Kansas : Safety by City
- Alma
- Andover
- Atchison
- Coffeyville
- Cottonwood Falls
- Council Grove
- Dodge City
- Emporia
- Fort Scott
- Garden City
- Gardner
- Great Bend
- Hays
- Hutchinson
- Junction City
- KCK
- Kinsley
- La Crosse
- Lawrence
- Leavenworth
- Leawood
- Lecompton
- Lenexa
- Liberal
- Lindsborg
- Lucas
- Oakley
- Olathe
- Overland Park
- Prairie Village
- Salina
- Shawnee
- Topeka
- Wamego
- Wichita
- Wilson
- Winfield
If you can’t afford to take a trip to real Sweden, how about visiting “Little Sweden” in Lindsborg, Kansas?
More than 1/3 of the people who live here are Scandinavian and they celebrate their heritage throughout the year.
The city’s greeting of Välkommen Lindsborg is just the start of a whole bunch of hard-to-pronounce words for English speakers.
“Val-KOH-men” is just the start of a great trip to a little slice of Scandinavian life in the heart of Kansas.
I would find it odd if Nebraska, where I currently live, didn’t have a city named Wilber, which is the “Czech Capital of the West.”
A great part of Lindsborg is that, while there are Nordic and Swedish elements to it, it’s not so in-your-face or overwhelming that you can’t find anything else to do.
Fans of “The Queen’s Gambit” will love to visit the International School of Chess in the Midwest, the first of its kind in America when it opened in the early 2000s.
Even if you could stay in a national hotel chain here, I’d still tell you to explore the bed & breakfast inns or the vacation rentals.
There are so many colorful and unique themes among the rentals here, even going back to the room will be an adventure in tourism.
Warnings & Dangers in Lindsborg
OVERALL RISK: LOW
There's a low overall risk here, but the 2020 crime data reported (the most recent available) showed anomalies due to the pandemic. Even the FBI report showed a "these numbers are significantly lower than in previous years" warning, but that means things like two violent crimes instead of four or 14 robberies instead of 37. Any way you slice it, the risk is low.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
There isn't a public bus system, but there are some shuttles and tour buses for rent. The closest rental car location is in Salina. You might be able to get rideshare here, but having a rental car is ideal. There's low risk with any option, but not a lot of options.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
There's a low risk of being pickpocketed. Even going back through crime data to 2017 shows no pickpockets or purse snatchings. You should still take all the basic safety precautions, no matter how low a crime category is.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
There are a lot of risks here throughout the year, but nothing that is out of the ordinary. Severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes are the greatest risk during spring and in the warmer months, and blizzards in the winter can bring travel to a halt. There's a medium risk because of the concerns, but you can review the Emergency Management Plan on the McPherson County website.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
There have been three robberies in Lindsborg since 2007, so you can feel comfortable with a low risk here.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
On June 7, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin stating the country is on "heightened alert" and that runs through November 30, 2022, at which point another advisory will be issued. While a city like Lindsborg wouldn't be a hard target, it's still smart to review what heightened alert means and why. DHS is very transparent with its advice.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
All the scam warnings in Lindsborg are the garden-variety ones that happen nationwide. The only caution you should take is when renting, to make sure the owner or proprietor has a license to rent the room or home. Never use a third-party website to book one of these rentals.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women should feel comfortable visiting here and will actually have a lot of fun in a low-risk environment. Of course, the same basic safety stands hold here - don't walk around at night alone, don't meet strangers in private places, and if you are going to the great outdoors let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
The 2021 Annual Water Quality Report showed no violations and all water met or exceeded state and federal requirements. There's low risk when using the water here.
Safest Places to Visit in Lindsborg
The Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum will get you in the Scandinavian mood, taking you back in time to some local treasures.
There’s the 1898 Flour Mill, the 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion, and an exhibit exploring the hopes and dreams of the Swedish settlers in this area.
The Höglund Dugout is a primitive home built into the ground for protection from the elements.
This home dates back to 1868.
Be sure to follow the directions and look for the parking lot with an iron fence, since the home is below ground.
Grab a map of the self-guided historical home tour.
There are many types of architecture to explore in the neighborhoods and the tree-lined streets are as quaint as the homes.
The International School of Chess of the Midwest was built by world chess champion A. Karpov.
He also served as an advisor for the hit show “The Queen’s Gambit.”
Anatoly Karpov fell in love with Lindsborg when he was looking for a quiet place to train for one of his master chess matches.
