We Are Smallville!
Seriously!!
Hutchinson: The Real Smallville, Kansas
A common question we get is, "Why is Hutchinson considered "Smallville, Kansas"?
In order to fully explain, it's much easier to just SHOW all the comparisons that we've discovered from comics, movies, and television shows.
Below, is a list of our best comparisons. And, you only need the first three to see why we've made the claim to be "Smallville, Kansas - The Home of Clark Kent".
#1
"Smallville" - Population
In the television series "Smallville", the welcome sign shows a population of 45,001.
When our campaign began, Hutchinson's population was just over 42,000.
There are only a few towns, in Kansas, that are that similar in population.
#2
"The Kents" - Smallville's Location
In the graphic novel, "The Kents", the story follows Clark Kent's ancestors and their journey from Nebraska to Kansas, where they would settle. This panel shows that they were directed to a town named Smallville, "just down the Arkansas River a ways". They were moving to the south.
Hutchinson is the only town that sits along the Arkansas River...AND, has a population that is close to reason #1.
#3
"Action Comics" - Pinpointed location
In Action Comics #822, a mileage sign places Smallville 55 miles from Salina. Hutchinson is 57 miles from Salina, from each town's city limits.
These three references can only point to one location: Hutchinson.
#4
"Man of Steel" - Zod's ships
In "Man of Steel", when General Zod is flying toward Smallville, there is a radar image shown. If you extend the trajectory, in a straight line, it leads right to Reno County. This is where Hutchinson is.
#5
"Man of Steel" - Water tower
In "Man of Steel" the water tower is very similar to Hutchinson's and there is a similar building in the foreground of the shot.
#6
"Man of Steel" -
Smallville battle
In "Man of Steel", the big battle in Smallville starts in an IHOP and goes through a bank, a train yard, and Sears (which was also "destroyed" in Hutchinson). All of these are within a mile of each other in Hutchinson.
#7
"Smallville" -
School mascots
The mascot for Smallville High School (Crow), in the television series, closely resembles the old Hutchinson High Salthawk mascot. And, they are both birds.
#8
"Smallville" -
Area locations
Smallville was located near a dam and reservoir. If you drive south on KENT ROAD, ironically, you arrive at Cheney Reservoir and dam.
#9
Comics - Kryptonite and Salt
A panel from an old comic shows Superman discovering white kryptonite (a mineral) in a museum. This is a comparison to STRATACA, and our Underground Salt Museum.
#10
Comics - White kryptonite
There are several kinds of kryptonite. An old comic showed what each version does. White kryptonite has no real effect, other than killing plant life. This is also what salt does (which explains why Superman found "white kryptonite" in a museum (STRATACA).
#11
"Smallville" - The caves
In "Smallville", there was a lot of reference to underground caves. STRATACA is, definitely, a perfect match of that description.
#12
"Smallville" - Objects in the caves
In "Smallville" the caves led Clark Kent to his Fortress of Solitude, where he became Superman. The caves held many secrets, in the series. STRATACA is the only place in Kansas that has an original Superman costume on display, in it's museum. It also has a miniature model of the "Daily Planet", from the movie "Superman Returns".
#13
"Smallville" - Similarity
In the first episode of "Smallville", while the meteors are falling in Smallville, a building is hit. It's surprisingly similar to this building on 2nd and Main, which was restored after an upstairs fire, years ago.
#14
"Smallville" - The Talon
In "Smallville", a popular gathering place is "The Talon". It was once a movie theatre that was converted into a coffee shop, after a fire. The Fox Theatre has, also, had to renovate after a fire. And, during the first year of our celebration, they even changed their marquee to say "The Talon". They have shown several Superman movies, in the past 10 years, that tie in with the Smallville Festival (including this year).
#15
Comics - Arrival on Earth
The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center: Considering, Kal-El fell to earth in a spaceship, it's pretty convenient that our town has a place that stores those kind of things. What better place to hide a spaceship than one of the biggest space museums in the world...and, in Hutchinson, no less.
#16
"Smallville" - Harvest Festival
In "Smallville", during one of their seasons, they celebrated the 100th "Harvest Festival" which, is very similar to the Kansas State Fair. There is a carnival, lots of food vendors, agricultural events and is considered the biggest event of the year, in Smallville. Shortly after this happened in the show, the Kansas State Fair celebrated their 100th anniversary.
#17
Graphic Novel - Similarity
In the series "Secret Identity", a panel shows Clark flying over a nearby town. The river has flooded. The river is the Arkansas River.
#18
"Smallville" - Location
In a screenshot from "Smallville", a computer screen marks the location of Smallville with a star. It's position is almost exactly over Hutchinson.
#19
"Smallville" - Similarity
In "Smallville", one of the characters joins the military. He takes a Greyhound bus from Smallville to Wichita. Hutchinson also has a Greyhound bus that goes to Wichita.
#20
First Proclamation
On June 21, 2013, there were simultaneous events that contributed to our campaign for Smallville. The Kansas Hall of Fame inducted Clark Kent/Superman into their HOF. And, this was the first year we received a proclamation that recognized us as "Smallville, KS - The Home of Clark Kent".
#21
Strange Coincidence
If you place straight lines across the city limits of Hutchinson, a familiar symbol is seen.
#22
"Superman and Lois" -
Similarity
In the series "Superman and Lois", the couple moves back to Smallville, from Metropolis, to raise their two sons on the farm. When the boys start high school, the image of the school is extremely similar to Hutch High, before it was renovated.
#23
"Superman and Lois" -
Shuster Mines
In the series "Superman and Lois", much of the first two seasons has focused on strange activities at the "mines", where there is a hidden supply of "X-kryptonite". This is another similarity to Hutchinson and it's expansive mines, underneath the town.
#24
Fun Shoutout
In 2013, our local news station, KWCH, made special recognition of our efforts, by changing the weather map, on June 21, 2013. This was the first year we recieved the proclamation from the city.
#25
"Smallville" - Football
In 2004, in the show, the Smallville Crows won their first State high school football championship. Hutchinson also won their first State Championship in 2004.
More fun comparisons...
- In the show, "THE FLASH", a scene shows Barry Allen (The Flash) and his wife after dinner. He had ran all over the world to get different foods for their meal. As they list them, he mentions, "...KANSAS STATE FAIR funnel cakes. That was Clark's suggestion."
- In the series, "SUPERGIRL", there is an episode and scene where there is an alert of a disturbance, she needs to respond to. Her reply is, "Well...time to get back to the SALT MINE."
- In "SUPERMAN AND LOIS", Clark talks about a festival that occurs in town. The festival is very similar to ours, with vendors, various activities and a theme of helping others and celebrating the city. He describes Smallville and the festival:
"I remember loving Smallville. The people. The community. How the small things were the big things."
"What I loved most of all, was the one weekend every year, when everyone came together...it's a tradition! It's one of the best things about being here."
"When you see everyone come together...the sense of community...it's the best of what Smallville is."
(Our monthly event, Third Thursday, which is also the first day of the Smallville Festival, is themed "Art. Music. Community.")
- Downtown Hutchinson has two murals that include a satellite/spaceship, people looking into space, a telescope, meteors, and a phone booth.
- Smallville was named after it's founder, Ezra Small. Hutchinson was named after it's founder, C.C. Hutchinson.
- Downtown Smallville has always been portrayed with a similar Main Street appearance, including a family market (Smith's Market) and a large park with gazebos, for community events (Ave A Park).