Parsons is located in Labette County, Kansas. Its population is 9,463 as of the 2010 census. This city ranks 36th in the state of Kansas, with a population increase of over 2,000 people during the day. The median home value is $49,900, and the appreciation in the past 10 years is 6.3%. It is a friendly town that attracts both newcomers and long-time residents alike.
The population of Parsons is quite diverse. Twenty-nine percent of residents were younger than eighteen. Twenty-four percent of people were between the ages of 25 and 44, while twenty-four percent were 45-64. Among the population of all ages, 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. There are two public schools in the city, the Erie-Galesburg USD 101 and Parsons City USD. Parsons is served by Carnegie Library, which was established in 1909. The Parsons Public Library moved into a modern facility in 1977.
Parsons is home to Dwayne's Photo. It was the location of the world's final Kodachrome film processing plant. In addition, the city was the location of the July 2002 film ZombieGeddon. It is also home to the Kansas Combined Anti-Drug Taskforce. The group's mission is to target narcotics sale and distribution in the county. The Parsons Police Department, the Labette County Sheriff's Office, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are all involved in this task.
The town's history begins in the 1870s with the founding of the Missouri - Kansas-Texas railroad. The railroad was a part of the town's history since its incorporation. In 1988, the railroad was sold to Union Pacific and the town received $1 million to help with the costs. The money was used for economic development projects. The only reminder of the Katy Railroad is located in the town's local historical society museum.