Founded: 1871, Population: 11,514 (2000), Elevation: 907 feet.
Parsons is located in Labette County, in the southeast region of Kansas between Erie and Oswego along Hwy 160 near Big Hill Lake and Neosho State Lake & Park. Named for the president of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, Levi Parsons.
Located in an area of flat plains and rolling hills in northern Labette County. Parsons began as a railroad town and it is still a transportation hub served by the Union Pacific and highways US-59, US-400, and US-160.
The local economy is based on a variety of elements: transportation, agriculture, light industry, services, and retail and wholesale distribution. Parsons is a leader in economic development in southeast Kansas and has a strong infrastructure with a diverse labor force. Among other attractions, the Carnegie Library & Arts Center, Parsons Arboretum and the Farm History Center are unique to Parsons.
