Kansas' Center of History & Education

The Facts Thirty-five miles northwest of Kansas City International Airport, Atchison County comprises the northwest reaches of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Largely rural with gently rolling farmland that is rich and productive, the county has a population of almost 17,000, a level that edged downward slightly during the 1990s.

The county seat is Atchison, where more than 60% of the county resides, and it is the commercial hub for several agricultural counties in northeast Kansas. Other cities include Effingham, Huron, Lancaster and Muscotah. Many of the residents in these outlying areas work in Atchison or in the plants at Shannon Industrial Park.

Opportunity For a small community, Atchison supports a surprising amount of industry. Atchison Casting Corp. is a multi-million dollar conglomerate of more than a dozen steel foundries. Golden Star Inc. is the country's largest manufacturer of textile cleaning products. Midwest Grain Products Inc. is an international leader in the wheat gluten industry. The Blish-Mize Co. is a wholesale distributor of hardware and building products to retailers in 12 Midwestern states.

Infrastructure U.S. highways 59 and 73 intersect in Atchison, and Interstates 29 and 70 are a half-hour away. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific provide rail service to Atchison industries. A 5,000-foot runway at Amelia Earhart Airport (the city's most famous resident) is used by leisure and business aircraft. Atchison also is served by major barge carriers and offers a public terminal on the Missouri River.

Living A charming town with scores of Victorian mansions along brick streets, Atchison has a rich heritage and picturesque setting on the bluffs of the Missouri River. It offers small-town amenities--a wholesome environment in which to raise children, a relaxed lifestyle, affordable housing, both public and private schools and neighbors who care. Atchison County, in fact, may find its greatest sense of pride in its number of highly regarded schools and colleges. In particular: nationally recognized Benedictine College and two preparatory schools: Maur Hill for boys and Mount St. Scholastica Academy for girls.

Ambition Atchison has been careful to preserve its nearly 150-year heritage while striding into the 21st century. It has secured millions of dollars in community development grants to provide industrial development opportunities at Shannon Industrial Park--while revitalizing the historic riverfront and downtown district to foster a burgeoning retail and tourism mix. With business and tax incentives at hand, community planners in Atchison are eager to work with companies and developers looking to expand and relocate in the metropolitan area's next horizon.