Manhattan is located in the heart of northeast Kansas' scenic Flint Hills. First settled in 1855, it is home to Kansas State University (23,000 students) and Fort Riley (15,000+ soldiers). The Manhattan community encompasses approximately 18 square miles and has a current estimated population of 50,000. There is dramatic growth happening in Manhattan and the surrounding area as a result of expansion of Fort Riley. Manhattan is known as the "Little Apple" and is found 120 miles west of Kansas City just off of Interstate I-70. The community serves a three-county, 200,000-population regional area as a leader in education, trade, health care, entertainment, and communication. The area boasts a numerous attractions including Tuttle Creek Lake offering 15,000 acres of boating, water-skiing, fishing and public hunting land; the Konza Prairie Tallgrass Preserve; Marianna Beach Art Museum, Kansas State University, the historic Aggieville shopping district, and world class golf facilities and the Arts in the Park series. Nearby Fort Riley was founded in the mid-1800s and is a permanent military post and important partner to our region. Fort Riley has long been one of the nation's largest U.S. Army military installations. Today the military reservation covers approximately 101,000 acres. (according to www.ci.manhattan.ks.us/)