Kansas

Ottawa

5,735
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Ottawa

Ottawa, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 2,127. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,735.

Its recorded population peaked at 12,581 in 1890, and has since declined by roughly 54 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Mitchell Ridge Osceola Conflict, Delphos Kansas Raid, and 18 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,735
20106,091
20006,163
19905,634
19805,971
19706,183
19606,779
19507,265
19409,224
19309,819
192010,714
191011,811
190011,182
189012,581
188010,307
18702,127
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Ottawa

Military engagements that took place in Ottawa, Kansas.

Mitchell Ridge Osceola Conflict
1200
Delphos Kansas Raid
1868

Historic places in Ottawa

National Register of Historic Places listings in Ottawa, Kansas.

Minneapolis Archeological Site
Minneapolis
Browse all Kansashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kansas

Explore census history and historic records for more Kansas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Ottawa County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Ottawa 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 Ottawa

When does Ottawa first appear in the US census?
Ottawa, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 2,127.
What is the population of Ottawa?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Ottawa had a recorded population of 5,735.
When did Ottawa's population peak?
Ottawa's recorded population peaked at 12,581 in 1890.
Were any battles fought in Ottawa?
2 documented military engagements took place in Ottawa, including Mitchell Ridge Osceola Conflict, Delphos Kansas Raid.
How many historic places are in Ottawa?
18 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ottawa, Kansas.
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