Osage City offers small-town charm in the Kansas countryside
Since its founding in the late 1800s, Osage City has grown into an idyllic small town, with all the daily necessities like doctors’ offices and hardware stores, while maintaining its peaceful feel. The town and the surrounding area are mostly based on agriculture, and the larger lots on the edge of the community reflect this. Though recreation options are somewhat limited, folks rally around school sports leagues and annual events like the Osage County Fair.
Well-maintained Victorian properties and ranch-style homes
Osage City began as a core of Victorian homes and cottages, many of which are still standing. “We have quite a few historic homes, especially in Osage City,” says Brandy Criss-Engler, a local broker with over 15 years of experience and owner of Super Real Estate and Land Group. “There’s old farmhouses on the outskirts, and in town there’s strips of these large Victorian-era homes with a lot of character.” Historic properties tend to be in high demand, with mid- to late-20th century ranch-style homes making up the rest of the inventory. Though residential development stalled in the early 2000s, construction has picked up again in the last few years. Lot sizes increase towards the town’s edges, often exceeding a quarter of an acre. In town, wide streets are lined with mature maple and pine trees. Prices typically range from $50,000 to $525,000, with newer properties and well-maintained historical homes fetching higher prices.
Athletic fields at Jones Youth Park and other community spaces
Osage City maintains several green spaces across town. Jones Youth Park is home to most of the city’s athletic facilities, including basketball courts, a football field and a baseball complex. Next door, Osage City Aquatic Center is open from May to August and has a waterslide. The other main park in town, Lincoln Park, has a picnic shelter and playground. Sante Fe Park is a small patch of green space near downtown with a small pond and a water tower bearing the town’s name. A few miles south, the public Osage City Municipal Golf Course features a nine-hole layout on the banks of Osage City Reservoir.
Annual festivals in the summer and fall
The annual Osage County Fair has been in operation for over 80 years, hosted over two weeks in July at Jones Youth Park. The first weekend is a community carnival with live music and games, while the second weekend has livestock showings and contests. The chamber of commerce also puts on the Osage City Fall Festival in October, a family-friendly event with cornhole tournaments, pumpkin decorating and food trucks.
Osage City schools offer lots of sports programs
Osage City Elementary earns a B-plus from Niche, and Osage City Middle earns a B; both schools are located on the same campus. The B-rated Osage City High offers after-school wrestling, golf and debate programs. “The school is small but not as small as a lot of other schools around here, so they have some things that other schools don’t offer, like wrestling,” Criss-Engler says. “There’s a huge amount of support for the football team too.”
Local restaurants serve Mexican and homestyle American fare
Downtown Osage City is centered on Market Street, surrounded by a handful of small shops and municipal buildings. Eateries are located around the town’s edges, including local favorites like El Ranchito, a Mexican restaurant with colorful décor. Marilynn’s Place serves homestyle comfort food, perhaps best known for its pies and desserts. DG Market and White’s Foodliner are the main local grocery chains.
Close to state Route 31 and U.S. Route 56
State Route 31 is the area’s main highway, intersecting with U.S. Route 56 north of Osage City. Topeka is less than 40 miles away, while Kansas City is under 90 miles away. Cotton O’Neil Osage City Clinic serves the community, though locals drive about 40 miles to Topeka ER & Hospital for emergency services. Kansas City International Airport is about 110 miles away.
