National and State Registers of Historic Places
Horton Civic Center
125 W 7th
Horton (Brown County)
Listed in National Register
2020-03-26
Architect: N/A
Category: commerce
Thematic Nomination: New Deal-era Resources of Kansas
Constructed by the WPA initiative during the 1930s-40s, the Horton Civic Center’s purpose was to provide Horton and the surrounding communities with a defined location for community events. The Civic Center has been integral to the atmosphere, and experiences of community members since its construction, which is seen through the number of events at the site. Upon its opening, the Horton Civic Center has hosted recreational activities, and entertainment, through county fairs, festivals, concerts, summits, but most important, events with livestock. The location of the building is no coincidence but a result of the need from the local citizens and ranchers. The railroad loading area was directly along the southern boundary of the property, making it a convenient place to shuffle livestock from a selling event at the Civic Center. Also, the children and members of the national and state 4-H Club regularly participate in associated activities at the Civic Center. 4-H, ranching, and agriculture are the primary industry in Brown County and are essential to the life of its citizens. The Horton Civic Center was built as a social and recreational tool with the sole purpose of an exhibition hall and facility for the surrounding community’s use. The purpose of the Civic Center still exists today. Over the past eighty-plus years of use, the Horton Civic Center is still a centerpiece of the community.
