Leavenworth County’s most significant economic engine is also the source of its name: The nearly 180-year-old Fort Leavenworth directly employs nearly 6,000 civilian and military pesonnel and helps attract almost half that many for related support operations.

Few area counties can point to businesses such as Cubic Defense Applications Group, a private military training consultant that lists nearly 400 workers in Leavenworth, or three divisions of Northrop Grumman research consultants, which employ nearly 600.

The fort’s impact is even larger, however. The area is also home to “support” businesses such as the Aramark Uniform Services business, with 65 workers in Lansing, and Armed Forces Insurance, a military insurance service with 230 employees in the city of Leavenworth.

The unique nature of Fort Leavenworth also brings significant stability to its role in economic development. The facility is home to one of the nation’s most important advanced training facilities and a large military correctional institution. As a result, Fort Leavenworth’s staff increased rather than decreased following the most recent nationwide base review.

Fort Leavenworth is a major focus for advanced officer training and leadership development, attracting not only some of the “best and brightest” from among U.S. ranks, but also young leaders from America’s allies. As a result, this moderate-sized Kansas community has some of the most diverse restaurant offerings in the Midwest, as well as a high number of educated residents who take advantage of early retirement from the military and settle in Leavenworth to pursue other careers.

Nearly equal to the fort in terms of economic impact are Leavenworth County’s public and private correctional facilities. Along with the Army correctional facility, there is the large, U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, the Lansing State Prison, and private facilities such as the Correction Corporation of America. These operations represent nearly 3,000 employees who earn above average salaries and excellent benefits.

Leavenworth more recently has seen its economic base positively impacted by nearby development. Wyandotte County’s explosive western retail and residential growth has moved into adjacent areas of Leavenworth, helping make nearby Basehor and Tonganoxie among the fastest growth communities in the entire state of Kansas.