“Member Spotlight” Wamego, Kansas
Last year, the City of Wamego celebrated 150 years of history, that all began in 1866 when the Wamego townsite was founded. At that time, the Kansas River valley was already known as a rich agricultural area. The neighboring communities of Wabaunsee, Louisville and St. George were well established, and construction of the Kansas Pacific Railroad was pushing west from Topeka. A group of men surveying a route for the railroad eyed the site as a location that would be free of flooding from the River and formed a townsite company. Once the railhead reached Wamego, the townsite was platted and Wamego was set to take off. By the next year the town had “a population of over 300, forty good substantial dwellings, three stores with large stocks of general merchandise, a drug store, bakery, two saloons, gunsmith blacksmith and wagon shop, and a no. 1 harness shop…” according to the Pottawatomie Gazette. The town was incorporated in 1868, and soon became the division headquarters for the railroad, located at what is now the City Park. More permanent buildings were constructed in following years, some of which are still standing downtown. The Columbian Theatre building was built in 1895. City Park was purchased in 1901, and water and electric were installed in 1903. Perhaps the most famous past resident is Walter P. Chrysler, born in Wamego in 1875, but raised in Ellis. Since 1900 Wamego has experienced population growth each decade but one, and now has just under 5,000 residents. Although proximity to Manhattan and Kansas State University have bolstered growth in Wamego, the community has a large employment draw of its own: Caterpillar Work Tools, which manufactures attachments for materials moving equipment. This enterprise can ultimately trace its origins to a blacksmith shop commenced in 1889 by John Balderson. Other related manufacturing businesses call Wamego home, and Highland Community College has a satellite campus in Wamego. An award winning health center and school district enhance the quality of life in Wamego, rounded out by great attractions like the giant 4th of July celebration, Oz Festival, Tulip Festival, Old Dutch Mill and Oz Museum.
