Halstead, which occupies a land area of just over one square mile, is located approximately ten minutes west of Newton, Kansas, via US-50 and K-89 highways; about 25 minutes east of Hutchinson on US-50; and about 30 minutes northwest of Wichita, which is a metropolitan area of approximately 400,000 in population. The population of Halstead is 1,912. Halstead is a “city of the second class” under Kansas statutes, but has retained the “city of the third class” governance plan that provides for an elected mayor who serves a two-year term, and five council members elected at-large for two and four-year terms, which are determined by the vote outcome. Management of the city is delegated to a city administrator, hired by the governing body.