Osawatomie, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Osawatomie is a city in Miami County
, Kansas
, United States
, 61 miles (98.2 km) southwest of Kansas City
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,447. It derives its name from two streams nearby, the Osage
and Potawatomie.
and Pottawatomie. In addition, the town is bordered by Pottawatomie Creek and the Marais des Cygnes River
(part of the Osage River system), which are also named for the two tribes.
The Emigrant Aid Society's transport of settlers to the Kansas Territory
as a base for Free State forces played a key role in the establishment of the community of Osawatomie in October 1854. Settled by abolitionists
in hopes of aiding Kansas' entry to the United States as a free state, the community of Osawatomie and pro slavery communities nearby were quickly engaged in violence.
In March 1855, abolitionists Rev. Samuel Adair and his wife Florella settled in a cabin near Osawatomie to serve as missionaries to the community. Florella's half-brother, John Brown
came to "Bleeding Kansas
" later the same year with a wagon of guns in order to help fight the pro slavery forces like his five sons, who were already living in another community in the area. Brown then came to Osawatomie to visit the Adairs and fight pro slavery forces there. By 1856, having established himself as a leader of free state guerillas, Brown made Osawatomie and the Adair cabin his base. In a raid in May 1856, Brown killed five pro slavery men along Pottawatomie Creek near Osawatomie. This was then referred to as the "Pottawatomie Massacre
", which inflamed the fighting throughout the Kansas Territory. The second and main Battle of Osawatomie
took place on August 30, 1856. Osawatomie played a key role throughout the Civil War
, serving as a center for Jayhawker
activity.
By 1857 Osawatomie had grown to a town of 800 and in 1859 hosted the first convention of the Kansas Republican Party. In recognition for Osawatomie's part in ensuring Kansas remained a free state, the Kansas Legislature established the Osawatomie State Mental Hospital in 1863, the first mental hospital west of the Mississippi River
. It admitted its first patient in 1866, and is still operational. By 1879, a railroad was built to serve Osawatomie, aiding its growth into a supply town and a main shipping point. As a result, Osawatomie grew to a population of 4,046 by 1910. Osawatomie was a division point for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad from 1879 to 1985.
Osawatomie was chartered in 1883 and in 1890 became a second-class city. The commission form of government was adopted in 1914.
, came riding into Osawatomie from another direction. One of John Brown's sons Frederick Brown was walking to the Adair cabin at the time, and was shot. When Reverend Adair heard the shot, he sent his own son to warn and notify John Brown of the raid. Brown and 31 of the free state guerillas took positions to attempt to defend Osawatomie. Heavy gunfire took place for over 45 minutes, until Brown and his men ran out of ammunition. They retreated hoping they would be chased, and the community of Osawatomie would be left alone. However, despite the attempts of Brown to get Reid's men to follow, they instead looted and burned Osawatomie. Only three buildings remained standing when it was over.
gave his famous New Nationalism
speech in Osawatomie. The central issue he argued was government protection of human welfare and property rights.
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.11%) is water.
of 2000, there were 4,645 people, 1,781 households, and 1,130 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,045.0 people per square mile (403.9/km²). There were 1,947 housing units at an average density of 438.0 per square mile (169.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.21% White, 4.16% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races
, and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.
There were 1,781 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,104, and the median income for a family was $37,172. Males had a median income of $30,650 versus $23,043 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,353. About 10.9% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
On the 2009 Kansas State Assessments, Osawatomie High School achieved building wide Standard of Excellence Awards in both reading and math. The Osawatomie Middle School achieved a building wide Standard of Excellence Award in reading.
Faculty of USD #367 have received the Kansas Master Teacher of the Year three times, Kansas Teacher of the Year twice, and have also received once each the Kansas Reading Teacher of the Year, Kansas Social Studies Teacher of the Year, and Kansas Counselor of the Year.
Miami County, Kansas
Miami County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 32,787. Its county seat and most populous city is Paola...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 61 miles (98.2 km) southwest of Kansas City
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,447. It derives its name from two streams nearby, the Osage
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...
and Potawatomie.
