Osage County, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Osage County is a county located in east-central Kansas
, in the Central
United States
. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 16295. Its county seat
is Lyndon
, and its most populous city is Osage City
. The county along with Shawnee
, Jackson
, Jefferson
, and Wabaunsee
counties is included in the Topeka
, Kansas
, Metropolitan Statistical Area
. Osage was originally organized in 1855 as Weller County, and was renamed in 1859 after the Osage River
that runs through it.
, county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
, there were 16,712 people, 6,490 households, and 4,737 families residing in the county. The population density
was 24 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 7,018 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup
of the county was 97.27% White
, 0.22% Black or African American
, 0.65% Native American
, 0.17% Asian
, 0.10% Pacific Islander
, 0.41% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races
. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 1.53% of the population.
There were 6,490 household
s out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples
living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.00% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.
The median income for a household
in the county was $37,928, and the median income for a family was $44,581. Males had a median income of $30,670 versus $22,981 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $17,691. About 6.40% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.
. The city of Osage City
is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.
The Herald-Chronicle was created by the merger of The Osage County Herald and The Osage County Chronicle in February 2007.
Additional information
Maps
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, in the Central
Central United States
The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model, roughly coincident with the Midwestern United States plus the western and central portions of the Southern United States; the term is also sometimes used...
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 16295. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Lyndon
Lyndon, Kansas
Lyndon is a city in and the county seat of Osage County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,052. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Lyndon is located at...
, and its most populous city is Osage City
Osage City, Kansas
Osage City is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. The population was 3,034 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Osage City is located at...
. The county along with Shawnee
Shawnee County, Kansas
Shawnee County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. Its most populous city, Topeka, is the state capital and county seat. The county's population was 177,934 for the 2010 census...
, Jackson
Jackson County, Kansas
Jackson County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 13,462. Its county seat and most populous city is Holton...
, Jefferson
Jefferson County, Kansas
Jefferson County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 19,126. Its county seat is Oskaloosa, and its most populous city is Valley Falls...
, and Wabaunsee
Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Wabaunsee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 7,053. Its county seat is Alma. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area...
counties is included in the Topeka
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Metropolitan Statistical Area
Topeka metropolitan area
The Topeka Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in northeastern Kansas, anchored by the city of Topeka...
. Osage was originally organized in 1855 as Weller County, and was renamed in 1859 after the Osage River
Osage River
The Osage River is a tributary of the Missouri River in central Missouri in the United States. The Osage River is one of the larger rivers in Missouri. The river drains a mostly rural area of . The watershed includes an area of east-central Kansas and a large portion of west-central and central...
that runs through it.
Law and government
Osage County was a prohibition, or "dry"Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
, county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 719.23 square miles (1,862.8 km²), of which 703.5 square miles (1,822.1 km²) (or 97.81%) is land and 15.72 square miles (40.7 km²) (or 2.19%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Shawnee CountyShawnee County, KansasShawnee County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. Its most populous city, Topeka, is the state capital and county seat. The county's population was 177,934 for the 2010 census...
(north) - Douglas CountyDouglas County, KansasDouglas County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 110,826...
(northeast) - Franklin CountyFranklin County, KansasFranklin County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 25,992. Its county seat and most populous city is Ottawa...
(east) - Coffey CountyCoffey County, KansasCoffey County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 8,601...
(south) - Lyon CountyLyon County, KansasLyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county was named for General Nathaniel Lyon, who was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in the Civil War. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 33,690. Emporia is the largest city and county seat...
(southwest) - Wabaunsee CountyWabaunsee County, KansasWabaunsee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 7,053. Its county seat is Alma. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the U.S. Census in 2000United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, there were 16,712 people, 6,490 households, and 4,737 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 24 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 7,018 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of the county was 97.27% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 0.22% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.65% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.17% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.10% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 0.41% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
. Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race were 1.53% of the population.
There were 6,490 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.00% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.
The median income for a household
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
in the county was $37,928, and the median income for a family was $44,581. Males had a median income of $30,670 versus $22,981 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $17,691. About 6.40% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.
Incorporated cities
Name and population ( estimate):- Osage CityOsage City, KansasOsage City is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. The population was 3,034 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Osage City is located at...
, - CarbondaleCarbondale, KansasCarbondale is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,478 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, - LyndonLyndon, KansasLyndon is a city in and the county seat of Osage County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,052. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Lyndon is located at...
, (county seatCounty seatA county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
) - BurlingameBurlingame, KansasBurlingame is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 934.-History:...
, - OverbrookOverbrook, KansasOverbrook is a city in Osage County, Kansas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 947. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Overbrook is located at...
, - ScrantonScranton, KansasScranton is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. The population was 724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Scranton is located at ....
