Organized as Weller county in 1855; name changed to Osage in 1859. Originally named for John B. Weller, of Ohio, member of Congress and Governor of that state; also Governor of California, and Senator, Minister to Mexico. The name Osage comes from the Osage River, the headwaters of which stream drain almost the entire county. Lyndon is the county seat.

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

Osage County Facts

County Seat: Lyndon
Founded: 1859
Population: 16,142 (2010) · 16,712 (2000) · 15,248 (1990) · 23,659 (1900)
Area: 695 Square Miles
Standard Abbreviation: OS

Osage County Cities

City of Burlingame, 101 E. Santa Fe Ave., Burlingame, KS 66413, 785-654-2414
City of Carbondale, 234 Main St., Carbondale, KS 66414, 785-836-7108
City of Lyndon, 730 Topeka Ave., P.O. Box 287, Lyndon, KS 66451, 785-828-3146
City of Melvern, 141 SW Main St., Melvern, KS 66510, 785-549-3447
City of Osage City, 201 S. Fifth St., Osage City, KS 66523, 785-528-3714
City of Overbrook, 301 Maple St., Overbrook, KS 66524, 785-665-7328
City of Scranton,  120 W. Boone St., Scranton, KS 66537, 785-793-2414
City of Quenemo, 109 E. Maple St., Quenemo, KS 66528, 785-759-3315
City of Olivet,  388 B Ave. Olivet, KS 66856, 785-793-2414
Vassar (Unincorporated) 66543
Michigan Valley (Unincorporated)

Osage County School Systems

USD 420 Osage City, Osage City, 785-528-3176
USD 421 Lyndon, Lyndon, 785-828-4413
USD 434 Santa Fe Trail, Carbondale, 785-665-7168
USD 454 Burlingame,  Burlingame, 785-654-3328
USD 456 Marais des Cygnes Valley, Melvern, 785-549-3521

Libraries

Burlingame Community Library  122 W. Santa Fe, Burlingame, KS 66413, 785-654-3400
Carbondale City Library  234 Main St., Box 330, Carbondale, KS 66414-0330, 785-836-7638
Entre Nous Library  Melvern, KS 66510
Lyndon Carnegie Library  127 E. Sixth St., Lyndon, KS 66451, 785-828-4520
Osage City Public Library  515 Main St., Osage City, KS 66523, 785-528-3727
Overbrook Public Library  400 Maple St., P. O. Box 389, Overbrook, KS 66524, 785-665-7841

Museums

Burlingame Historical Preservation Society   785-654-3170, P.O. Box 74, Burlingame, KS 66413
Burlingame Schuyler Museum   785-654-3561, 117 S. Dacotah, Burlingame, KS 66413
Osage County Historical Society Museum   785-828-3477, email researchosagechs@embarqmail.com, 631 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451
Railroad & Mining Museum  508 Market, Osage City, KS 66523

Historical References

The Santa Fe Trail ran across northern Osage County, passing through Overbrook, Scranton, and Burlingame. William G. Cutler’s History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Osage County. The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Quenemo, Overbrook, Scranton, Osage City, Carbondale, Olivet and Burlingame. The Kansas State Historical Society has historical data for Osage County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

News Media

Osage County News  P.O. Box 62, Lyndon, KS 66451, 785-828-4994 phone/fax, email news@osagecountyonline.com. Read it online at www.osagecountyonline.com.

Osage County Herald-Chronicle  527 Market St., Osage City, KS 66523

Osage County Data

Osage County Offices

Photo by John and Susan Howell.

Osage County   785-828-4812, P.O. Box 226, Lyndon, KS 66451
Osage County Attorney   785-828-4931, Fax 785-828-3150, 717 Topeka Ave., P.O. Box 254, Lyndon, KS  66451, email osageca@osageca.org.
Osage County District Court   785-828-4514, Fax 785-828-4704, 717 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451
Osage County Clerk 785-828-4812, Fax 785-828-4749, 717 Topeka Ave., P.O. Box 226, Lyndon, KS 66451, email OS_County_Clerk@wan.kdor.state.ks.us .
Osage County Appraiser 785-828-3124, Fax 785-828-3712, 717 Topeka Ave., First Floor, P.O. Box 292, Lyndon, KS 66451, email os_county_appraiser@wan.kdor.state.ks.us.
Osage County Emergency Management  785-828-3323, 131 W. 14th St., Lyndon, KS 66451-0423.
Osage County Health Department  785-828-3117, 103 E. Ninth St., Lyndon, KS 66451.
Osage County Jail  785-828-4991, 702 Ash St., Lyndon, KS 66451, email  jail@oscosheriff.org.
Land Development Office  785-828-3347, Fax 785-828-4749, 717 Topeka Ave., P.O. Box 221, Lyndon, KS 66451, email  landdev@osageco.org.
Register of Deeds  785-828-4523, Fax 785-828-3648, 717 Topeka Ave., P.O. Box 265, Lyndon, KS  66451.
Osage County Road and Bridge Department  785-828-4416,  Fax 785-828-3432, 128 W. 15th St., Lyndon, KS 66451, email gtyson@osageco.org.
Transfer Station, C&D Landfill  785-528-3790, 4045 W. 229th St., Osage City, KS 66523. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Saturday.
Recycling Center  785-828-3824, 208 W. 17th St., Lyndon, KS 66451.
Osage County Senior Center  785-528-1170, 604 Market St., Osage City, KS 66523
Osage County Sheriff’s Office 785-828-3121, Fax 785-828-3662, 131 W. 14th St., Lyndon, KS 66451, email info@oscosheriff.org.  In case of emergency, dial 911.
Osage County Treasurer  785-828-4923, Fax 785-828-3336, 717 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451, email  os.county.treasurer@wan.kdor.state.ks.us.
Noxious Weed Department  785-828-3280, 727 W. Sixth St., Lyndon, KS 66451.

