Coffeyville is a thriving, manufacturing community best known for its friendly people, the Red Ravens, the demise of the Dalton Gang in 1892, and Amazon.com's largest fulfillment center. Coffeyville was founded in 1869 by Colonel James A. Coffey and is located near the Verdigris River in southeast Kansas.
Coffeyville’s present is as lively as its past with much industrial growth taking place over the past few years. The largest industrial development project ever in the State of Kansas took place at Coffeyville Resources, with the addition of the nitrogen fertilizer facility. Additionally, Coffeyville has foundries, pattern shops, distributors and a variety of retail establishments.
Education is a priority in Coffeyville. Coffeyville Community College and Area Technical School is nationally recognized for both academics and athletics. USD 445 operates the elementary school, a middle school and a high school, and Holy Name Catholic School has classes for first through sixth graders. In 2004, Community Elementary, a pre-kindergarten through sixth grade elementary school opened. Holy Name School recently completed an addition to their facility as well.
The Aquatic Center includes children’s play features, two water slides, a zero depth entry pool, lap pool with eight competition lanes, diving boards, concession area and a party room. There are ten parks in Coffeyville that have activities to involve the entire family. Camping facilities, rodeo arena, livestock barns, playground, softball and baseball fields, picnic shelters, horseshoe pits, high speed wireless access, walking track, exercise stations, 7 acre lake, tennis courts, basketball courts, fishing dock, picnic shelters, and playground equipment. Walter Johnson Park is the site of one of the area’s largest annual events, the Inter-State Fair and Rodeo. Every October, Dalton Defenders Days marks the anniversary of the Dalton raid. The townspeople relive the event and enjoy a host of activities including re-enactments, stage coach rides, and stage entertainment.
In 2007, Coffeyville was designated as a Main Street community. Downtown Coffeyville, Inc., is quickly making progress to return the downtown to a hub of activity. The City of Coffeyville has made available free wireless internet access to the downtown area. Historic murals add beauty and interest to this revitalization. The Center for the Arts provides many cultural activities and events throughout the year in addition to monthly exhibits.
Coffeyville has more than 50 churches for worship and fellowship. In a state where Victorian-era architecture is abundant in its rural and urban areas, wonderful church architecture is seldom far behind. The preeminent church building in Coffeyville at present is the First United Methodist Church, a little outside the historic district. Together with its towering stained-glass windows and its lofty bell tower, this structure would embellish any block in America.
To learn more about health care career opportunities in rural Kansas, contact the Kansas Recruitment Center, Rural Health Education and Services, at 888-503-4221.