Fort Riley
Fort Riley Relocation Information
Image via Fort Riley Facebook
Welome to Fort Riley, Kansas!
Fort Riley, a FORSCOM installation, is referred to as the "Home of America's Army.” Fort Riley is one of the Army's premier force projection platforms. The base has a large area, more than 100,000 acres, of which nearly 92,000 are contiguous, which is crucial to handle Battalion Task Force level maneuvers and live fire training. Fort Riley is also a proud host of the Army's 1st Infantry Division, also known as the "Big Red One,” which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017.
Early iterations of Fort Riley have historical ties to the U.S. expansion westward during the mid-1800s, specifically along the Oregon and Santa Fe trails. Surveyed to be what was thought as the center of the country, Fort Riley (known then as Camp Center) served as a strategic staging center for protecting important trade routes.
Major General Bennett C. Riley led the first military escort along the Santa Fe trail. His career was later honored in 1853, when Fort Riley officially became his namesake. The Civil War was a contentious and chaotic time, as many soldiers went to their respective home states to fight, while some stayed at Fort Riley. Early in the war, Confederate soldiers were housed at Fort Riley, but the mission focus changed to maintain security along the growing railroad system.
A U.S. Army soldier assigned to the 1st Infantry Division Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard, Fort Riley, Kan., prepares his horse to participate in the 56th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2009
Throughout the next three decades, the Army used Fort Riley to increase its educational system including the School of Cavalry and Light Artillery and later, the Mounted Service School in 1907. Over its history, the 1st Infantry Division has moved various components from Fort Riley to Germany and back to Fort Riley, where the division currently resides.
For Riley soldiers have served or have been trained to participate in all the 20th century wars the U.S. has been associated with: WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and various countries in Southwest Asia.
Fort Riley Museum image via army.mil
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Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Riley
1) What is Fort Riley known for?
In terms of American history, Fort Riley was created to provide a protective force for settlers and goods moving westward. In relationship to the military, Fort Riley is best known as the home of the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the “Big Red One” due to the stand alone red number 1 on their signifying patch.
2) What is the closest city to Fort Riley, Kansas?
Fort Riley is located in northeast Kansas on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan, Kansas. Topeka is the largest city closest to the base at about 70 miles away.
Army Spc. Jermaine Campbell engages targets remotely using a weapons station at Fort Riley, Kan., April 5, 2019, during Operation Gauntlet, a three-week exercise focused on gunnery skills. Image via defense.gov.
3) Does it snow in Fort Riley, Kansas?
Yes, Fort Riley sees about 15 inches of snow per year.
4) How many soldiers are stationed at Fort Riley?
According to Army.mil: There are approximately 15,000 active duty service members assigned to Fort Riley with more than 18,000 family members, 29,000 veterans and retirees and 5,600 civilian employees who live in the region and/or work at the post.
Military Installations Near Fort Riley
5) What is the zip code for Fort Riley?
The zip code for Fort Riley is 66442. Nearby zip codes include 66503, 66514, 66441, 66531, and 67432.
6) What is the BAH for Fort Riley?
BAH for Fort Riley ranges from $1,125 for E-1 to $1,800 for E-9 with dependents, and from $1,293 for O-1 to $2,121 for O-7 with dependents. See housing section for more info.
Base Location and Information
Overview of main post
Those headed to Fort Riley will become residents of the Central Flint Hills Region of northeastern Kansas. Neighboring Manhattan, Kansas, nicknamed “The Little Apple,” is about 17 miles from Fort Riley. Topeka is an hour’s drive west, while Kansas City is 2.5 hours away.
Wide open spaces are the norm, and even though plenty of modern amenities and resources are available, there is a rural vibe that keeps areas surrounding Fort Riley quiet. Active duty families enjoy the community feel and a strong public education system, while those approaching military retirement appreciate the favorable cost of living and low unemployment rates.
Manhattan, Kansas
Fort Riley is historically a cavalry post, with many well-preserved buildings and monuments crafted from the region’s signature limestone. Some of the on base historic houses and buildings reflect this style. Fort Riley trails are a popular pastime among military families.
Fort Riley is a large installation, housing 15,000 active duty members and 18,000 family members. The acreage covers land in both Geary and Riley counties. Nearby National Guard and Reserve units from surrounding states also take advantage of Fort Riley’s impressive training facilities.
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Arrival Lodging
Fort Riley offers on base lodging through IHG Army Hotels. To make reservations, visit the IHG Army Hotel site or call 1-877-711-TEAM
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Fort Riley Housing
Image via Corvias Military Living
Housing Services Office
215 Custer Ave Room 140
Fort Riley, KS 66442
(785) 239-3736
Corvias
45 Barry Ave.
Fort Riley, KS 66442
(785) 717-2258
Corvias Property Management operates on base housing on Fort Riley. Five housing communities are distributed throughout Fort Riley and each has a dedicated Corvias management team. Within those, community centers are open for residents to utilize a pool, fitness center, computer lab, and meeting space. Corvias maintains historic properties as well as recent construction. The homes are conveniently located near base features such as the commissary and Exchange.
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Fort Riley Off-Base Housing
Military families often choose suburban Manhattan and Junction City as their home if they choose to live off base. Nearby Ogden, Wakefield, and Herington are other choices.
Manhattan is home to Kansas State University and is the quintessential college town with plenty of choices for restaurants and bars. In addition to the college students and military families, young professionals seek rental homes that are convenient to their places of work within Riley County. This mix of people are the largest groups within the population that nears 56,000.
Kansas State University image via army.mil
Smaller in size, Junction City is located in Geary County and has a population of nearly 24,000. Families living in Junction City also enjoy suburban features and affordable housing. Junction City’s median property value is $122,900.
Both cities have top ranked school systems which include Blue Ribbon School designations.
Base Search
City Search
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Fort Riley BAH Information
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S. based allowance determined by geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. It provides uniformed service members compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets when government quarters are not provided. Learn more about your Basic Allowance for Housing.
Fort Riley is near Manhattan, KS with many options to buy or rent. Some sample Fort Riley BAH rates for zip code 66442:
- E-1 with dependents: $1,125
- E-1 without dependents: $867
- E-9 with dependents: $1,800
- E-9 without dependents: $1,452
- O-1 with dependents: $1,293
- O-1 without dependents: $1,011
- O-7 with dependents: $2,121
- O-7 without dependents: $1,752
Fort Riley Area Weather and Climate
Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas. Image via Mary Hammel on Unsplash.
House hunting weather at Fort Riley is best during May, June, and September, as those are the most pleasant months, avoiding severe heat and frigid temperatures. Surprisingly, Fort Riley summers are not just hot, but they are humid and wet. The winters are windy and cold with around 20 inches of snow per year.
- July high is around 90 degrees.
- January low is 18 degrees
- Rain averages about 34 inches per year.
The area does see tornadic and flood activity on a regular basis. Fort Riley has a robust emergency system that encourages military families to subscribe.
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Fort Riley Area Schools
On Fort Riley, kids in K-Grade 5 attend one of the five elementary schools on the base. Middle school grades 6-8 head to Fort Riley Middle school, also on the base. High school students grades 9-12 are bused to Junction City High School. All are located in the Geary County school district.
The Fort Riley School Liaison Office, 785-240-3261, assists families with all educational concerns including information about Kansas state laws for homeschool and private schools in the area.
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Support for Military and Families
Photo by Anna Earl on Unsplash
Work and education opportunities are available on or near Fort Riley for both service members and their families. Start with one of these resources to connect with the personnel trained to assist your search.
More helpful links:
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Base Address:
7264 Normandy Dr
Fort Riley
,
66442-6421