Introduction to Republic County
Hello again! This is Anneliese Goertzen and I am an Illustration and Graphic Design major at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I have lived in Belleville Kansas for most of my life and I wanted to share my experiences growing up in Republic County. I have been away at college the past couple of years and a lot has changed since my days in High School!
Life in the City
For those who don’t know, Kearney is a city in South Central Nebraska. It is about a 2 hour and 30 minute drive from Republic County depending on how fast you drive. Since I attend college there, it has become almost a second home to me. The city for me is not too big where I have to worry about finding parking and not too small where there is nothing to do.
If I had to compare it to another city I know, it would probably be Salina though a little smaller. Having grown up in a rural town, I’m used to driving over an hour to go shopping in a bigger city. So being in a city where the nearest Target is only 10 minutes away was strange! Not to mention all the different food options I have to choose from. Even so, I still come back to Republic County every summer because there is simply no place like home.
Summer Comeback
People are always excited to see me when I am home for the summer. Family friends are asking how I have been and what I’m doing in college. It is also nice to see previous classmates and catch up with them to see how their life is going. I’ve had many people ask me if I plan on moving back to Belleville after I graduate in 2024. I would love to live in this town and even possibly raise a family here, however, it depends on where life takes me after college. Whether I find a job that hires me for Illustration or I decide to do freelance work, it comes down to that.
My summers as a kid consisted of going to the Belleville Public Library to do their Summer Reading Program, going to the pool, taking piano lessons from Leigh Gritten in Scandia, and sometimes hopping on the Rec Bus. Now that I’m older, I mostly work all summer and prepare for the next semester at college.
Another thing I like about small communities is that when I am looking for work, the employers are very understanding when it comes to scheduling. Since I am usually only back home for the summer, I wouldn’t be able to work the job year around. Interning at JenRus Freelance and Economic Development has given me that flexibility and also allows me to use my graphic design skills. Also, the work environment is more calm and friendly than what you might find in the city.
This community in Republic County has been a big part of my life.
Even though it doesn’t have all the stores and population like in other cities, it is not lacking. There are many great restaurants around the county such as the North Side Pizza in Belleville, TAG’s in Scandia, and even Adri’s in Courtland.
There are always events or festivals in the summertime and everyone from around the county shows up to have fun. One that I go to every year is the North Central Kansas Free Fair and I enter my artwork into the Floral Hall. It is so interesting seeing my previous entries versus the artwork I enter now. How much I have grown over the years and how I have improved my art. I am so glad to have grown up in this community and for all the opportunities and resources it has provided me to help me grow into the person I am today.