, - QuenemoQuenemo, KansasQuenemo is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States, along the Marais des Cygnes River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 388. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, - MelvernMelvern, KansasMelvern is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States, along the Marais des Cygnes River. The population was 429 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Melvern is located at ....
, - OlivetOlivet, KansasOlivet is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. The population was 64 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Olivet is located at ....
,
Townships
Osage County is divided into sixteen townshipsCivil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
. The city of Osage City
Osage City, Kansas
Osage City is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. The population was 3,034 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Osage City is located at...
is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.
| Township | FIPS | Population center |
Population | Population density /km² (/sq mi) |
Land area km² (sq mi) | Water area km² (sq mi) | Water % | Geographic coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agency | 00450 | Quenemo Quenemo, Kansas Quenemo is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States, along the Marais des Cygnes River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 388. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
618 | 7 (19) | 86 (33) | 0 (0) | 0.10% | 38°34′21"N 95°32′12"W |
| Arvonia | 02550 | 136 | 1 (3) | 112 (43) | 13 (5) | 10.13% | 38°28′52"N 95°52′14"W | |
| Barclay | 04175 | 239 | 2 (5) | 124 (48) | 0 (0) | 0.14% | 38°33′42"N 95°52′0"W | |
| Burlingame | 09375 | Burlingame Burlingame, Kansas Burlingame is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 934.-History:... |
1,768 | 9 (25) | 186 (72) | 1 (0) | 0.43% | 38°47′5"N 95°52′5"W |
| Dragoon | 18575 | 214 | 2 (6) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | 38°43′14"N 95°49′16"W | |
| Elk | 20175 | Overbrook Overbrook, Kansas Overbrook is a city in Osage County, Kansas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 947. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Overbrook is located at... |
1,723 | 12 (32) | 140 (54) | 0 (0) | 0.30% | 38°47′21"N 95°33′58"W |
| Fairfax | 22150 | 513 | 5 (12) | 111 (43) | 5 (2) | 4.14% | 38°42′34"N 95°40′3"W | |
| Grant | 27850 | 297 | 3 (8) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.25% | 38°38′25"N 95°52′24"W | |
| Junction | 35725 | 1,210 | 9 (24) | 129 (50) | 0 (0) | 0.15% | 38°40′27"N 95°34′8"W | |
| Lincoln | 40925 | 134 | 2 (4) | 83 (32) | 0 (0) | 0.10% | 38°29′7"N 95°33′17"W | |
| Melvern | 45725 | Melvern Melvern, Kansas Melvern is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States, along the Marais des Cygnes River. The population was 429 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Melvern is located at .... |
812 | 7 (18) | 115 (44) | 0 (0) | 0.13% | 38°30′8"N 95°38′50"W |
| Olivet | 52725 | Olivet Olivet, Kansas Olivet is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. The population was 64 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Olivet is located at .... |
263 | 2 (5) | 143 (55) | 17 (7) | 10.70% | 38°29′53"N 95°44′51"W |
| Ridgeway | 59825 | Carbondale Carbondale, Kansas Carbondale is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,478 at the 2000 census.-History:... |
2,661 | 25 (64) | 108 (42) | 2 (1) | 2.00% | 38°48′56"N 95°40′56"W |
| Scranton | 63700 | Scranton Scranton, Kansas Scranton is a city in Osage County, Kansas, United States. The population was 724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Scranton is located at .... |
1,273 | 14 (36) | 92 (36) | 1 (0) | 0.91% | 38°47′30"N 95°45′10"W |
| Superior | 69500 | 293 | 3 (8) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.30% | 38°38′44"N 95°47′34"W | |
| Valley Brook | 73200 | Lyndon Lyndon, Kansas Lyndon is a city in and the county seat of Osage County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,052. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Lyndon is located at... |
1,524 | 15 (38) | 104 (40) | 0 (0) | 0.46% | 38°36′44"N 95°40′35"W |
| Sources: | ||||||||
Education
Unified school districts
- Osage City USD 420 (Web site)
- Lyndon USD 421 (Web site)
- Santa Fe Trail USD 434 (Web site)
- Burlingame USD 454 (Web site)
- Marais des Cygnes Valley USD 456 (Web site)
Media
Osage County is served by a weekly newspaper, The Osage County Herald-Chronicle (Web site). The newspaper has a circulation of approximately 4,500, making it the 3rd largest paid weekly publication in the state of Kansas.The Herald-Chronicle was created by the merger of The Osage County Herald and The Osage County Chronicle in February 2007.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Osage County, KansasNational Register of Historic Places listings in Osage County, KansasThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Osage County, Kansas.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Osage County, Kansas, United States...
Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
Official sitesAdditional information
Maps
- 2008 Osage County Map, KDOT
- 2011 Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
- 2011 Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
- 2005 Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE