A branch of the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was established through Phillipsburg in 1887.

[10] Phillipsburg is located in northwestern Kansas on the western edge of the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.

[11] Phillipsburg is located in the middle of Phillips County, approximately 20 miles south of the Nebraska border.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.67 square miles (4.33 km2), all land.

Phillipsburg meets the criteria for a true winter dry season under the Köppen climate classification, which is a rarity for its region and for the United States as a whole outside of South Florida.

The 2020 United States census counted 2,337 people, 1,040 households, and 601 families in Phillipsburg.

There were 1,269 housing units at an average density of 748.2 per square mile (288.9/km2).

38.4% of households consisted of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[citation needed] The community is served by Phillipsburg USD 325 public school district.

[28] The Phillipsburg Panthers have won the following Kansas State High School championships: The Riverless Festival is held in June and is a take on other communities that have river or lake festivals.

Since Phillipsburg is a dry climate area, the city celebrates its lack of rivers in a tongue-in-cheek way through its annual Riverless Festival.

The courthouse square hosts craft booths, food stands line the roads, and children line up for the games and rides, which are sponsored by local area businesses.

Phillipsburg hosts the rodeo each year, typically during the first week of August.