Cawker City, KS

Cawker City sits along Highway 24 in north-central Kansas, perched right on the northern edge of Waconda Lake. Established in the 1870s, local lore claims Colonel E. H. Cawker won the right to name the town in a lucky game of poker. Today, it remains a quiet, laid-back rural community where wide-open skies meet the water, offering a peaceful small-town pace with Glen Elder State Park practically in the backyard.

Most people know the town for its quirky claim to fame, the World's Largest Ball of Twine, which keeps growing each August during the annual Twine-a-thon. Beyond the roadside charm, daily life revolves around the lake and the outdoors. Residents enjoy easy access to boating, camping, and some of the best walleye fishing in the state, alongside local essentials like a community golf course, neighborhood library, and schools in the nearby Waconda district. It is an easygoing spot for anyone drawn to open water, friendly neighbors, and quiet prairie living.