Schoenchen, KS

Schoenchen is a quiet, small community set along the Smoky Hill River, about eleven miles south of Hays. Volga German immigrants established the town in the late 1870s, naming it after their ancestral village back in Russia. The historic St. Anthony Catholic Church, with its distinctive stone architecture, still stands at the heart of town and reflects the deep roots of the families who settled here generations ago.

Life here centers on a close-knit neighborhood where residents gather at the community center and celebrate their heritage during the annual German Feast. Kids attend schools in nearby Hays, giving families access to larger district programs while keeping a relaxed, small-town lifestyle. With Highway 183 offering a direct drive into Hays for work and shopping, Schoenchen provides a peaceful home base surrounded by open farmland and the river valley.