Catharine, KS

Located about four miles northeast of Hays, Catharine is a quiet, tight-knit community of around 200 residents in Ellis County, Kansas. Surrounded by the open plains of the Smoky Hills, it offers peaceful rural living where neighbors know one another. While residents enjoy the quiet country setting, the quick drive into Hays provides easy access to jobs, local restaurants, healthcare, and Hays public schools.

The town has deep roots, established in the late 1870s by Volga German and Austrian settlers who named it after their former home in Russia. That heritage is still at the heart of the community today, anchored by the historic limestone St. Catherine's Catholic Church, which has stood since 1892. Catharine remains a welcoming, grounded spot on the Kansas plains, offering an easy commute to city conveniences alongside the slower pace of country life.