History
Osawatomie's name is a compound of two primary native American Indian tribes from the area, the OsageOsage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
and Pottawatomie. In addition, the town is bordered by Pottawatomie Creek and the Marais des Cygnes River
Marais des Cygnes River
The Marais des Cygnes River is a principal tributary of the Osage River, about long, in eastern Kansas and western Missouri in the United States. Via the Osage and Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
(part of the Osage River system), which are also named for the two tribes.
The Emigrant Aid Society's transport of settlers to the Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
as a base for Free State forces played a key role in the establishment of the community of Osawatomie in October 1854. Settled by abolitionists
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
in hopes of aiding Kansas' entry to the United States as a free state, the community of Osawatomie and pro slavery communities nearby were quickly engaged in violence.
In March 1855, abolitionists Rev. Samuel Adair and his wife Florella settled in a cabin near Osawatomie to serve as missionaries to the community. Florella's half-brother, John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
came to "Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas, Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a series of violent events, involving anti-slavery Free-Staters and pro-slavery "Border Ruffian" elements, that took place in the Kansas Territory and the western frontier towns of the U.S. state of Missouri roughly between 1854 and 1858...
" later the same year with a wagon of guns in order to help fight the pro slavery forces like his five sons, who were already living in another community in the area. Brown then came to Osawatomie to visit the Adairs and fight pro slavery forces there. By 1856, having established himself as a leader of free state guerillas, Brown made Osawatomie and the Adair cabin his base. In a raid in May 1856, Brown killed five pro slavery men along Pottawatomie Creek near Osawatomie. This was then referred to as the "Pottawatomie Massacre
Pottawatomie Massacre
The Pottawatomie Massacre occurred during the night of May 24 and the morning of May 25, 1856. In reaction to the sacking of Lawrence by pro-slavery forces, John Brown and a band of abolitionist settlers killed five settlers north of Pottawatomie Creek in Franklin County, Kansas...
", which inflamed the fighting throughout the Kansas Territory. The second and main Battle of Osawatomie
Battle of Osawatomie
The Battle of Osawatomie took place on August 30, 1856 when 250-300 Border Ruffians led by John W. Reid and Rev. Marvin White attacked the city of Osawatomie. John W. Reid was intent on destroying free state settlements and then moving on to Topeka and Lawrence to do more of the same. John Brown...
took place on August 30, 1856. Osawatomie played a key role throughout the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, serving as a center for Jayhawker
Jayhawker
Jayhawkers is a term that came to prominence just before the American Civil War in Bleeding Kansas, where it was adopted by militant bands affiliated with the free-state cause. These bands, known as "Jayhawkers", were guerrilla fighters who often clashed with pro-slavery groups from Missouri known...
activity.
By 1857 Osawatomie had grown to a town of 800 and in 1859 hosted the first convention of the Kansas Republican Party. In recognition for Osawatomie's part in ensuring Kansas remained a free state, the Kansas Legislature established the Osawatomie State Mental Hospital in 1863, the first mental hospital west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. It admitted its first patient in 1866, and is still operational. By 1879, a railroad was built to serve Osawatomie, aiding its growth into a supply town and a main shipping point. As a result, Osawatomie grew to a population of 4,046 by 1910. Osawatomie was a division point for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad from 1879 to 1985.
Osawatomie was chartered in 1883 and in 1890 became a second-class city. The commission form of government was adopted in 1914.
Battle of Osawatomie
The first skirmish in Osawatomie took place on June 7, 1856 however there was not much of a fight, and no blood was shed. The town's buildings were plundered, and some horses were taken. The larger, and main conflict known as the Battle of Osawatomie began August 30, 1856 as John Brown was camped just north Osawatomie and looking east for pro-slavery forces. A pro-slavery force of 250, led by John William ReidJohn William Reid
John William Reid was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.-Biography:Born near Lynchburg, Virginia, Reid attended the common schools.In 1840, Reid moved to Missouri, where he taught school and studied law....
