Aggieville facts for kids

Aggieville is a lively area in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. It's made up of six city blocks filled with shops, restaurants, and places to eat that are popular with college students. Aggieville is especially known for its many restaurants and places where fans gather before Kansas State University (K-State) games.

History of Aggieville

Before 1898, students at the Kansas State Agricultural College (which is now Kansas State University) had to go all the way downtown to buy their textbooks. Back then, people didn't have cars, so getting around was hard, especially when roads were muddy.

So, the college decided to build a bookstore and a place to eat closer to the campus. This new place opened in 1899. A group of students then took over the bookstore, forming the Student Co-Operative Association.

How Aggieville Got Its Name

That student bookstore became the start of a new shopping area. This area grew quickly with more shops, restaurants, and other businesses, all serving the college students. People started calling this area Aggieville. The name came from the school's old mascot, the Kansas State Agricultural College Aggies. Even when the school's mascot changed to the Kansas State Wildcats, the name Aggieville stayed.

Growth and Celebrations

After World War I, Aggieville grew a lot. Trolley lines were built to help people get around, and later, these were paved over as more people started driving cars in the 1940s. In the 1950s, more restaurants and entertainment spots opened. Over the next 30 years, Aggieville became famous as a fun place for dining and entertainment.

When Jon Wefald became the president of Kansas State University in 1986, more students joined the college. This meant Aggieville saw even more new businesses, including shops, restaurants, and other places for students to enjoy.

Aggieville has also been the site of big celebrations, especially after exciting K-State sports victories. For example, in 1998, there was a huge celebration when the K-State football team beat Nebraska for the first time since 1969! Fans celebrated by taking down the goal posts and carrying them all the way to a rooftop in Aggieville.

Yearly Events in Aggieville

Every year, Aggieville hosts the "Little Apple New Year's Eve" celebration. Thousands of people gather in the streets to welcome the new year. At midnight, a bright apple is dropped from a building, marking the start of the new year. This event is very popular and has even been shown live on TV.

Aggieville also celebrates "St. Patrick's Day in the Ville" each year. This event includes restaurants serving special green food, a road race, a fun run for families, and a parade. A week before St. Patrick's Day, Aggieville also hosts a unique event called "Fake Patty's Day."