Osage County, Kansas

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Osage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Lyndon,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> and its most populous city is Osage City. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 15,766.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was originally organized in 1855 as Weller County, then renamed in 1859 after the Osage tribe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Early history

Template:See also 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 Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (2.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

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

Demographics

Template:US Census population Osage County is included in the Topeka metropolitan area.

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 16,712 people, 6,490 households, and 4,737 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,018 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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

Presidential elections

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. Template:Hidden

Laws

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The county voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas abortion referendum, 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Education

Unified school districts

School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

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

File:Map of Osage Co, Ks, USA.png

2005 map of Osage County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Osage County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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

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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%	Template:Coord
Arvonia	02550		136	1 (3)	112 (43)	13 (5)	10.13%	Template:Coord
Barclay	04175		239	2 (5)	124 (48)	0 (0)	0.14%	Template:Coord
Burlingame	09375	Burlingame	1,768	9 (25)	186 (72)	1 (0)	0.43%	Template:Coord
Dragoon	18575		214	2 (6)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	Template:Coord
Elk	20175	Overbrook	1,723	12 (32)	140 (54)	0 (0)	0.30%	Template:Coord
Fairfax	22150		513	5 (12)	111 (43)	5 (2)	4.14%	Template:Coord
Grant	27850		297	3 (8)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.25%	Template:Coord
Junction	35725		1,210	9 (24)	129 (50)	0 (0)	0.15%	Template:Coord
Lincoln	40925		134	2 (4)	83 (32)	0 (0)	0.10%	Template:Coord
Melvern	45725	Melvern	812	7 (18)	115 (44)	0 (0)	0.13%	Template:Coord
Olivet	52725	Olivet	263	2 (5)	143 (55)	17 (7)	10.70%	Template:Coord
Ridgeway	59825	Carbondale	2,661	25 (64)	108 (42)	2 (1)	2.00%	Template:Coord
Scranton	63700	Scranton	1,273	14 (36)	92 (36)	1 (0)	0.91%	Template:Coord
Superior	69500		293	3 (8)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.30%	Template:Coord
Valley Brook	73200	Lyndon	1,524	15 (38)	104 (40)	0 (0)	0.46%	Template:Coord
Sources: Template:Cite web

References

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External links

Template:Commons category

County

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

Template:Geographic location

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