Pretty Prairie, dating from the late 1880s and somewhat before the advent of settled agriculture, was linked to the larger world by its location on a rudimentary stage coach line which connected the pioneer towns of Wichita in the south central part of the state with Dodge City to the west. As historians tell it, the city's colorful name reflects a comment by a lady traveler from an east coast state on a western-bound stage coach. At a stop to rest the horses and give the travelers time to stretch their legs, the traveler stepped out of the coach, inhaled a deep breath of the fresh air, looked with wonder and amazement at the seemingly endless expanse of verdant prairie grass on low-lying hills, and remarked, "Oh, my! What a pretty prairie!" And so it began to be known as such! Today, with a population of about 680 inhabitants, Pretty Prairie faces challenges similar to those confronting many small towns in the American heartland-viz. the paucity of remunerative employment opportunities which encourages educated younger residents to pursue an "odyssey (an extended, adventurous voyage)" in search of greater economic opportunities and soul-fulfilling adventure! Jim's "odyssey," as articulated in this narrative, is almost certainly only one of many undertaken by the youth of these communities. Notable personalities associated with Pretty Prairie include former Kansas Governor, Walter A. Huxman; nationally acclaimed artist of American wild life, Jack Unruh; iconic, long-term athletic coach at Pretty Prairie High School, George Norton; and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer of the Little Rascals/Our Gang series.
