Welcome to Clifton & Vining
Welcome
Clifton and Vining have the distinction of being located in two counties. The county line runs along the main street of both cities, which is Parallel Street. The north side of Parallel is in Washington County and the south side of Parallel is in Clay County.
Parallel Street is also Kansas Highway 9 through most of Clifton. This highway intersects with Kansas Highway 15 eight miles east of Clifton. At this junction you can turn south and travel twelve miles to Clay Center (the county seat of Clay County); Or you can turn north on Kansas Highway 15 and travel 22 miles to the City of Washington (the county seat of Washington County). Kansas Highway 9 also connects with U.S. Highway 81 twenty miles to the west, in the city of Concordia.
Should you like to learn more about the history of Clifton and Vining and see items from the past, visit the Clifton Community Historical Society Museum located in Clifton at 108 Clifton Street. The museum is open by appointment only. (Please call 455-3763 for an appointment.)
Now Hiring for the Summer Season
Summer Job Opportunities with the City of Clifton ☀️
Looking for a rewarding way to earn money this summer while making a difference in your community? The City of Clifton is now hiring for several seasonal positions, and we’d love to have you on our team!
🌳 Park & Ballfield Maintenance (Part-Time)
We are seeking a dependable individual to help keep our parks and ballfields clean, safe, and welcoming—especially during our busy event weekends.
Responsibilities include:
- Cleaning and maintaining the playground, benches, and picnic tables
- Checking and stocking bathrooms
- Keeping the ballfield and bleachers clean before and after games/events
- General upkeep to ensure our public spaces stay enjoyable for everyone
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors and takes pride in keeping the community looking its best.
🏊 Lifeguards Needed (Approx. 5 Positions)
We are also hiring lifeguards for our local pool, which opens Memorial Weekend.
What we offer:
- Competitive wages
- Lifeguard training provided
- Uniform included
This is a fun, active job where you’ll play an important role in keeping swimmers safe while enjoying the summer sun.
👨👩👧👦 Who Should Apply?
We encourage:
- Teachers
- Parents (especially moms looking for flexible work)
- High school and college students
If you're looking for summer income, flexible hours, and a fun work environment, these positions are a great fit.
📞 Apply Today
To learn more or apply, contact the City of Clifton at:
785-455-3711
Make this summer count—earn money, stay active, and help support your community. We look forward to hearing from you!
Berner Memorial Park Playground Project Update
Exciting New!!!
We are thrilled to announce that we have been named a COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT recipient!
This award- combined with the amazing Clifton Park Improvement committee fundraising efforts and the SEED GRANT- has officially pushed us over our $125,000 goal! Because of this, we are able to expand our project to beyond playground equipment, new ideas and possibilities are coming.
Thank you to everyone who has supported, donated and cheered us on throughout the first step of this journey. This project wouldn't be possible without our incredible community.
Berner Memorial Park Playground Project Update
As we wrap up 2025 and match month, we wanted to give a preliminary update on our park fundraising goal. Including the SEED Grant we were awarded, we have raised $121,480. Thank you to everyone who has donated and helped us get so close! There is still time to donate online or by mail to help us reach our goal!
https://gscf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund...
Checks payable to Washington County Community Foundation
PO Box 24
Washington, KS 66968
with "Clifton Park Improvement Fund" in the memo
Welcome to Clifton & Vining
Clifton History
Clifton was founded in 1859 by the Manhattan and St. George Company and was named after the surveyor, M.L. Clifton. One log cabin was built and the company moved on. The town continued through the post office managed by James P. Fox. William Funnell, in 1871, opened a general merchandise store.
There were five town sites between the years of 1858 and 1869. In order to protect the area from the threat of Cheyenne Indians, Fort Clifton was built in 1864 three miles west of town. Then in 1870 the present town site was platted from Rufus Berry’s land. Clifton was incorporated in 1884 with J.W. Chadwick as the first mayor.
Welcome to Clifton & Vining
Vining History
Vining was founded in 1877 as West Clifton by Amanda and Winslow Haynes and Oliver Cooper. The name was changed to Vining in 1884 after E.P. Vining, and the town was incorporated in 1885 with James Sager as mayor. In 1881, a post office was established with Pearl A. Wilson as postmaster.
In the spring of 1879, P.H. Stepps opened a hardware store in Vining. The grain elevator was opened the same year along with a hotel and several other businesses. In 1955, a decline in population led to the closure of the post office.