Atchison Atchison, population 10,000, is taking advantage of its site along the Missouri River, its historic buildings and fame as birthplace of Amelia Earhart to encourage tourism. It boasts five museums and hundreds of old mansions. Downtown plays an integral part in the overall plan. Through that, community leaders gained training and direction. In the early 1990s, the city launched an aggressive cleanup of the downtown, said City Manager Joe Turner.
Shoppers now see a clean area with flowers, trees and shrubs.
Brick pavers and Victorian lampposts highlight a three-block pedestrian mall near the river. The downtown dedication appears to be paying off, Turner said. This year's sales tax collection was up 6 percent to 7 percent from a year ago. Atchison's comprehensive, long-range plan calls for continued improvements. The retail mix is different than it was 10 years ago, Purkis said.