Her husband commutes 45 minutes each day to Topeka, but Linda Jones is content working three blocks from home.

Jones, who has spent the past 45 years in Osage City, said the community is going through changes, but will maintain its roots. She said the community is close to larger towns, like Topeka and Emporia, but residents embrace the small-town atmosphere.

"We're accessible to a lot of things," said Jones, who is the city clerk of Osage City. "It's just small-town living here."

Osage City is the largest town in the county, with about 3,000 residents, and is perhaps the county's cultural center. The community is located on US-56 highway.

The town is located in Osage County ‹ directly south of Shawnee County, which includes Topeka. US-75 highway stretches south from Topeka, making the Capital City easily accessible from anywhere in Osage County.

The Kansas Turnpike, which connects Kansas' largest cities, is located 10 miles away.

About 17,200 people live in the county, bucking a trend of population decreases that many Kansas counties have faced. Osage County, which was founded in 1859, includes 695 square miles of Kansas prairie.

The increasing population is one reason the school district is making an $8 million renovation. Jones said the high school and grade school were separated by a street, but improvements will allow the schools to become a more unified campus.

Jones said the renovations will increase classroom space and provide a new music auditorium.

"We will be able to get different tournaments here now," she said. "We've had some in the past, but that will bring more people into town."

Two major railroads served the city, and until the 1950s, land adjacent to Osage City was strip-mined for coal. The old Sante Fe station now is a museum dedicated to the community's railroad and mining history. Osage City is served by several parks, a skate center and a golf course located a mile south of town.

Two citywide garage sales, in the fall and spring, are among several events in the city each year. Independence Day fireworks and a Christmas celebration also serve to unite the community.

With three new subdivisions springing up in the past five years, Jones said the population will continue to grow. She said a low tax rate and small-town living keep residents in Osage City.

"You don't have the hustle and bustle," she said. "It just has a lot to offer."