About this city
Also known as: The Little Apple
Manhattan is a significant, dynamic city located in Riley and Pottawatomie counties in northeastern Kansas, beautifully situated at the confluence of the Kansas and Big Blue rivers. Founded in 1855, the city earned the enduring nickname 'The Little Apple' as a playful Midwestern counterpoint to New York City. Manhattan is internationally recognized as the home of Kansas State University, the nation's first operational land-grant institution, which fundamentally drives the city's youthful energy and research prowess. Geographically framed by the dramatic, rugged limestone hills of the Flint Hills region, Manhattan blends its world-class academic environment with extensive ecological preserves and a bustling downtown social scene.
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Economics & Local Vibe
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–3 days
Immerse yourself in interactive tallgrass prairie exhibits at the Flint Hills Discovery Center, walk the lively shop-lined streets and historic bars of the Aggieville entertainment district, hike to panoramic clifftop lookouts at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, and explore the beautiful gardens inside the K-State Gardens.
