Osage City is the metropolis of Osage County, and is pleasantly situated on
the level valley lands, on the north side of Salt Creek. Osage City was
surveyed and platted in late 1869, after the route of the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe Railway had been fixed, but before it had been built to the city.
Osage City was incorporated as a city in April 1872. Like Osage County, the
city was named for the Osage Nation.
Osage City was a very busy coal mining town in the 19th century. In the
summer of 1870, the first coal mines were opened by the Osage Carbon, Coal
& Mining Company. At one time, there were twenty-eight mine shafts and
1,200 men employed.