Independence, Kansas
Independence is a city of 8,422 people in Montgomery County, Kansas, founded in 1869.
Why visit Independence
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 10 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Independence Cinemas, Booth Hotel and Booth Theater.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 91°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Independence
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Independence
Independence is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 8,548. It was named in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. Independence Community College is located here.
From the Wikipedia article Independence, Kansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks5
Booth Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Hotel building in Independence, Kansas
Booth Theater
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
United States historic place
Independence Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Public library in Independence, Kansas
Union Implement and Hardware Building-Masonic Temple
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Commercial building in Independence, Kansas
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Restaurants and cafes10
Ane Mae's
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.6 mi
325 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Independence
Mo-Fr 07:00-17:00; Sa 07:00-14:00
Sonic
Fast food · Burger · 0.5 mi
200 West Chestnut Street, Independence
Mo-Sa 06:00-23:00; Su 08:00-23:00
Taco Bell
Fast food · Tex-Mex · 0.5 mi
305 North 8th Street, Independence
Mo-Th 07:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-01:00; Su 07:00-24:00
History
The Osage Indians had settled much of southeast Kansas over the course of the 1830s and 40s and sold land claims over the course of the 1860s to incoming American homesteaders and moved into Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) where they became settled farmers, selling their whole remaining claim to the United States government in 1870 for $1.25 an acre.
Independence was settled on land that was purchased from the Osage Nation in September 1869 by George A. Brown for the price of $50. Brown originally called the townsite Colfax after Schuyler Colfax, vice president under President Ulysses S. Grant. On August 21, 1869 a group of Oswego, Kansas men led by R. W. Wright settled there with the intent to make Independence the county seat. E. E. Wilson and F D. Irwin opened the first store in October 1869, naming it Wilson & Irwin Groceries. Independence was designated county seat in 1870.
On April 17, 1930 the city was the first to use a permanent lighting system for an exhibition baseball game: it was held between the Independence Producers and House of David semi-professional baseball team of Benton Harbor, Michigan. The Independence team won with a score of 9 to 1 before a crowd of 1,700 spectators.
From the History section of Independence, Kansas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Independence
Motel and hotel · 1.7 mi
2917 West Main Street, Independence
Churches and places of worship1
Epiphany Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 0.9 mi
400 East Maple Street, Independence
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries18
Map of Independence
49 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 23°F | 1.4 in | 2.2 in |
| Feb | 50°F | 26°F | 1.9 in | 0.9 in |
| Mar | 60°F | 35°F | 2.9 in | 1.9 in |
| Apr | 69°F | 45°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 77°F | 56°F | 6.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 6.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 91°F | 70°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 68°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 83°F | 59°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 72°F | 47°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 35°F | 2.4 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 26°F | 2.4 in | 2.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Independence Hcn (1 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
Montgomery County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 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)
- 2019-05-28: Tornadoes And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-10-22: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2010-03-09: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Independence Municipal Airport (IDP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Coffeyville 14 mi south, about 23 min by car
- Caney 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Fredonia 22 mi north, about 35 min by car
- Chanute 33 mi northeast, about 53 min by car
- Dewey 33 mi south, about 53 min by car
- Bartlesville 37 mi south, about 59 min by car
- Nowata 37 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Columbus 48 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Girard 51 mi east, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Miami 52 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
- Memorial Hall, Independence, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Independence, KS public library funded by Andrew Carnegie, Kaethesson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Booth Hotel, Independence, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Union Implement and Hardware Building, Independence, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Booth Theater, Independence, KS, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
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