Osawatomie, Kansas
| Osawatomie, Kansas | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Location within Miami County and Kansas |
|
 KDOT map of Miami County (legend) |
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| Coordinates: 38°30′6″N 94°57′3″W / 38.50167°N 94.95083°WCoordinates: 38°30′6″N 94°57′3″W / 38.50167°N 94.95083°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Miami |
| Incorporated | 1890 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| • Mayor | Mark Govea |
| • City Manager | Don Cawby |
| • City Clerk | Ann Elmquist |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.11 sq mi (13.23 km2) |
| • Land | 5.00 sq mi (12.95 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) |
| Elevation | 869 ft (265 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 4,447 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 4,388 |
| • Density | 870/sq mi (340/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 66064 |
| Area code(s) | 913 |
| FIPS code | 20-53225 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0479709 |
| Website | osawatomieks.org |
Osawatomie is a city in Miami County, Kansas, United States, 61 miles (98 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.
Osawatomie's name is a compound of two primary Native American Indian tribes from the area, the Osage 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 the current town of Lane, Kansas. 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.
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