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Ottawa, KS

Frequently asked questions

Ottawa, KS

Ottawa is a city in, and the county seat of, Franklin County, Kansas, United States. It is located on both banks of the Marais des Cygnes River near the center of Franklin County. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 12,625. It is the home of Ottawa University.

Ottawa straddles the Marais des Cygnes River and is located 58 miles (93 km) southwest of Kansas City at the junction of U.S. Route 59 and K-68. U.S. Route 50 and Interstate 35 bypass Ottawa to the south and east, while business US-50 passes through the city. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.42 square miles (24.40 km²), of which 9.32 square miles (24.14 km²) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km²) is water.

The name derives from the Ottawa tribe of Native Americans, on whose reservation the city was laid out. In the spring of 1864, title to the land was obtained from the tribe through a treaty connected to the founding of Ottawa University, Ottawa having donated 20,000 acres of land to establish and fund a school for the education of Indians and non-Indians alike. The word Ottawa itself means "to trade". In 1867, the Ottawa tribe sold their remaining land in Kansas and moved to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.

On the last day of March 1864, J.C. Richmond built the first non-Indian settlement in the new town, at the corner of Walnut and First Streets.

Ottawa has a history of flooding because of its location straddling the Marais Des Cygnes River. The area's first recorded flood was the Great Flood of 1844. In 1928, a flood crested at 38.65 feet and killed six people. Other flood years include 1904, when water crested at 36 feet and ran to a man's shoulders in the Santa Fe depot; 1909, cresting at 36.3 feet (11.1 m); 1915, cresting at 31 feet (9.4 m), and 1944, cresting at 36.5 feet (11.1 m).

However, it is the Great Flood of 1951 that is the most famous. It was about five inches higher than the 1928 flood. The flood of 1951 affected much of Missouri and Kansas and 41 people died. One-third of Ottawa was covered because of this flood.

It is unlikely Ottawa will suffer major damage due to a flood again thanks to a series of levees and pumping stations built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s, which is part of a larger system of flood systems to regulate the Marais Des Cygnes River to the Missouri River. The levees built along the river are inspected on an annual basis to ensure their quality.

Health and wellness are paramount in Ottawa, with AdventHealth Ottawa | Formerly Ransom Memorial Health providing comprehensive healthcare services to residents. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Ottawa Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include the Ottawa Country Club and Ottawa Nautilus. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Ottawa, such as the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park and Kanza Park Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Ottawa, KS are Old Depot Museum, Carnegie Cultural Center, and Not Lost Brewing.

Population: 12,733 (2024). ZIP code: 66067. Area code: 785. Elevation: 925 ft (282 m). Area: 10.40 sq mi (26.94 km²).

FAQs

What is Ottawa, KS is known for?

A handsome, tree-lined city, Ottawa is now the trading center for grain, poultry, and livestock area; manufacturers include textiles and plastic and metal products. A natural gas field discovered in 1907 remains in production. Pomona State Park is west of the city. Inc. 1866. Pop. (2000) 11,921; (2010) 12,649.

What are the demographics of Ottawa, KS?

Ottawa, KS is home to a population of 12.6k people, from which 98.8% are citizens. As of 2022, 1.45% of Ottawa, KS residents were born outside of the country (183 people). In 2022, there were 15.1 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (11.1k people) in Ottawa, KS than any other race or ethnicity. There were 732 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 279 White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

What is the crime rate in Ottawa, KS?

The crime rate in Ottawa is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 23 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Ottawa is 1 in 44. Based on FBI crime data, Ottawa is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Kansas, Ottawa has a crime rate that is higher than 86% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Ottawa

Neighborhood Scout

Data USA

Britannica

Old Depot Museum

Carnegie Cultural Center

Not Lost Brewing

AdventHealth Ottawa | Formerly Ransom Memorial Health

Ottawa Parks and Recreation Department

Ottawa Country Club

Ottawa Nautilus

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

Kanza Park Trail

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete, or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.