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About Hays

Hays City was founded in the August of 1867 as the Union Pacific Railway Eastern Division worked its way west through this part of Kansas. Because many of the first people associated with this small frontier town were those who worked for the railroad or saloons, soldiers, desperados or rather rough citizens, the early years of Hays City were wild and dangerous. In 1885, the word "City" was officially dropped from the name Hays City and the town grew to become the largest community in Northwest Kansas. Hays is the county seat of Ellis County and is the major shopping, entertainment, medical, business and trade center for this region. Today, Hays has a population over 21,000 and is promoted as the German Capital of Kansas. The community is home to excellent educational opportunities including Fort Hays State University, North Central Technical College, Hays Academy of Hair Design and Thomas More Prep-Marian School. Annual community events include the Home and Garden Show, Spring Gallery Walk, Wild West Festival, Blues & BBQ, Midwest Deutsches Oktoberfest, Christmas Open House, FrostFest and numerous craft shows held throughout the year. For more information about Hays, Kansas visit www.haysusa.net or www.discoverhays.com

-- Latest Update 2011/06/17 by MerchantCircle Editors