provide a water source. The railroad commenced building a massive rail yard, foundry, and locomotive shop at Parsons; for many years this was the third largest railroad facility west of the Mississippi River, with only Kansas City and Los Angeles being larger.
From the History section of Parsons, Kansas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship8
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries17
Healthcare3
Map of Parsons
84 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 22°F | 1.4 in | 2.5 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 26°F | 1.7 in | 0.8 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 35°F | 3.0 in | 1.2 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 44°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 55°F | 6.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 65°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 67°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 58°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 46°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 57°F | 35°F | 2.8 in | 0.2 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 26°F | 2.0 in | 2.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Parsons 2 Nw (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Labette County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-29: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2010-03-09: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm (Severe Storm)
- 2009-06-25: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2008-02-01: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Storm)
- 2007-12-12: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Tri-City Airport (PPF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Neodesha 24 mi west, about 38 min by car
- Chanute 26 mi northwest, about 41 min by car
- Independence 26 mi west, about 41 min by car
- Columbus 26 mi southeast, about 41 min by car
- Girard 26 mi northeast, about 42 min by car
- Coffeyville 30 mi southwest, about 48 min by car
- Pittsburg 32 mi east, about 51 min by car
- Frontenac 32 mi east, about 52 min by car
- Fredonia 34 mi northwest, about 54 min by car
- Miami 38 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Parsons, KS former public library building funded by Andrew Carnegie., Kaethesson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.