Osage County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

County in Kansas

Osage County

County

Osage County Courthouse in Lyndon (2009)

Nickname:

Land of Lakes [1]

Error creating thumbnail:

Location within the U.S. state of 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)[2]

• Total| 15,766
• Density| 22.3/sq mi (8.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| OsageCo.org

Osage County (county code OS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 15,766.[2] Its county seat is Lyndon,[3] and its most populous city is Osage City. The county was originally organized in 1855 as Weller County, and was renamed in 1859 after the Osage Native American Tribe.[4]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Early history
* 1.2 19th century
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 4.1 Presidential elections
* 4.2 Laws
* 5 Education
* 5.1 Unified school districts
* 6 Media
* 7 Communities
* 7.1 Cities
* 7.2 Census-designated place
* 7.3 Other unincorporated communities
* 7.4 Townships
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 Further reading
* 11 External links

## History

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### Early history

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See also: History of Kansas

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

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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

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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.[5]

### Adjacent counties

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* Shawnee County (north)
* Douglas County (northeast)
* Franklin County (east)
* Coffey County (south)
* Lyon County (southwest)
* Wabaunsee County (northwest)

## Demographics

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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%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[2]

Osage County is included in the Topeka Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the 2000 census,[10] 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 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.

## Government

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### Presidential elections

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Osage County is strongly Republican. In only six presidential elections from 1880 to the present day has the county failed to back the Republican Party candidate, most recently in Lyndon B. Johnson's national landslide of 1964.

United States presidential election results for Osage County, Kansas[11] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 5,705  | 71.00% | 2,136  | 26.58%  | 194  | 2.41%
2016 | 4,826  | 68.49% | 1,753  | 24.88%  | 467  | 6.63%
2012 | 4,427  | 64.10% | 2,268  | 32.84%  | 211  | 3.06%
2008 | 4,820  | 63.89% | 2,534  | 33.59%  | 190  | 2.52%
2004 | 4,800  | 64.32% | 2,537  | 33.99%  | 126  | 1.69%
2000 | 3,770  | 57.01% | 2,530  | 38.26%  | 313  | 4.73%
1996 | 3,487  | 48.80% | 2,502  | 35.01%  | 1,157  | 16.19%
1992 | 2,561  | 34.51% | 2,297  | 30.95%  | 2,563  | 34.54%
1988 | 3,496  | 54.33% | 2,840  | 44.13%  | 99  | 1.54%
1984 | 4,288  | 66.55% | 2,072  | 32.16%  | 83  | 1.29%
1980 | 3,817  | 60.36% | 2,088  | 33.02%  | 419  | 6.63%
1976 | 2,945  | 50.53% | 2,755  | 47.27%  | 128  | 2.20%
1972 | 4,073  | 71.11% | 1,522  | 26.57%  | 133  | 2.32%
1968 | 3,157  | 56.15% | 1,664  | 29.60%  | 801  | 14.25%
1964 | 2,681  | 49.10%  | 2,737  | 50.13% | 42  | 0.77%
1960 | 3,880  | 64.02% | 2,150  | 35.47%  | 31  | 0.51%
1956 | 4,136  | 67.28% | 1,979  | 32.19%  | 32  | 0.52%
1952 | 4,589  | 68.84% | 2,036  | 30.54%  | 41  | 0.62%
1948 | 3,474  | 55.55% | 2,659  | 42.52%  | 121  | 1.93%
1944 | 4,107  | 64.40% | 2,212  | 34.69%  | 58  | 0.91%
1940 | 4,991  | 60.52% | 3,186  | 38.63%  | 70  | 0.85%
1936 | 4,232  | 49.87% | 4,224  | 49.78%  | 30  | 0.35%
1932 | 3,707  | 45.40%  | 4,199  | 51.43% | 259  | 3.17%
1928 | 5,900  | 73.24% | 2,058  | 25.55%  | 98  | 1.22%
1924 | 4,957  | 63.20% | 2,050  | 26.14%  | 836  | 10.66%
1920 | 4,507  | 62.80% | 2,414  | 33.64%  | 256  | 3.57%
1916 | 3,770  | 44.69%  | 4,276  | 50.69% | 390  | 4.62%
1912 | 850  | 17.62%  | 1,969  | 40.82% | 2,005  | 41.56%
1908 | 2,671  | 50.30% | 2,288  | 43.09%  | 351  | 6.61%
1904 | 3,670  | 65.01% | 1,516  | 26.86%  | 459  | 8.13%
1900 | 3,128  | 51.16% | 2,901  | 47.45%  | 85  | 1.39%
1896 | 2,903  | 44.97%  | 3,481  | 53.93% | 71  | 1.10%
1892 | 2,604  | 43.77%  | 0  | 0.00%  | 3,345  | 56.23%
1888 | 3,442  | 57.49% | 1,380  | 23.05%  | 1,165  | 19.46%

