El Pueblo, Wichita, Kansas facts for kids

El Pueblo is a lively neighborhood in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It's a place where people live and businesses operate, located near the Little Arkansas River. This area is super important for the Hispanic community in Wichita, holding lots of its history and culture.

A Look Back: El Pueblo's History

In the 1910s and 1920s, many railroad workers came from Mexico to settle in Wichita. They made their homes along north Broadway Street. This area was first known as "the North End."

It quickly became Wichita's first barrio, a neighborhood where the Mexican American community grew strong. The part of this area east of Broadway was called El Huarache. The part west of Broadway and north of 21st Street became known as El Pueblo.

Over the years, more people from Mexico and other parts of Latin America moved to El Pueblo. This helped the neighborhood keep its strong Hispanic character.

Today, local groups work hard to save the neighborhood's history. They also help new businesses grow. El Pueblo is now famous for its delicious Latin American restaurants and busy marketplace.

Where is El Pueblo?

El Pueblo is located at 37°43′51″N 97°20′56″W / 37.73083°N 97.34889°W / 37.73083; -97.34889. It sits about 1,314 feet (401 meters) above sea level.

The neighborhood is bordered by 29th Street to the north and 21st Street to the south. To the west is the Little Arkansas River, and to the east is Broadway Street.

Nearby, you'll find the BNSF and Union Pacific train tracks. El Pueblo is also close to other neighborhoods like Midtown and North Riverside. The Chisholm Creek, a small river that flows into the Arkansas River, runs through the eastern part of El Pueblo.

Learning and Libraries

Schools in El Pueblo

Wichita Public Schools runs one school right in El Pueblo. It's called Cloud Elementary School.

The Evergreen Library

The Evergreen Branch of the Wichita Public Library is also in El Pueblo. It's the second-biggest branch library in the city. You can find it at the corner of North Arkansas and West 25th Street.

Media and TV

KPTS is the local PBS TV station in Wichita. Its studios are located on 21st Street, right in El Pueblo.

Parks and Fun Places

The city's Park and Recreation department takes care of three parks in El Pueblo. These are Evergreen Park, Pat Garcia Veterans Memorial Park, and Schell Park.

• Evergreen Park: This park is huge, covering about 27 acres (11 hectares). It has a basketball court, playgrounds for kids, a football field, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a recreation center. You can find it at North Arkansas and West 27th Street.
• Pat Garcia Veterans Memorial Park: This smaller park, about 1.5 acres (0.64 hectares), honors war veteran Pat Garcia. It's located near Chisholm Creek at East 25th Street and North Wellington Place.
• Schell Park: Named after a former park commissioner, W.F. Schell, this park is 8 acres (3.2 hectares). It has a children's playground and a soccer field. You can visit it on West 25th Street.

Culture and Events

Community Celebrations

The people of El Pueblo love to celebrate! They hold many events throughout the year for important Hispanic holidays. These include Cesar Chavez Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Puerto Rican Day.

Cool Places to Visit

• NoMar International Market: This is a popular spot where you can find unique items and foods.

Getting Around El Pueblo

Main Roads

Arkansas Street is the main road that runs north and south through El Pueblo. 25th Street is the main road that goes east and west. Other important roads include Broadway, 21st Street, and 29th Street.

Bus Service

Wichita Transit provides bus service in El Pueblo. You can catch buses on routes 13, 15, and 17 to get around.

Train Lines

BNSF Railway operates freight train lines. These lines run north and south just east of the neighborhood, next to Broadway.