Barton opened in 1969 with a vision to offer residents in Barton County a local option for obtaining a low-cost education. Looking back more than half a century later, one can see how bountiful that vision has been to Barton County residents, the state of Kansas, and beyond. The college now provides dozens of career and technical education programs in addition to traditional academic offerings. Barton’s 600 partnerships with businesses, government entities, and organizations make it an agile, resourceful institution with relevant programs.