### Laws

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Osage County was a prohibition, or "dry", 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.[12]

The county voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas Value Them Both Amendment, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 56% to 44% despite backing Donald Trump with 71% of the vote to Joe Biden's 27% in the 2020 presidential election.[13]

## Education

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### Unified school districts

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

## Media

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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

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File:Map of Osage Co, Ks, USA.png2005 KDOT Map of Osage County (map legend)

### Cities

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* Burlingame
* Carbondale
* Lyndon
* Melvern
* Olivet
* Osage City
* Overbrook
* Quenemo
* Scranton

### Census-designated place

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* Vassar

### Other unincorporated communities

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* Barclay
* Michigan Valley

### Townships

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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: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Osage County, Kansas
* Osage State Fishing Lake

Community information for Kansas

* Kansas locations by per capita income
* List of counties in Kansas
* List of townships in Kansas
* List of cities in Kansas
* List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
* List of ghost towns in Kansas

Education information for Kansas

* List of colleges and universities in Kansas
* List of high schools in Kansas
* List of unified school districts in Kansas

Historical information for Kansas

* List of museums in Kansas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas

|

## References

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1. ^ "Osage County, Kansas - Home".
2. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Osage County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "Osage County Website". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
12. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
13. ^ Panetta, Grace (August 3, 2022). "14 of the 19 Kansas counties that rejected an anti-abortion amendment voted for Trump in 2020". Business Insider. Retrieved August 3, 2022.

## Further reading

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See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

* Standard Atlas of Osage County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 80 pages; 1918.
* Descriptive Atlas of Osage County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 67 pages; 1899.
* An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Osage County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 46 pages; 1879.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Osage County, Kansas.

County

* Osage County - Official Website
* Osage County - Directory of Public Officials

Other

* Osage County Historical Society

Maps

* Osage County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
* Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
* Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

Places adjacent to Osage County, Kansas

| Wabaunsee County | Shawnee County | Douglas County

|
|

|  |

Osage County, Kansas

|  |
Lyon County | Coffey County | Franklin County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Osage County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Lyndon

Cities|

* Burlingame
* Carbondale
* Lyndon
* Melvern
* Olivet
* Osage City
* Overbrook
* Quenemo
* Scranton

Error creating thumbnail: Map of Kansas highlighting Osage County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Barclay
* Michigan Valley
* Peterton
* Vassar†

Townships|

* Agency
* Arvonia
* Barclay
* Burlingame
* Dragoon
* Elk
* Fairfax
* Grant
* Junction
* Lincoln
* Melvern
* Olivet
* Ridgeway
* Scranton
* Superior
* Valley Brook

Footnotes|

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

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Kansas

Topeka (capital)

Topics|

* Index
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Society|

* Culture
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Regions|

* Cherokee Strip
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Largest
cities|

* (1) Wichita
* (2) Overland Park
* (3) Kansas City
* (4) Olathe
* (5) Topeka
* (6) Lawrence
* (7) Shawnee
* (8) Manhattan
* (9) Lenexa
* (10) Salina
* (11) Hutchinson
* (12) Leavenworth
* (13) Leawood
* (14) Dodge City
* (15) Garden City
* (16) Junction City
* (17) Emporia
* (18) Derby
* (19) Prairie Village
* (20) Liberal
* (21) Hays
* (22) Pittsburg
* (23) Gardner
* (24) Newton
* (25) Great Bend
* (26) McPherson
* (27) El Dorado
* (28) Ottawa
* (29) Winfield
* (30) Arkansas City
* (31) Andover
* (32) Lansing
* (33) Merriam
* (34) Atchison
* (35) Haysville
* (36) Parsons
* (37) Coffeyville
* (38) Mission
* (39) Independence
* (40) Augusta
* (41) Chanute
* (42) Wellington
* (43) Fort Scott
* (44) Park City
* (45) Bonner Springs
* (46) Valley Center
* (47) Pratt
* (48) Bel Aire
* (49) Roeland Park
* (50) Abilene

Counties|

* Allen
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* Wilson
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* Wyandotte

Lists|

* List of counties in Kansas
* List of townships in Kansas
* List of cities in Kansas
* List of census-designated places in Kansas
* List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
* List of ghost towns in Kansas
* Lists of people from Kansas

Coordinates: 38°39′N 95°44′W﻿ / ﻿38.650°N 95.733°W﻿ / 38.650; -95.733
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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