The Town Files

Ottawa County, Kansas

5,819 people. The median home is worth $166,000 (typical Kansas town: $128,200) and the median household earns $74,018.

Towns in Ottawa County

Towns in Ottawa County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Minneapolis1,946$143,800$57,70239.8
Bennington622$156,400$74,37537.3

People and housing

Ottawa CountyTypical Kansas town
Median home value$166,000$128,200
Median rent$809$815
Median household income$74,018$63,857
Median age42.438.5
Bachelor's degree or higher27.7%24.0%
Below the poverty line10.4%10.6%

Jobs and pay

1,291 jobs in 2024, average pay $39,552 a year.

Largest industries in Ottawa CountyManufacturing216 jobs · $49,465Retail80 jobs · $19,281Wholesale trade51 jobs · $64,940Transportation & warehousing31 jobs · $63,348Agriculture, forestry & fishi…26 jobs · $35,672Construction14 jobs · $34,687
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Ottawa County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 2.3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 692 storm events in Ottawa County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Ottawa County by type since 1996Hail300Heat11Flood20Drought11Tornado20Dense Fog7High Wind11Heavy Snow13Flash Flood30Winter Storm33
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Ottawa County has been included in 18 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 1, 2026Severe StormDR-4940: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
December 19, 2025Severe StormDR-4897: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
August 20, 2024Severe StormDR-4811: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
April 28, 2024Winter StormDR-4774: Severe Winter Storm
February 17, 2022Severe StormDR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds
March 29, 2020BiologicalDR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).