On Mondays from 6 pm – 8:30 pm, there is an open house with chess lessons for all experience levels.
There is a Herd of Wild Dala horses throughout the city, but don’t worry – they are sculptures.
Each one is designed by the sponsor and it’s really cool to see all the interpretations.
There are nearly 40 horses in total.
Can you find them all?
(HINT: There’s a map available on the tourism website so you don’t miss one!)
You can also grab the scavenger hunt list from the tourism bureau.
Items include things like, “On top of two businesses a wind vane does spin and spin it does often in this fine Kansas wind.
What are the two businesses?”
The Välkommen Trail spans nearly five miles and runs along an old railroad line.
You can walk or bike this trail and there are several stopping points throughout the city.
Places to Avoid in Lindsborg
There aren’t bad parts of Lindsborg or dangerous neighborhoods.
If anything, you want to explore as much as you can, because not all the attractions are big and bold.
The Swedish delicacies are nestled in coffee cafes and gift shops.
Lindsborg is one of the stops on the Praire Trail Scenic Byway.
Kansas really has a love affair with its byways, so don’t miss a thing by grabbing a map of the byway for the best stops.
Avoid stopping on the side of the road to take pictures.
There are plenty of designated scenic view stops along the way.
Also, make sure to have a full tank of gas when you start the 56-mile drive.
There are a lot of small towns along the way, but not all of them will have gas stations.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Lindsborg
- To report a crime that isn’t an emergency, you can place an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers. Communities like this stay safe by the community and visitors helping out when they see something suspicious. The numbers are (620) 241-1122 or you can call the toll-free number 1-800-241-8118.
- You can call the police to ask any safety questions you have before or during your visit. The main phone number is (785)227-2988. You can also email chief@lindsborgcity.org.
- The Smoky Hill River runs along the south side of the city. It is prone to flooding. It’s important to know the difference between a flood watch and a warning. A watch means flooding could occur and if it does, it could happen quickly. A warning means flooding IS happening or is imminent. Radio stations KNGL 1450 AM and KBBE 96.7 FM are reliable resources when you are in the car.
- Be sure to download a weather app with notifications enabled here. There isn’t an app for the city or the county that provides emergency information, but you can choose from one of the Wichita stations. You can also select a national weather app, like The Weather Channel. Be sure to turn on location tracking so the weather warnings for your area will appear.
- If you smell fire in Lindsborg, it might be a controlled wildland burn or a wildfire burning out of control. Especially in spring, these fires are going to happen more often. You should follow the city police and fire departments on Facebook to get notifications about these fires. The strong winds in Kansas can sometimes cause these fires to spread quickly. There is also the risk of an accidental fire or arson. Never drive along a roadway covered in smoke, and call 911 if you come across one that doesn’t have barricades.
- There’s a form on the city’s website where you can report safety concerns in the community like potholes, uneven sidewalks, or malfunctioning street lights. Small towns usually don’t have a lot of city employees, so every little bit helps. You can also call city hall to report an issue at (785) 227-3355.
- Drug crimes are on the rise in Kansas and much of the United States as the Opioid epidemic reaches new levels. While the Lindsborg Police Department doesn’t give specific data about drug crimes, there is a form on the department’s website where you can anonymously post any drug-related information. That suggests there is an issue and your help is needed. Even prescription drugs sold from non-licensed pharmacies is a problem.
- Svensk Hyllningsfest is a festival held every other year in Lindsborg. March 25 is Våffeldagen, which is International Waffle Day, and Lindsborg restaurants serve waffles for all meals of the day. These are two of 20 events that happen in Lindsborg. Check the community calender when you plan your trip to see what big events might be happening during your visit. This could impact how many hotel rooms or home rentals are available. Even the holidays last a little longer here with Annandag Jul on December 26, which means “another day of Christmas.”
- There’s a Facebook page, @lindsborgpublicsafety, that you should follow to get safety information from the police, fire and ambulance services. One recent post shows newly installed signs that tell bicyclists when they can’t ride on the sidewalk and need to walk the bike instead. That kind of good safety information helps you navigate and settle into a new community faster.
- When driving around McPherson County, there’s a good chance you’ll share the road with farm equipment, especially during planting and harvest season. This is just a time to practice patience, and I can tell you that from personal experience. I once drove through an Omaha suburb and was stuck behind a tractor for miles. Even when the farm equipment makes a turn, it’s going to take much longer than a regular vehicle. Sometimes the driver will slow down and pull over so you can pass, other times you just have to wait until the road allows passing. Don’t tailgate, pass in a “NO PASSING” zone or honk.
