Communities Riverside
Community guide · Just northwest of downtown, between the rivers
Riverside.
A historic neighborhood between the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers, just northwest of downtown, with older homes on winding streets and some of the city's biggest parks and museums.
Tap any area to visit its page. City limits and ZIP lines from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Overview
The lay of the land in Riverside.
Riverside was surveyed and platted in March 1886 by the Riverside Land Company, led by developer James Oakley Davidson, which built bridges and a trolley line to connect it to downtown. The land market collapsed the next year and building stalled for a decade. In 1897 the city bought land for parks and built more bridges, and the neighborhood grew around them. The Wichita Art Museum opened here in 1935, the Keeper of the Plains went up at the confluence in 1974, and Botanica opened in 1987.
The homes
The homes are mostly older, from the late 1800s through the 1940s. Larger homes sit along the parks and rivers, with bungalows, cottages, duplexes and small rental properties on the side streets. The 1100 and 1200 blocks of Bitting Avenue are on the National Register as the Bitting Historic District, with homes from the 1880s to the 1940s.
Getting around
Downtown is just across the Little Arkansas River, with paths along both rivers. 13th Street runs along the north edge, and Nims and Bitting are the main north-south streets. Wichita Transit serves the neighborhood.
Buying or selling here
Riverside homes range from restored historic houses to older rentals that need work, so how you sell matters. A home that needs updating often draws owner-occupants and investors at the same time, and open bidding on a set date lets them compete. One in good shape near the parks may do just as well on a traditional listing. We’ll run both numbers with you before you decide.
For sale now
Homes for sale in Riverside.
UNDER CONTRACT 
Market
The Riverside market, in plain English.
Median sold price by month, last 12 months
Market numbers are for ZIP 67203, which takes in Riverside, Delano and more of the west side, so it covers more than Riverside itself.
Sold price is the price the MLS records on a closed sale, shown as a median. Months of supply is homes for sale today divided by the average monthly sales over the last three months.
Living here
Day to day in Riverside.
The homes
- Late-1800s and early-1900s homes along the parks and rivers
- Victorian and revival-style homes, including the Bitting Historic District
- Bungalows and cottages on the side streets
- Duplexes, small apartment buildings and rental properties
Parks
- Central Riverside Park, 58 acres with a bandstand, playground, water fountain and the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit
- North and South Riverside parks, Oak Park and the Ralph Wurz Tennis Center
- Sim Park, with a city golf course, Botanica and Old Cowtown Museum
Museums and landmarks
- The Keeper of the Plains, a 44-foot steel sculpture by Blackbear Bosin at the confluence of the two rivers
- Wichita Art Museum
- Mid-America All-Indian Center
Along the rivers
- Walking and biking paths along the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers
- Footbridges at the Keeper of the Plains
- River Boulevard, winding along the Little Arkansas
Local favorites
Where we eat in Riverside.
Places our team actually eats. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Schools
School district.
8 of the 8 Riverside homes for sale today are in this district. Attendance boundaries go street by street and change over time, so confirm the assigned schools for a specific home with the district.
We list districts as facts and show how many homes for sale fall in each. We don't rank or rate schools. That research is yours to do, and we'll pull the district for any home you're looking at.
Buying in Riverside
Get a short list of Riverside homes, picked by a person.
Tell us your budget and bedrooms. By the next business day you'll have a short list with a note on each home. Or take the 2-minute quiz for a plan with dates.
Selling in Riverside
Three ways to sell. We'll show you which nets more.
We'll lay all three side by side for your Riverside home, on the same numbers.
FAQ
Riverside questions, answered.
Where exactly is Riverside?
Riverside sits just northwest of downtown Wichita. The Arkansas River forms its west and south edges, 13th Street its north edge, and Bitting Street, the Little Arkansas River and Nims Street its east edge. The confluence of the two rivers, where the Keeper of the Plains stands, is its southeast corner.
What kind of homes are in Riverside?
Mostly older homes from the late 1800s through the 1940s: larger homes near the parks and rivers, Victorian and revival styles, bungalows and cottages, plus duplexes and small rental properties. The 1100 and 1200 blocks of Bitting Avenue are a historic district on the National Register.
How fast are homes selling in Riverside right now?
Over the last 90 days, 80 homes closed in Riverside, taking a median of 47 days from listing to closing. There are about 1.2 months of supply on the market. That pace leans toward sellers by the usual rule of thumb. These numbers update from the MLS, so they will move.
Which school district serves Riverside?
Riverside is in Wichita USD 259, and Riverside Leadership Magnet Elementary is in the neighborhood. Confirm the assigned schools for a specific address with the district, since attendance boundaries vary street by street and change over time.
Does an older Riverside home work at auction?
Often, yes. Older homes that need work draw both owner-occupants and investors, and open bidding on a set date lets that competition set the price. A home in good shape near the parks can do just as well on a traditional listing. We'll look at yours and show you both numbers.
Is Riverside near the river paths?
Yes. Riverside sits between the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers, with paths along both and footbridges at the Keeper of the Plains.
Stay in the loop
New Riverside listings, emailed to you.
When a home that fits hits the market in Riverside, it lands in your inbox the next morning. Set a price cap and bedrooms if you like. You also get the Wichita buyer's playbook, free, right after you sign up. Unsubscribe anytime.