City of Bel Aire
Our Community
The City of Bel Aire is a thriving community located in the northeast part of Sedgwick County, adjacent to the City of Wichita. Growth and continuous housing development have pushed the population of Bel Aire to nearly 7,000 people with over 2,100 housing units. The City has experienced a population increase of 60% since becoming a city in 1980. The tax base is primarily residential real estate with a growing mix of commercial and retail properties. Property taxes for the City remain some of the lowest compared other cities in the area.
Kansas is among the top ten sunniest states in the U.S. with more sunny days than Florida. Located in the heart of Kansas, Bel Aire averages 225 sunny days per year. Our location on the central Great Plains provides a four season climate and a wide range of weather. Summers are usually warm and moderated by steady wind and relatively low humidity. Temperatures reach 90 degrees on average 63 days per year. Winters are usually mild with short periods of very cold weather; temperatures below zero occur only four days per year. Annual rainfall averages about 29 inches with 70% of the moisture occurring during the growing season of April to September.
Transportation
Bel Aire has the space you need to expand your business or start a new one. Bel Aire is a distinctive urban community located in the northeastern corner of the Greater Wichita Metropolitan Area. Bel Aire is conveniently located south of US 254, east of I-135 and north of K-96.
Bel Aire's geographical advantage offers tremendous benefits to residents and businesses. Convenient access to major roadways, direct rail access and nearby air service offers simple solutions to transportation challenges. With major streets running through Bel Aire, over 40,000 people travel through the city daily.
Bel Aire also benefits from I-35 (the Kansas Turnpike) located to the east, the K-96 expressway to the south, and the four-lane Highway 254 available to the north. Colonel James Jabara Airport, a public general aviation airport, is located half a mile away, for private and charter flights. Wichita Mid-Continent Airport is about 20 minutes away by highway and offers commuter and cargo flights.
Education
Bel Aire is located in the USD 259 and USD 375 districts. For more information about enrollment or the districts click on the provided links or call the district offices at: USD 259 (316) 973-4000; USD 375 (316) 541-2577. Bel Aire will soon be the home to two new schools within the USD 259 school district, a K-8 school and a High School. Bel Aire is also home to two private schools: Sunrise Christian Academy (316) 744-9262 and Resurrection Catholic School (316) 744-3576.
Quality of Life
The City of Bel Aire has seven parks and two lakes. Nine separate neighborhoods compose this safe, friendly community, each distinguished by homes of varied design and equally varied price ranges. Because of the proximity to Wichita, Bel Aire is a multicultural community where a number of events celebrate the newfound traditions of a young city. Young families and retired couples find a common ground in Bel Aire. It's a place next door to tomorrow, a place to rediscover every evening those things that matter most.
Bel Aire has its own Police Department, which means one can usually expect response time to an emergency in about five minutes. Emergency assistance from the Sedgwick County Fire Department is readily available from a locally sited fire station. There are many opportunities to enjoy hundreds of art, entertainment, recreation and sports options within minutes of Bel Aire.
Festivals and Celebrations
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall the Bel Aire community gathers together in celebration. The friendly neighborhood spirit is present at these events in which friends and family are able to join together, have fun, and enjoy the festival events. Each year residents look forward to these annual events: Easter Egg Hunt, Holiday Open House and Music and Moonlight.
Civic Organizations
Bel Aire citizens are concerned with what happens within their community and take action to achieve the desired results. This determined mindset lead to the formation of the civic organizations. Bel Aire civic organizations foster a sense of community through involvement.