Pottawatomie County, KS

History

Organized in 1856. County seat, Westmoreland. Named for the Pottawatomie Indians, whose reservation at the opening of the Kansas Territory for settlement, and for years afterward, embraced a large portion of the geographical area of the County.

Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

Louis Vieux, a Pottawatomie Indian, once operated the first ferry along the Oregon Trail to help travelers across the Vermillion River near Wamego.

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of several Pottawatomie County towns: Westmoreland, St. George, Belvue, Onaga, Havensville, and St. Marys.

William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Pottawatomie County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Pottawatomie County

                           2000
    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
    Aikins                                              1176
    Barret                                              1137
    Belvue                     228  66407                960
    Blaine                          66549               1507
    Duluth                          66521               1240
    Emmett                     277  66422               1025
    Flush                                               1090
    Fostoria                        66426               1458
    Havensville                146  66432               1200
    Laclede                                             1050
    Louisville                 209  66450               1000
    Olsburg                    192  66520               1422
    Onaga                      704  66521               1150
    Saint Clere                                         1080
    St. George                 434  66535
    St. Marys                2,198  66536               1000
    Swamp Angel                                         1002
    Wamego                   4,246  66547                990
    Westmoreland               631  66549               1168
    Wheaton                     92  66551               1500

U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts about Pottawatomie County

Special Places in Pottawatomie County

Wamego has a Dutch-style windmill built in 1873 by an immigramt from Holland to grind grain.
The Columbian Theater in Wamego is nicely restored and serves as a theater, museum, and gallery.
Westmoreland has the second largest hand-dug well in the state. It's in an attractive park beside highway K-99. While you're in town, go see the neat old courthouse.
The Louis Vieux Elm near Wamego has been called the largest American elm in the US. Travelers along the Oregon Trail rested under this tree.

Special Events in Pottawatomie County

Eighteen thousand tulips are the drawing card for the Wamego Tulip Festival the third weekend in April.
The Wamego Fall Festival, the first Saturday in October, has grown to be one of the largest in Northeast Kansas.
Wamego celebrates Independence Day in a big way, including a huge parade.

Libraries

Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library (785) 437-2778
306 North 5th Street / St. Marys, KS 66536

Branches:
Onaga / 313 Leonard Street
St. Marys / 306 North 5th Street
Mini-libraries:
Alta Vista / 310 Center Street
Harveyville Mini Library / 128 W. Oak Street
Olsburg / 316 North 2nd Street
Westmoreland / 315 Main Street
Wamego Public Library (785) 456-9181
431 Lincoln Ave / Wamego, KS 66547

Museums

OZ Museum (866) 458-TOTO (8686)
511 Lincoln, Wamego, KS 66547
Rock Creek Valley Historical Society Museum Complex (785) 457-3624
Sixth & State, Westmoreland, KS 66549
Three museum buildings plus a two story log cabin
Open afternoons from Memorial Day to Labor Day
Wamego Historical Museum (785) 325-2284
East Fourth, Wamego, KS 66968
Includes old school, jail, & log cabin

Newspapers

The Onaga Herald (785) 889-4681
302 Leonard St., Onaga, KS 66521
St. Marys Star (785) 437-2935
517 W. Bertrand, St. Marys, KS 66536
Wamego Smoke Signal (785) 456-2602 smokesig@midusa.net
407 Lincoln, Wamego, KS 66547
Wamego Times (785) 456-7838
416 Lincoln, Wamego, KS 66547
Westmoreland Recorder (785) 457-3411 newsnose@kansas.net
106 N. 2nd / P.O. Box 128, Westmoreland, KS 66549

Pottawatomie County School Systems

USD 320< Wamego/A> (785) 456-7643 FAX: (785) 456-8125
USD 321 Kaw Valley (785) 437-2254 St. Marys
USD 322 Onaga-Havensville-Wheaton (785) 889-4614 Onaga
USD 323 Rock Creek (785) 457-3732 Westmoreland
USD 384 Blue Valley (785) 293-5256 Randolph

Hospitals

Community Hospital-Onaga (785) 889-4274
120 E 8th St. / Onaga, KS 66521
Dechairo Hospital (785) 457-3311
208 N. 1st / Westmoreland, KS 66549
Wamego City Hospital (785) 456-2295
711 Genn Dr / Wamego, KS 66547

More Data About Pottawatomie County

Economic Development

Kansas County Profile Reports
Statistical data from The Institute for Policy and Social Research

Health Data

KDHE's Pottawatomie County Health Profile

Pottawatomie County Offices

Pottawatomie County (785) 457-3314
P. O. Box 187, Westmoreland, KS 66549
Extension Service (785) 457-3319
612 E Campbell / Westmoreland, KS

For more about Pottawatomie County contact:

Wamego Chamber of Commerce (785) 456-7849
715 Fifth St. · P. O. Box 34 · Wamego, KS 66547
Pottawatomie County Economic Development (785) 456-9776
1004 Lincoln · P.O. Box 288 · Wamego, KS 66547