Our Community: Frontenac, Kansas
July 25, 2009
Located in Crawford County in southeastern Kansas, Frontenac was established as a coal mining town in 1886 in the Cherokee-Crawford Coal Fields. During the last decade of the 19th century and in the early 20th century, the town was populated primarily by immigrant families from eastern and southeastern Europe —predominately Sicilian, Italian, and Slavic people from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Its maximum population neared 4,000. Today, its population hovers at about 3,000.
In its early days, Frontenac housed numerous ethnic lodges and ethnic grocery stores, including the famed Pallucca's, which in December 2008 closed as a grocery but remains open as a meat counter to supply locals and visitors with sausage and other specialities.
In 1888, Frontenac had the worst mining disaster in Kansas history, when an explosion killed 47 miners. Coal mining remained the town's occupational base until World War II, when its economy began to change as did the entire region's.
Today, community members enjoy a small-town atmosphere and all that a close-knit community has to offer. Situated on the crossroads of two major highways —US 69 and US 160 —those living in Frontenac can travel easily and enjoy the amenities of larger cities nearby, including Pittsburg to the south, Joplin, Mo., to the southeast, and Kansas City and Springfield, Mo., which each are less than two hours away.
Unified School District 249 consists of three schools: Frank Layden Elementary School, Frontenac Junior High School, and Frontenac High School. The district serves primarily east-central Crawford County.
The community is served by two churches: The Frontenac United Methodist Church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
The city also includes a park, a municipal swimming pool and sports complex, a playground, 24-hour police protection, numerous service industries, restaurants, medical clinics, and specialized training centers.
Notable natives
* Archie San Romani, Sr. - Olympic medalist in the 1936 Summer
Olympics in Berlin.
* Denise and Dian Gallup - 1980s twin actresses
* Joe Skubitz, United States Congressman
* Robert L. Serra, District Court Judge in Wyandotte County,
Kansas
* Robert Layden, Professional football player, Detroit Lions
