One of the best things about Kansas is that it offers both big cities and rural, small towns. If you're looking for the slow-paced, peace and quiet of a rural small town, you might want to check out these 10 little gems.

1. Lindsborg, McPherson County

The little town of Lindsborg is well-known for its Swedish heritage. With a population of just 3,400 or so residents, its quaint and charming, but still has plenty of shopping, restaurants and attractions. Check out all the Swedish influence here. This is the Swedish Pavilion from the 1904's World Fair.

2. Phillipsburg, Phillips County

Phillipsburg is a quaint little town with plenty of history. Organized in 1872, it has only 2,500 or so residents. Stop by the Old Fort Bissell Museum for some history, and visit during the rodeo in August (it's promoted as the largest rodeo in Kansas).

3. Riverton, Cherokee County

Riverton is an unincorporated area in Cherokee County with less than 1,000 residents, but it certainly has a lot of national attention for such a small place. The Eisler Brothers Country Store was one of the spots that the filmmakers of the Disney Pixar movie 'Cars' researched. Rainbow Bridge appeared in a television special with Brad Paisley singing "(Get Your Kicks) On Route 66).

4. Oswego, Labette County

Oswego is home to about 1,800 people . Osage Indians inhabited this place long ago; white settlers founded the current town in 1865.

5. Wilson, Ellsworth County

Wilson was settled by Czech immigrants in 1871. Its estimated population is just 763 people. This town is very pastoral, with an adorable Main Street.

6. Cottonwood Falls, Chase County

Though it's the largest town in Chase County, Cottonwood Falls has less than 1,000 residents. Nearby, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve covers nearly 11,000 acres - some of the last tallgrass prairie in the country.

7. Paola, Miami County

Paola has about 5,600 residents. It's host to the Miami County Fair, Roots Festival and Harvest Festival.

8. Wellington, Sumner County

Wellington bills itself as the 'Wheat Capital of the World,' and winter wheat is its mainstay. This is the largest town on our list, with approximately 8,000 residents.

9. Oberlin, Decatur County

The pretty, rural hamlet of Oberlin was founded in 1872. It has about 1,780 people. The last Indian raid in Kansas occurred in this town; there's a room in the museum to commemorate the victims and remember the event.

10. Council Grove, Morris County

The 2,000 or so residents who call Council Grove home love it for its location. Just 55 miles from Topeka, it enjoys the amenities of a larger city nearby, while maintaining its own small-town charm. You'll find many historic buildings in this quaint town.

Are you lucky enough to live in one of these adorable rural towns? Tell us why you like it there!

To see more charming small towns in Kansas, read this article.