Other Offices

Frontier Extension District   785-828-4438, 128 W. 15th St., Lyndon, KS 66451-0400.
Osage County Conservation District  785-828-3458, 115 W. 17th St., Lyndon, KS 66451.
NRCS/Farm Service Agency  785-828-4631, 115 W. 17th St. Lyndon, KS 66451.

Cities, Towns, and Villages of Osage County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
  1869  1100             Arvonia
  1872  1183             Barclay
  1854  1055       1,017 Burlingame       66413
  1869  1087       1,478 Carbondale       66414
        1099             Four Corners
  1865  1030       1,038 Lyndon           66451
  1868  1012         429 Melvern          66510
  1871  1070             Michigan Valley
        1073             Mineral Springs
        1150          64 Olivet
  1865  1085       3,034 Osage City       66523
  1886  1220         947 Overbrook        66524
        1069             Peterton
  1870   941         468 Quenemo          66528
        1140             Ridgeton
  1886                   Rosemont
  1872  1123         724 Scranton         66537
        1004             Swissvale
        1103             Vassar           66543

Special Places in Osage County

Rapp School is a beautifully preserved one-room eight-grade school on U.S. Highway 56 west of Osage City.
Superior School is located two miles south of Burlingame on U.S. Highway 56.
Melvern State Bank building has served the Melvern Community for many years, 102 S. Main St., Melvern.
Lyndon Carnegie Library is at 127 E. Sixth St., Lyndon.
Railroad Park, Melvern, features a historical bridge that crosses the railroad tracks, along with a train overlook and viewing platform.
Bailey House, in Lyndon, is an old log home that was moved to the Lyndon City Park to preserve its place in local history.

Osage County has two federal lakes, Melvern Lake and Pomona Lake, and two state parks, Pomona State Park and Eisenhower State Park.

Enjoy Osage County’s hospitality and explore our unique and interesting Places.

Cemeteries

A list and map of Osage County’s cemeteries is available here; information compiled by Osage County Historical Society and published by Osage County News. For cemetery contact information, call the Osage County Clerk’s Office at 785-828-4812.

Churches

Osage County has many houses of worship, in which to share your faith, meet fellow worshipers and find your church home. See the Churches of Osage County to find churches in your community.

Post Offices

Burlingame Post Office – 66413, 123 S. Topeka Ave., 785-654-3823 – Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; 1-2:30 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Carbondale Post Office – 66414, 223 Main St., 785-836-7682 – Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 a.m., 12:30-4 p.m.; Saturday 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Lyndon Post Office – 66451, 712 Topeka Ave., 785-828-4441 – Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 a.m., 1-4:30 p.m.; Saturday 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Melvern Post Office – 66510, 118 NE Emporia St., 785-549-3631 – Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m.; Saturday 8-9 a.m.
Osage City Post Office – 66523, 123 S. Sixth St., 785-528-4431 – Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12:45 p.m., 2 -4:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30-10 a.m.
Overbrook Post Office – 66524, 320 Maple St., 785-665-7712 – Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 a.m., 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Quenemo Post Office – 66528, 121 N. Fifth St., 785-759-3312 – Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m.; Saturday 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Scranton Post Office – 66537, 324 S. Brownie Blvd., 785-793-2773 – Monday-Friday 7-11 a.m.; Saturday – 7-9:30 a.m.
Vassar Post Office – 66543, 130 Topeka St., 785-828-3362 – Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

A list of Osage County post offices is also available here.

(This information was reproduced and updated from the former Blue Skyways page created for Osage County by John and Susan Howell. Thanks John and Susan for your part in ensuring Kansas’ presence on the World Wide Web. -WAW)

Readers are invited to note needed updates, additions or corrections in the comment section.