Purchased from Chetopah, Chief of the Osage, in January 1870, Colonel E. C. Manning chose the Winfield Town Company site in the Walnut River Valley “for its general beauty, pure water, abundant wildlife and fertile river bottom soil.” Situated between Timber Creek and the WalnutRiver, Winfield is surrounded by blue stem country and is located in the heart of the Kansas Flint Hills. Selected as #56 in the  "The 100 Best SMALL TOWNS in AMERICA", Winfield has maintained a progressive philosophy while preserving a sense of its history and natural beauty. It has its own special mix of commercial, recreational and residential development. The Cowley County seat boasts roughly 12,000 residents and during the school year over 1,000 additional students call Winfield home. Winfield is situated just off Interstate 35, 45 miles south of Wichita.