Riverton, Kansas
Riverton is a census-designated place in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 771. It is located at the junction of K-66, U.S. Route 69 Alternate, and US 400, near the Spring River. Baxter Springs is considered part of the Joplin, Missouri, metropolitan area.
History
The first post office in Riverton was established in 1919.Geography
Riverton is located in southeastern Cherokee County near the southeastern corner of Kansas. Along K-66, Galena is to the east, and Joplin is to the east. Pittsburg is to the north via US 400 and US 69. Baxter Springs is to the southwest, and Miami, Oklahoma, is to the southwest via US 69 Alt..The eastern and southern edges of the CDP ars formed by the Spring River, which flows south to the Neosho River in Oklahoma. The CDP of Lowell is to the south across the Spring River.
Area attractions
The famous Rainbow Bridge, about west of town, was the site where in the year 2000, musician Brad Paisley performed the song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" for the TLC special "Route 66: Main Street America".The Eisler Brothers Country Store in Riverton was one of the stops on Pixar's US 66 research trips for the 2006 film Cars. The filmmakers met with Dean Walker, then president of the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association, who is known to twist his feet backwards 180° and walk in reverse. He became one of many inspirations for the Mater character, a rusty old tow truck who teaches NASCAR rookie Lightning McQueen to drive in reverse.
The original boom truck is currently based at a restored Kan-O-Tex Service Station in nearby Galena.