Osawatomie, Kansas

Osawatomie, Kansas is a city located in Miami County, Kansas, situated near the Marais des Cygnes River and Pottawatomie Creek. The city is part of the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area and is close to Overland Park, Kansas, Olathe, Kansas, and Lawrence, Kansas. Osawatomie is also near the John Brown Museum and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, which commemorate the Bleeding Kansas era and the American Civil Rights Movement. The city is home to the Osawatomie State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital that has been in operation since 1866.

Geography

Osawatomie is situated in the eastern part of Kansas, near the Missouri border, and is close to the cities of Paola, Kansas, Louisburg, Kansas, and Spring Hill, Kansas. The city has a total area of 4.36 square miles and is located near the Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge, which is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The Kansas River and the Missouri River are also nearby, and the city is part of the Kansas River watershed. Osawatomie is near the Prairie Park Nature Center, which is managed by the Lawrence, Kansas Parks and Recreation Department, and the Clinton Lake State Park, which is managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The city is also close to the University of Kansas, Baker University, and Johnson County Community College.

History

The city of Osawatomie was founded in 1854 by Asa Shinn and Jabez Smith, and was named after the Osage Native American tribe. The city played a significant role in the Bleeding Kansas era, which was a series of violent confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces in the Kansas Territory. The city was also the site of the Battle of Osawatomie, which took place in 1856 and was a clash between John Brown and his abolitionist forces and a group of pro-slavery militia. The city is also near the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, which commemorates the Supreme Court of the United States decision in Brown v. Board of Education, a landmark case in the American Civil Rights Movement. Osawatomie is also close to the National World War I Museum and Memorial, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Kansas City Museum.

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, the city of Osawatomie had a population of 4,447 people, and the population density was 1,021.5 people per square mile. The city has a diverse population, with a mix of European Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic and Latino Americans. The city is also home to a number of veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the United States Marine Corps. Osawatomie is near the Fort Leavenworth, Fort Riley, and Schilling Air Force Base, and is also close to the University of Kansas Medical Center and the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.

Economy

The economy of Osawatomie is diverse, with a mix of manufacturing, healthcare, and education industries. The city is home to a number of major employers, including the Osawatomie State Hospital, the Miami County Medical Center, and the Osawatomie Public Schools. The city is also close to the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a major economic hub in the Midwest. Osawatomie is near the Interstate 35, Interstate 70, and Interstate 435, and is also close to the Kansas City International Airport and the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. The city is also home to a number of small businesses, including restaurants, retail stores, and service providers, such as Walmart, Target Corporation, and McDonald's.

Education

The city of Osawatomie is served by the Osawatomie Public Schools, which operates a number of elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools in the area. The city is also close to a number of colleges and universities, including the University of Kansas, Baker University, and Johnson County Community College. Osawatomie is also near the Kansas State University, Wichita State University, and the University of Missouri–Kansas City. The city is home to a number of libraries, including the Osawatomie Public Library, which is part of the Northeast Kansas Library System. The city is also close to the National Archives at Kansas City and the Kansas Historical Society.

Infrastructure

The city of Osawatomie has a well-developed infrastructure, with a number of major highways and roads that connect it to other cities in the region. The city is served by the Interstate 35, Interstate 70, and Interstate 435, and is also close to the Kansas City International Airport and the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. Osawatomie is also home to a number of public transportation systems, including the Johnson County Transit and the Unified Government Transit. The city is also close to the BNSF Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad, and is served by a number of telecommunications providers, including AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Sprint Corporation. The city is also near the Kansas City Power and Light Company and the Westar Energy. Category: Cities in Kansas