, came riding into Osawatomie from another direction. One of John Brown's sons Frederick Brown was walking to the Adair cabin at the time, and was shot. When Reverend Adair heard the shot, he sent his own son to warn and notify John Brown of the raid. Brown and 31 of the free state guerillas took positions to attempt to defend Osawatomie. Heavy gunfire took place for over 45 minutes, until Brown and his men ran out of ammunition. They retreated hoping they would be chased, and the community of Osawatomie would be left alone. However, despite the attempts of Brown to get Reid's men to follow, they instead looted and burned Osawatomie. Only three buildings remained standing when it was over.
Theodore Roosevelt visit and speech
On August 31, 1910, Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
gave his famous New Nationalism
New Nationalism
New Nationalism was Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive political philosophy during the 1912 election.-Overview:Roosevelt made the case for what he called the New Nationalism in a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, on August 31, 1910...
speech in Osawatomie. The central issue he argued was government protection of human welfare and property rights.
Geography
Osawatomie is located at 38°30′6"N 94°57′3"W (38.501650, -94.950799), along the Marais des Cygnes RiverMarais des Cygnes River
The Marais des Cygnes River is a principal tributary of the Osage River, about long, in eastern Kansas and western Missouri in the United States. Via the Osage and Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
. According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.11%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,645 people, 1,781 households, and 1,130 families residing in the city. 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 1,045.0 people per square mile (403.9/km²). There were 1,947 housing units at an average density of 438.0 per square mile (169.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.21% White, 4.16% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races
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...
, and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.
There were 1,781 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% 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, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,104, and the median income for a family was $37,172. Males had a median income of $30,650 versus $23,043 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 city was $15,353. About 10.9% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Historical Places
Osawatomie has several historical places, 5 of which are listed on the National Historic Register.- The Mills House - A 7000 sq ft (650.3 m²). Queen-Anne style home built in 1902 for William Mills.
- Asylum Bridge - An unusual bridge built in 1906 connecting the community to the state mental hospital.
- Creamery Bridge - In 1930, this bridge was built crossing the Marais des Cygnes River. Another just like it crosses the Pottawatomie Creek. Osawatomie is between the two. Both bridges are on the National Historic Register.
- John Brown Museum State Historic Site: The site of the Battle of Osawatomie is contained in the John Brown Memorial Park. Also, the Adair Cabin is exhibited there. According to the Scientific AmericanScientific AmericanScientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
of May 27, 1893, Osawatomie was struck by a meteor on April 8, 1893, striking the statue of John Brown.
Community
The community of Osawatomie offers a museum and driving tour for learning of its history, and also offers its residents various opportunities for recreation. There is an 18-hole golf course, and the Osawatomie City Lake for fishing. The Miami County Family YMCA is also in Osawatomie, which has an indoor pool, a gymnasium, weight room, indoor track, and offers programs for all ages. The Karl Cole Sports Complex in Osawatomie is used for athletic events such as baseball, softball, soccer, and youth football.Government
The Osawatomie government consists of a mayor and eight council members. The council meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7PM.- City Hall, 439 Main Street.
Education
Four schools comprise the Osawatomie Unified School District #367.- Swenson Early Childhood Education Center (Pre-K and K)
- Trojan Elementary (grades 1-5)
- Osawatomie Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Osawatomie High SchoolOsawatomie High SchoolOsawatomie High School is a public high school located at 1200 Trojan Drive in Osawatomie, Kansas, serving students in grades 9-12. Its athletic teams, known as the Trojans. The principal is Doug Chisam, the assistant principal/athletic director is Randy Madden...
(grades 9-12)
On the 2009 Kansas State Assessments, Osawatomie High School achieved building wide Standard of Excellence Awards in both reading and math. The Osawatomie Middle School achieved a building wide Standard of Excellence Award in reading.
Faculty of USD #367 have received the Kansas Master Teacher of the Year three times, Kansas Teacher of the Year twice, and have also received once each the Kansas Reading Teacher of the Year, Kansas Social Studies Teacher of the Year, and Kansas Counselor of the Year.