Scranton

Donna Sims wants her three children to experience life in a small town.

The long-time Osage County resident moved from nearby Carbondale because her husband's parents were from Scranton. Her family, which has lived in Scranton for 18 years, stays in town mainly for the school district's quality of education.

"I'd rather have them in school here than in a larger town," said Sims, whose husband, Robert, is a member of the Scranton city council. "I don't think there are as many gangs and drugs around here."

The community is located between Carbondale and Burlingame in Osage County. The county is directly south of Shawnee County, which includes Topeka.

Scranton, which was founded in 1872, is about a 30-minute drive from Topeka. US-75 highway, which stretches south from Topeka into Osage County, provides an artery to the Capital City. The Kansas Turnpike, which connects Kansas' largest cities, is about 15 miles away.

Scranton is located in the Unified School District 434, Santa Fe Trail, in Carbondale.

With about 700 residents, the population of Scranton has remained steady in recent years. Sims said the community hasn't experience the growth of nearby Carbondale.

"Hopefully we can get a grocery store and more people," Sims said. "They are working on building more houses ‹ slowly, but surely."

Although most Scranton residents shop in Carbondale, Sims drives to Topeka because she said the prices are lower and "the half-hour drive isn't that bad." She said at least until her children finish school, the family likely will call Scranton its home.

"I like it because everyone knows each other," she said. "If you need something, there's always someone to ask."