Community Profiles

Ottawa 

www.ottawaks.govChamber of Commerce: (785) 242-1000

Ottawa serves as the seat of Franklin County and boasts a charming downtown full of unique stores and restaurants. The city hosts a number of major events throughout the year, drawing thousands of visitors. 

Lane 

City Hall: (785) 869-2600

Lane is the southeast corner of the county and was named in 1863 for Sen. James Henry Lane, a leader of the Jayhawker abolitionist movement and one of the first senators from Kansas. The town's history is most associated with the night of May 24, 1856, when John Brown and his men murdered 5 pro-slavery men near Dutch Henry's Crossing, known today as the Pottawatomie Creek Massacre. 

Princeton

City Hall: (785) 937-4103

Princeton is south of Ottawa on U.S. 59 and was established in 1869 as a siding of the Lawrence, Leavenworth, and Galveston Railroad. A business district has developed along U.S. 59. 

Rantoul 

City Hall: (785) 873-3475 

Rantoul is southeast of Ottawa. The post office was given the name "Rantoul" in 1859 in honor of Robert Rantoul, a Massachusetts legislator and active abolitionist. Much "Bleeding Kansas" history can be found in this area. 

Richmond 

City Hall: (785) 835-6425

Richmond is 16 miles south of Ottawa on U.S. 59. John Richmond, an agent for the railroad, donated 40 acres for the building of a town site in 1870. 

Williamsburg

City Hall: (785) 746-5578

Williamsburg is in the southwest part of the county along Old Highway 50 and I-35 and was established as a railroad town in 1868. William Schofield and James F. Dane platted the town, and Schofield promoted a railroad, the Kansas City, Burlington, and Santa Fe, which ran from Ottawa to Williamsburg. The city is home to Guy & Mae's Tavern, a well recognized barbecue restaurant. 

Pomona 

City Hall: (785) 556-3522

www.pomonaks.com

Pomona is 9 miles west of Ottawa. John Whetstone purchased 12,000-15,000 acres of land on what had been the Sac and Fox Indian reservation and founded the city of Pomona in 1869. 

Wellsville 

City Hall: (785) 883-2296 www.cityofwellsville.org

Chamber: (785) 418-2431 

www.wellsvillechamber.com

Wellsville, located in the northeast corner of Franklin County, was once known as the "English Blue Grass Capital" of the world for its production of grass seed. The community was once part of the land ceded to and then reacquired from the Shawnee Indians/ The town is famous for such people as Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton and county singer Chely Wright.