Atchison, Kansas
Atchison is a city of 10,785 people in Atchison County, Kansas, founded in 1854.
Why visit Atchison
Townapedia lists 27 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 18 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Fox Theater, Amelia Earhart Bridge, A. J. Harwi House and Amelia Earhart Birthplace.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 18°F.
Weather in Atchison
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Atchison
Atchison is a city in and the county seat of Atchison County, Kansas, United States, along the Missouri River. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 10,885. The city is named in honor of US Senator David Rice Atchison from Missouri and was the original eastern terminus of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Atchison is also the home of Benedictine College, a Catholic liberal arts university.
From the Wikipedia article Atchison, Kansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Amelia Earhart Bridge
Bridge · 1.3 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Museums and landmarks27
A. J. Harwi House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic two-story house in Atchison, Kansas
Amelia Earhart Birthplace
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic building and museum in Atchison, Kansas
Atchison County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
County courthouse in Atchison, Kansas
B. P. Waggener House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
House in Atchison, Kansas
Balie P. Waggener House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
House in Atchison, Kansas
Edgar W. Howe House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic house in Atchison, Kansas
Francis and Harriet Baker House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Atchison, Kansas, USA
Frank Howard House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Atchison, Kansas, listed on the NRHP in Atchison County
Frederick W. Stein House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Atchison, Kansas, USA
Glick–Orr House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Kansas, United States
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H. E. Muchnic House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Atchison, Kansas
15 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds17
Locomotive Finished Materials Park
Park · 1.1 mi
1101 North 7th Street, Atchison
07:00-23:00
5 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes18
Sonic
Fast food · Burger · 0.5 mi
1001 Main Street, Atchison
Mo-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-23:00; Su 08:00-22:00
6 more on the map.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship18
Campbell Chapel AME Church
Church · African Methodist Episcopal · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
715 Atchison Street, Atchison
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
826 Riley Street, Atchison
Trinity Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
300 South 5th Street, Atchison
Cornerstone Seventh Day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 0.6 mi
121 North 9th Street, Atchison
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Healthcare3
Student Health Services
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.4 mi
1201 North 2nd Street, Atchison
Map of Atchison
109 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 18°F | 0.9 in | 5.0 in |
| Feb | 42°F | 23°F | 1.2 in | 4.8 in |
| Mar | 54°F | 32°F | 1.9 in | 1.8 in |
| Apr | 65°F | 43°F | 3.4 in | 0.4 in |
| May | 74°F | 55°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 69°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 58°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 46°F | 3.1 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 33°F | 1.8 in | 0.9 in |
| Dec | 40°F | 23°F | 1.4 in | 3.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Atchison Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Atchison County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-09-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-29: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-06-20: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2015-07-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2011-09-23: Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Sherman Army Airfield (FLV) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 18 miles away.
- Lancaster 9 mi west, about 14 min by car
- De Kalb 11 mi east, about 18 min by car
- Effingham 14 mi west, about 23 min by car
- Nortonville 14 mi southwest, about 23 min by car
- Kansas City 37 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Kansas City 44 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Topeka 47 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Olathe 50 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Overland Park 52 mi southeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Independence 53 mi southeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Atchison Kansas Commercial Street, Tim Kiser ( w:User:Malepheasant ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Central School Atchison, KS, Laurarkansas, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Central School in Atchison, KS, Bonusnacho, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atchison, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Atchison County, Kansas, June 17, 2015 -- A Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) Team looks at a washed out road and culvert in Atchison County caused by heavy rains. FEMA and the State of Kansas are..., Department of Homeland Security. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Public Affairs Division. 3/1/2003, Public domain
- Atchison KS Ebenezer Baptist Church, Hhulsizer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Edmiston House, Atchison, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Price Villa, Atchison, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Atchison County Courthouse (2023), Spacini, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lincoln School, Atchison, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mount St. Scholastica Convent, Atchison, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Atchison County Courthouse, Hhulsizer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Martin Grade School, Atchison, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Atchison Rail Bridge 2025b, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Atchison Rail Bridge 2025a, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mount Vernon Cemetery in Atchison County Kansas 01, Bonusnacho, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mount Vernon Cemetery in Atchison County Kansas 02, Bonusnacho, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ramsay House, Atchison, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Drimmel Farm, Atchison, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Campbell Chapel AME (Atchison KS) from SE 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Jansen house (Atchison KS) from W 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- McInteer Villa (Atchison KS) from E 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Glick-Orr house from E 2, Ammodramus, CC0
- Atchison, Kansas 305 N. Terrace from SE 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Pease house (Atchison KS) from E 2, Ammodramus, CC0
- RESTORATION OF A LATE 19TH CENTURY EXAMPLE OF VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE IN ATCHISON, KANSAS. IT IS AN ELABORATE MULTI-ROOMED HOME, ONE OF MANY ORIGINALLY BUILT BY FAMILIES WHO MADE THEIR MONEY IN..., Patricia DuBose Duncan, Public domain
- Harwi house (Atchison KS) from S 1 long, Ammodramus, CC0
- Baker house (Atchison KS) from E 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- RESTORATION OF A LATE 19TH CENTURY EXAMPLE OF VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE IN ATCHISON, KANSAS. IT IS AN ELABORATE MULTI-ROOMED HOME, ONE OF MANY ORIGINALLY BUILT BY FAMILIES WHO MADE THEIR MONEY IN..., Patricia DuBose Duncan, Public domain
- RESTORATION OF A LATE 19TH CENTURY EXAMPLE OF VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE IN ATCHISON, KANSAS. IT IS AN ELABORATE MULTI-ROOMED HOME, ONE OF MANY ORIGINALLY BUILT BY FAMILIES WHO MADE THEIR MONEY IN..., Patricia DuBose Duncan, Public domain
- Atchison County Courthouse 2019, Tgrossman1889, CC BY-SA 4.0
- RESTORATION OF A LATE 19TH CENTURY EXAMPLE OF VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE IN ATCHISON, KANSAS. IT IS AN ELABORATE MULTI-ROOMED HOME, ONE OF MANY ORIGINALLY BUILT BY FAMILIES WHO MADE THEIR MONEY IN..., Patricia DuBose Duncan, Public domain
- Frederick Stein house (Atchison KS) from NW 1 long, Ammodramus, CC0
- Howe house (Atchison KS) from ESE 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Balie P. Waggener house from SE 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Amelia Earhart birthplace from NE 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Benedictine, August simon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- US59 South - Missouri River Bridge, formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- UPY 604-EMD GP15-1 (31853722647), Jim Hamilton, CC BY 2.0
- ATSF -811, 2-8-0 "Consolidation", Baldwin, 1902, Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D., CC0
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