History
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Organized in 1871. County Seat Osborne. Named in honor of Vincent B. Osborne,
Private of Company A, Second Kansas Cavalry, who lost his right leg January
17, 1865, on the steamer Anna Jacobs on the Arkansas River.
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Map and text from
History of Kansas,
Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)
William G. Cutler's
History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about
early Osborne County.
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Osborne County towns:
Osborne,
Natoma,
Portis,
Downs, &
Alton.
The Kansas State Historical Society has
historical data for Osborne County online including a rich bibliography and lists of
cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.
Burial Records for Rural Cemeteries
Pleasant Valley
Cities, Towns, & Villages of Osborne County
2000
Year Elev Population Name ZIP
==== ==== ========== ================ =====
1870 1652 117 Alton 67623
1590 Bloomington
1683 Cheyenne
1836 Cheyenne Gap
1504 Corinth
1761 Covert
1484 1,038 Downs 67437
1523 Forney
1834 367 Natoma 67651
1871 1554 1,607 Osborne 67473
1542 123 Portis 67474
1705 Vincent
U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts about Osborne County
Special Places in Osborne County
Osborne County is one of six counties in the Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Alliance.
The alliance is recording the history of the valley, showing visitors how to find interesting places between Hoxie in the west and Glasco in the east.
- The Osborne County Historical Museum is housed in an old depot and an old school on the north edge of town.
- Osborne has built a new city library, but the 1912 Carnegie library still stands; it's on the national registry of historic places,
- The county courthouse in Osborne, built in 1908, is unbelievably ornate. Plan to spend some time studying the carvings.
- A marker in the roadside park at the intersection of highways 24 & 281 describes the geodetic center of the US which is in rural Osborne county.
Special Events in Osborne County
- Osborne's Fall Festival is the second weekend in September. Activities range from a black powder shoot and a golf tournament to an art show.
- Osborne's Arts & Craft Fair in always held the second Saturday in November.
- Osborne County Fair is the first week of August each year.
- Kansas Storytelling Festival is in Downs.
Osborne County Libraries
- Carnegie Research Library 785) 346-9437
307 W Main, Osborne, KS 67473
Specializes in genealogical & historical research in the county.
- Downs Carnegie Library (785) 454-3821
504 S. Morgan, Downs, KS 67437-2019
- Osborne Public Library (785) 346-5486
325 W. Main, Osborne, KS 67473-2425
Museums
- Osborne County Historical Museum (785) 346-2626 or 346-2418
At the junction of US-24 & US-281
Osborne County School Systems
- USD 272 Waconda (785) 781-4328 Cawker City, Waconda
- USD 392 Osborne County (785) 346-2145 Osborne
- USD 399 Paradise (785) 885-4749 Natoma
Hospitals
Newspapers
- Downs News and Times (785) 454-3514
717 Railroad St., Downs, KS 67437
- Osborne County Farmer (785) 346-5424
210 W. Main / P. O. Box 130, Osborne, KS 67473
More Data About Osborne County
Economic Development
- University of Kansas' County Profile Reports
Statistical data from The Institute for Public Policy and Business Research
Health Data
Genealogy
Osborne County Offices
For more about Osborne County contact:
- Osborne Area Chamber of Commerce (785) 346-2670
130 North First Street, Osborne, KS 67473
