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Osage County, Kansas facts for kids

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Osage County
Osage County Courthouse in Lyndon (2009)
Osage County Courthouse in Lyndon (2009)
Nickname(s): 
Land of Lakes
Map of Kansas highlighting Osage County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Kansas
Founded 1859
Named for Osage Nation
Seat Lyndon
Largest city Osage City
Area
 • Total 720 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Land 706 sq mi (1,830 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.0%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 15,766
 • Density 22.3/sq mi (8.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Osage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Lyndon, and its most populous city is Osage City. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 15,766. The county was originally organized in 1855 as Weller County, then renamed in 1859 after the Osage tribe.

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1859, Osage County was established.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 720 square miles (1,900 km2), of which 706 square miles (1,830 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.0%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 1,113
1870 7,648 587.2%
1880 19,642 156.8%
1890 25,062 27.6%
1900 23,659 −5.6%
1910 19,905 −15.9%
1920 18,621 −6.5%
1930 17,538 −5.8%
1940 15,118 −13.8%
1950 12,811 −15.3%
1960 12,886 0.6%
1970 13,352 3.6%
1980 15,319 14.7%
1990 15,248 −0.5%
2000 16,712 9.6%
2010 16,295 −2.5%
2020 15,766 −3.2%
2023 (est.) 15,824 −2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

Osage County is included in the Topeka Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the 2000 census, 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 (9.3 people/km2). There were 7,018 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/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 households, 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.

Education

Unified school districts

  • Osage City USD 420
  • Lyndon USD 421
  • Santa Fe Trail USD 434
  • Burlingame USD 454
  • Marais des Cygnes Valley USD 456

Media

Osage County is served by a weekly newspaper, The Osage County Herald-Chronicle. 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.

Communities

Map of Osage Co, Ks, USA
2005 map of Osage County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Osage County.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Townships

Osage County is divided into sixteen townships. 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.

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 618 7 (19) 86 (33) 0 (0) 0.10% 38°34′21″N 95°32′12″W / 38.57250°N 95.53667°W / 38.57250; -95.53667
Arvonia 02550 136 1 (3) 112 (43) 13 (5) 10.13% 38°28′52″N 95°52′14″W / 38.48111°N 95.87056°W / 38.48111; -95.87056
Barclay 04175 239 2 (5) 124 (48) 0 (0) 0.14% 38°33′42″N 95°52′0″W / 38.56167°N 95.86667°W / 38.56167; -95.86667
Burlingame 09375 Burlingame 1,768 9 (25) 186 (72) 1 (0) 0.43% 38°47′5″N 95°52′5″W / 38.78472°N 95.86806°W / 38.78472; -95.86806
Dragoon 18575 214 2 (6) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.07% 38°43′14″N 95°49′16″W / 38.72056°N 95.82111°W / 38.72056; -95.82111
Elk 20175 Overbrook 1,723 12 (32) 140 (54) 0 (0) 0.30% 38°47′21″N 95°33′58″W / 38.78917°N 95.56611°W / 38.78917; -95.56611
Fairfax 22150 513 5 (12) 111 (43) 5 (2) 4.14% 38°42′34″N 95°40′3″W / 38.70944°N 95.66750°W / 38.70944; -95.66750
Grant 27850 297 3 (8) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.25% 38°38′25″N 95°52′24″W / 38.64028°N 95.87333°W / 38.64028; -95.87333
Junction 35725 1,210 9 (24) 129 (50) 0 (0) 0.15% 38°40′27″N 95°34′8″W / 38.67417°N 95.56889°W / 38.67417; -95.56889
Lincoln 40925 134 2 (4) 83 (32) 0 (0) 0.10% 38°29′7″N 95°33′17″W / 38.48528°N 95.55472°W / 38.48528; -95.55472
Melvern 45725 Melvern 812 7 (18) 115 (44) 0 (0) 0.13% 38°30′8″N 95°38′50″W / 38.50222°N 95.64722°W / 38.50222; -95.64722
Olivet 52725 Olivet 263 2 (5) 143 (55) 17 (7) 10.70% 38°29′53″N 95°44′51″W / 38.49806°N 95.74750°W / 38.49806; -95.74750
Ridgeway 59825 Carbondale 2,661 25 (64) 108 (42) 2 (1) 2.00% 38°48′56″N 95°40′56″W / 38.81556°N 95.68222°W / 38.81556; -95.68222
Scranton 63700 Scranton 1,273 14 (36) 92 (36) 1 (0) 0.91% 38°47′30″N 95°45′10″W / 38.79167°N 95.75278°W / 38.79167; -95.75278
Superior 69500 293 3 (8) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.30% 38°38′44″N 95°47′34″W / 38.64556°N 95.79278°W / 38.64556; -95.79278
Valley Brook 73200 Lyndon 1,524 15 (38) 104 (40) 0 (0) 0.46% 38°36′44″N 95°40′35″W / 38.61222°N 95.67639°W / 38.61222; -95.67639
Sources:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Osage (Kansas) para niños

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