Kansas

Atchison

16,348
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Atchison

Atchison, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 7,729. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,348.

Its recorded population peaked at 28,606 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 43 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Atchison KS Secessionist Disorders (1861), and 49 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,348
201016,924
200016,774
199016,932
198018,397
197019,165
196020,898
195021,496
194022,222
193023,945
192023,411
191028,107
190028,606
189026,758
188026,668
187015,507
18607,729
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Atchison

Military engagements that took place in Atchison, Kansas.

Atchison KS Secessionist Disorders (1861)
1861

Historic places in Atchison

National Register of Historic Places listings in Atchison, Kansas.

Earhart, Amelia, Birthplace
Atchison
McInteer Villa
Atchison
Atchison County Courthouse
Atchison
Howe, Edgar W., House
Atchison
Baker, Francis and Harriet, House
Atchison
Stein, Frederick W., House
Atchison
Pease, Robert L., House
Atchison
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Atchison
Glick-Orr House
Atchison
Waggener, Balie P., House
Atchison
Browse all Kansashistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Atchison County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Atchison County, Kansas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Atchison

When does Atchison first appear in the US census?
Atchison, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 7,729.
What is the population of Atchison?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Atchison had a recorded population of 16,348.
When did Atchison's population peak?
Atchison's recorded population peaked at 28,606 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Atchison?
1 documented military engagement took place in Atchison, including Atchison KS Secessionist Disorders (1861).
How many historic places are in Atchison?
49 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Atchison, Kansas.
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