So... How Safe Is Lindsborg Really?
Lindsborg hasn’t had more than six violent crimes in a year all the way back to at least 2010.
Property crimes are never more than 75 in a year, and 2020 had 65 property crimes.
The category of theft/larceny is never more than 50 thefts in a year.
At least 1/3 of thefts are from vehicles, so don’t leave your car unlocked or park with the windows rolled down.
You should also never warm up your car on a cold day if you aren’t with the car.
That’s a quick way to get your car stolen.
There’s really very little reason to be worried about safety in Lindsborg, but you still need to use common sense, follow your gut, and do all the basic safety steps you know.
There are a bunch of small towns around and each of those will have a different safety level.
For example, Salina is just 23 miles from Lindsborg, and it is not the safest city to visit.
Enjoy your trip to McPehrson County and “Välkommen Lindsborg.”
How Does Lindsborg Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Lindsborg | 85 |
| Dallas | 64 |
| Memphis | 54 |
| Orlando | 64 |
| Las Vegas | 62 |
| San Francisco | 61 |
| Philadelphia | 60 |
| Vienna (Austria) | 88 |
| Hong Kong (China) | 70 |
| Manama (Bahrain) | 54 |
| Tianjin (China) | 67 |
| Brussels (Belgium) | 60 |
| Shanghai (China) | 66 |
Useful Information
Visas
You'll need to plan ahead to get a U.S. visa. Four months should be more than enough, with plenty of wiggle room if there are delays. You'll pay $160 for a travel visa if you pass the background and interview steps. When you fly, you need your visa to enter the country, but not to travel around the U.S.
Currency
Despite all the international flair here, you can't pay with anything but U.S. Dollars. Carry as little cash as necessary because you can use a credit card widely here. Also, let your bank know you'll be traveling so a fraud alert doesn't slow you down.
Weather
You'll need coats, gloves, and boots in the winter, but pack some lighter attire if there's a warm spell. Fall and spring just need layers of clothing because the next day is anyone's guess how cold or warm it's going to be. I've seen 70° one day and snow falling the next. Summers will be warm and the humidity really stands out here. Bring bug spray and sunscreen too.
Airports
Wichita's airport is the closest, less than 90 minutes away. Topeka's airport is two hours away and the largest Kansas City International Airport is three hours away.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is smart since you'll be spending time in the air and on the roads and you need the protection only insurance can offer.
Lindsborg Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 6 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 31 | 35 | 34 | 28 | 21 | 14 | 6 |
| Low °C | -8 | -7 | -1 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 13 | 6 | -1 | -7 |
| High °F | 43 | 43 | 57 | 68 | 77 | 88 | 95 | 93 | 82 | 70 | 57 | 43 |
| Low °F | 18 | 19 | 30 | 41 | 50 | 63 | 68 | 66 | 55 | 43 | 30 | 19 |
Kansas - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Alma | 88 |
| Andover | 93 |
| Atchison | 86 |
| Coffeyville | 57 |
| Cottonwood Falls | 78 |
| Council Grove | 87 |
| Dodge City | 57 |
| Emporia | 82 |
| Fort Scott | 57 |
| Garden City | 51 |
| Gardner | 88 |
| Great Bend | 53 |
| Hays | 81 |
| Hutchinson | 47 |
| Junction City | 47 |
| KCK | 46 |
| Kinsley | 86 |
| La Crosse | 87 |
| Lawrence | 70 |
| Leavenworth | 48 |
| Leawood | 85 |
| Lecompton | 83 |
| Lenexa | 81 |
| Liberal | 90 |
| Lindsborg | 85 |
| Lucas | 84 |
| Oakley | 82 |
| Olathe | 84 |
| Overland Park | 74 |
| Prairie Village | 74 |
| Salina | 62 |
| Shawnee | 76 |
| Topeka | 64 |
| Wamego | 83 |
| Wichita | 64 |
| Wilson | 93 |
| Winfield | 88 |
My family and I had a fantastic time in Lindsborg, and safety was never a concern. The town’s charm is matched by its commitment to providing a secure environment for residents and visitors alike.
Having traveled extensively, I can confidently say that Lindsborg stands out as a remarkably safe destination. The crime rate is notably low, and the town’s commitment to maintaining a secure environment is evident.
I visited Lindsborg last summer and felt incredibly safe throughout my stay. The community is welcoming, and the small-town atmosphere adds to the overall sense of security.