ATCHISON, Kan., city and county-seat of Atchison County, on the Missouri River, 20 miles above Fort Leavenworth, and on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, the Burlington and Quincy and other railroads. The city is beau tifully situated on the "Great Bend) of the Mis souri River, and because of its excellent river and extensive railroad facilities it is an import ant commercial centre, and one of the principal cities of the State. It exports large quantities of grain, flour, livestock, coal, lumber, fruit and general agricultural produce. The whole sale trade of the city in groceries, drugs, hard ware, etc., is also very extensive, representing annually more than $50,000,000. The manufac turing interests of Atchison are important, there being over 50 large industrial establishments, including grain elevators, flouring-mills, foun dries, railroad shops, carriage works, brick yards, furniture, broom and harness factories, etc. The United States census of 1914 recorded 60 manufacturing establishments of factory grade, employing 859 persons, of whom 684 art wage earners, receiving 403,000 annually in wages. The capital invested aggregates $2,073,000, and the value of the year's output was $3,899,000. The city contains many attractive buildings, notably the county courthouse and government build ing, and the union depot erected at a cost of $140,000. The Missouri River is bridged by a
noteworthy structure some 1,200 feet long. There are three parks in the city — Forest, City and Central; three banks with a combined cap ital of $300000 and an annual business of $7,000,000; daily, weekly and monthly periodi cals, and gas, electric-light, sewer, water and electric railway plants. Atchison is the seat of the State Soldiers' Orphans' Home; Wells' In sane Asylum; Allaman's Hospital; Midland College (Lutheran) ; Saint Benedict's College (Roman Catholic) ; Mount Saint Scholastica's Academy (Roman Catholic) ; has a fine public library and an excellent system of public educa tion (8 public and 3 parish schools). The school board is chosen by popular vote. The city is governed by a mayor elected every two years, and a municipal council of 10 members. The mayor appoints the administrative officials who are subject to confirmation by the city council. The city was first settled in 1854 and was named in honor of Senator D. R. Atchison. It was incorporated as a city in 1859. Pop. (1910) 16,429; (1914) 17,000.