Ottawa, Kansas

Ottawa is a city in Franklin County, Kansas, United States. It is also the county seat of Franklin County. It is on both banks of the Marais des Cygnes River near the center of Franklin County. In 2010, 12,649 people lived there.

History

19th century
The name comes from the Ottawa tribe of Indians. The city was planned on their reservation. In spring 1864, the land was obtained from the tribe through a treaty connected to the creation of Ottawa University. The Ottawa had given 20,000 acres of land to create 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 they moved to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.

March 31st, 1864, J.C. Richmond built the first non-Indian settlement in the new town.

Flooding
Ottawa has a history of flooding. This is because of where it is. It is on the Marais Des Cygnes river. The area's first recorded flood was the Great Flood of 1844. In 1928, a flood went up to at 38.65 feet, and it killed six people. Other floods included 1904. Water went up to 36 feet. In 1909, a flood went up to . In 1915, a flood went up to . Another flood happened in 1944, where the water went up to .

The most famous flood is the Great Flood of 1951. It was about five inches higher than the 1928 flood. The flood of 1951 hurt a lot of Missouri and Kansas. 41 people died. 1/3 of Ottawa was covered because of this flood.

20th century
In 1943, the United States government brought prisoners to Ottawa. These prisoners were war prisoners from World War II. The prisoners were mostly German people and Italian people. The government brought them because farmers needed more people. They were forced to live in camps. These camps were like prisons. The camp closed in 1945.

Geography
Ottawa is on the Marais des Cygnes River. It is  southwest of Kansas City at the junction of U.S. Route 59 and K-68. U.S. Route 50 and Interstate 35 go near Ottawa to the south and east, while business US-50 goes through the city.

The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of . Of that,  is land and  is water.

Climate
The area gets about  of precipitation during an average year. Most of the rain happens in May and June.

People

2010 census
In 2010, there were 12,649 people, 4,998 households, and 3,127 families living in Ottawa.

Economy
Ottawa's two biggest employers are Walmart and American Eagle Outfitters. They both have distribution centers in the city. Ottawa has freight rail service from BNSF railway. There is also a grain elevator operated by the Ottawa Co-Op. The city operates the Ottawa Municipal Airport, a small General Aviation airport four miles south of the city.

Government

Ottawa had a Mayor-Council system. This changed in 1913 when the City became a Commission form of government. In 1970 voters created the City Manager form of government with a five-member Commission. The commission chooses a Mayor. The people of Ottawa elect commissioners at-large. Three seats on the Commission are open every odd numbered year. Two Commissioners are elected to four-year terms and one is elected to a two-year term.

Education
Ottawa is served by USD 290 for public education. The private four-year university, Ottawa University, is in Ottawa. Ottawa is also where another campus of Neosho County Community College is.

USD 290 public education schools:
 Ottawa High School
 Ottawa Middle School
 Garfield Elementary School
 Lincoln Elementary School
 Sunflower Elementary school

Ottawa has several private schools.
 Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School
 Pilgrim Bible Academy
 Ottawa Christian Academy

Media

Newspapers
There is one newspaper for the city of Ottawa, the Ottawa Herald. It was created in 1869. It is owned by GateHouse Media.

Entertainment
 
Downtown Ottawa is has the Plaza Grill and Cinema (formerly the Crystal Plaza and Bijou Theater). In 2013, it was found that it is the oldest operating movie theater in the United States.

Related pages
 Great Flood of 1951

References

Other websites

Official sites
 City of Ottawa
 Ottawa - Directory of Public Officials
 Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
 Ottawa Main Street Association
 Franklin County Convention Visitors Bureau 
Schools
 USD 290, local school district
 Ottawa University
Museums
 Old Depot Museum
Maps
 Ottawa City Map, KDOT

County seats in Kansas
Cities in Kansas