Townapedia
Downtown paola kansas2 2009
Downtown paola kansas2 2009 · Ichabod, CC BY-SA 3.0
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS south elevation
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS south elevation · SharonPapierdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS north and west elevations
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS north and west elevations · SharonPapierdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS · SharonPapierdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS west and north elevations
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS west and north elevations · SharonPapierdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS cornerstone
First Presbyterian Church of Paola Miami Co KS cornerstone · SharonPapierdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0

Paola, Kansas

Paola is a city of 5,770 people in Miami County, Kansas, founded in 1855.

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Population5,770 +2.8% since 2019
Elevation915 ft 279 m
Founded1855
Land area5.3 sq mi
ZIP code66071
Nearest airportNew Century AirCenter (JCI) 17 mi

Why visit Paola

Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 19 places to eat and 3 places to stay in and around town.

Highlights include Jackson Hotel and Miami County Courthouse.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 89°F; January lows average 19°F.

About Paola

Paola is a city in and the county seat of Miami County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 5,768.

From the Wikipedia article Paola, Kansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks8

Jackson Hotel

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi

Hotel building in Paola, Kansas

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Miami County Courthouse

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi

Courthouse in Kansas, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Miami County Kansas Historical Society & Museum

Museum · 1.0 mi

12 East Peoria Street, Paola

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Baptiste Bust

Monument and historic site · 1.1 mi

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City Hall Fire Bell

Monument and historic site · 1.0 mi

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International Arch

Monument and historic site · 1.6 mi

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Vet wall

Monument and historic site

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Wea mission site

Monument and historic site · 1.1 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds10

Paola Community Garden

Park

1201 Industrial Road

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Miola Beach

Beach · 1.0 mi

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Paola Golf Club

Golf course · 0.8 mi

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Paola Park Square

Park · 1.1 mi

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Petroleus Park

Park · 1.3 mi

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Pirate Ship Playground

Playground · 1.5 mi

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Wallace Park

Park · 1.4 mi

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Widiker Park

Park · 0.7 mi

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Restaurants and cafes19

Spring of China

Restaurant · Chinese · 0.4 mi

1309 Baptiste Drive, Paola

Open in Google Maps · +1-913-557-6888

Applebee's

Diner · American · 0.4 mi

Open in Google Maps · +1 913-294-2702

Harmon’s Cafe Latte at The Jackson

Cafe · 1.1 mi

139 West Peoria Street

Mo-Fr 07:00-14:00; Sa 07:00-11:00; Su off

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Legacy Homestead

Bakery · 1.1 mi

110 West Peoria Street

Mo,Su off; Tu-We,Fr 08:30-17:30; Th 08:30-20:30

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Milo's Steakhouse

Restaurant · Steak House · 1.1 mi

Mo-Tu,Su off; We-Sa 11:00-20:30

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Circle C Cafe

Cafe · American · 0.4 mi

1305 Baptiste Drive, Paola

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Sonora Tacos

Restaurant · Mexican · 0.4 mi

Open in Google Maps · +1 913-259-5175

The BBQ Shack

Restaurant · Barbecue · 0.6 mi

East Peoria Street, Paola

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Cowboy Coffee Post

Cafe · Coffee Shop

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El Portro Mexican Cafe & Cantina

Restaurant · Mexican · 0.9 mi

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Scooter's Coffee

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.6 mi

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Arby's

Fast food · Sandwich · 0.6 mi

1 South Hedge Lane, Paola

09:30-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 913-294-2504

7 more on the map.

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Where to stay3

Lake Miola Lower Campground

Campground · 1.3 mi

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Lake Miola Upper Campground

Campground · 1.2 mi

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Paola Inn and Suites

Motel and hotel · 0.7 mi

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History

Native Americans, then Spanish explorers such as Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, and French missionary explorers in 1673 lived and traveled throughout the area of what is now Paola. Despite these early European incursions at the start of the 19th century, the area was largely controlled by the Osage people.

Settlement of the area primarily occurred, however, when Kaskaskia, Peoria, Wea, and Piankeshaw tribes were forced to move to the area between 1827 and 1832. These formed the Confederated Allied Tribe, which was led by Baptiste Peoria, who was of both French and Indian ethnicity. They called their settlement Peoria Village.

By the 1840s, Euro-American settlers were moving into the area, and several missionaries lived in and near "Peoria Village". One of those missionaries was an Italian priest who moved to the area in 1852. The priest, Father Paul D. Ponziglione, was credited with renaming Peoria Village to Paola, after a small town on the coast of Calabria, Italy. The Peoria Indians of the area continued to call it Paola, because they had great respect for Father Ponziglione.

From the History section of Paola, Kansas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship8

Shopping5

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Gas and EV charging2

Schools, colleges and libraries12

Healthcare3

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Map of Paola

70 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 1.2 in of rainFebruary: 1.7 in of rainMarch: 2.7 in of rainApril: 3.8 in of rainMay: 6.1 in of rainJune: 5.2 in of rainJuly: 4.0 in of rainAugust: 4.3 in of rainSeptember: 4.6 in of rainOctober: 3.4 in of rainNovember: 2.4 in of rainDecember: 1.8 in of rainJanuary: 40°FFebruary: 45°FMarch: 56°FApril: 66°FMay: 75°FJune: 84°FJuly: 89°FAugust: 87°FSeptember: 80°FOctober: 69°FNovember: 55°FDecember: 43°FJanuary: 19°FFebruary: 23°FMarch: 33°FApril: 43°FMay: 55°FJune: 65°FJuly: 69°FAugust: 66°FSeptember: 58°FOctober: 45°FNovember: 34°FDecember: 23°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRain
Jan40°F19°F1.2 in
Feb45°F23°F1.7 in
Mar56°F33°F2.7 in
Apr66°F43°F3.8 in
May75°F55°F6.1 in
Jun84°F65°F5.2 in
Jul89°F69°F4.0 in
Aug87°F66°F4.3 in
Sep80°F58°F4.6 in
Oct69°F45°F3.4 in
Nov55°F34°F2.4 in
Dec43°F23°F1.8 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Paola (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$74,662median household income
$210,800median home value
$1,091median monthly rent
45.0median age
26.4%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
65.0%of homes are owner-occupied
25.7 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1818%18 to 3420%35 to 6439%65 and over24%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Miami 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)
  • 2015-07-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2010-08-10: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
  • 2010-03-09: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm (Severe Storm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

New Century AirCenter (JCI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.

  • Osawatomie 7 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
  • Louisburg 10 mi east, about 17 min by car
  • Edgerton 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
  • Gardner 16 mi north, about 26 min by car
  • Olathe 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
  • Ottawa 22 mi west, about 35 min by car
  • Baldwin City 22 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
  • Overland Park 23 mi northeast, about 37 min by car
  • Belton 24 mi northeast, about 39 min by car
  • Leawood 26 mi northeast, about 42 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.