Bonner Springs is a city in Kansas, United States. It's located across three different counties: Wyandotte, Leavenworth, and Johnson. The city is part of the larger Kansas City, Missouri Metro Area. In 2020, about 7,837 people lived there. Bonner Springs officially became a city on November 10, 1898.

This city is known for several cool places. It's home to the Azura Amphitheater, a big outdoor concert venue. You can also visit the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame and the Wyandotte County Historical Museum. Every year, the city hosts the fun Kansas City Renaissance Festival.

History of Bonner Springs

Who Were the First Settlers?

The Kanza people first settled in this area. They liked it because of the natural mineral springs and lots of fish and game. In 1812, two French fur traders, the Chouteau brothers, arrived from St. Louis. They set up a trading post called "Four Houses." This spot was great for trading goods. They also added a ferry to cross the Kansas River. This trading post is thought to be the first business center and permanent settlement in Kansas.

Later, in 1830, a Delaware Indian named Henry Tiblow took over the ferry. Henry was an interpreter for the government and lived in a small cabin nearby. The area soon became known as "Tiblow Settlement."

John McDanield, also called "Red John" because of his hair, is seen as the founder of Bonner Springs as we know it today. He owned most of the land that is now Bonner Springs. McDanield named the town "Tiblow" after his friend, Henry.

What Are Mineral Springs?

People discovered that several springs in the area had special minerals in their water. They believed these minerals were good for health. In 1907, the Bonner Springs Improvement Club made a brochure. It called the city the "Kansas Karlsbad," comparing it to a famous spa town. The brochure listed five springs near Lake of the Woods: Big Chief, Little Chief, Papoose, Old Squaw, and Minnehaha.

For example, the water from Big Chief spring was thought to be "splendid water for anemics." This meant it was believed to help people with low iron in their blood. Old Squaw spring was supposedly named because "the old women of Indian tribes" found relief from stomach problems there.

To make the springs more popular, a special train brought investors to the area. They highlighted the city's closeness to Kansas City, the beautiful parks, and the idea of a racetrack. In 1885, Philo Clark bought 300 acres from McDanield. He planned to use the mineral springs to attract visitors. Clark then changed the town's name to "Bonner Springs." The "springs" part came from the mineral springs. The "Bonner" part came from Robert E. Bonner, a famous publisher and horse breeder. Clark hoped Bonner would help fund the proposed racetrack, but there's no record that he did.

The Great Fire of 1908

Bonner Springs was growing and doing well, with more people and new businesses. But in 1908, a big fire caused a lot of damage. It destroyed between 19 and 21 local businesses. The damage was worth over $70,000, which was a huge amount of money back then. At the time, the city didn't have water pipes to fight fires, even though the city council had talked about it.

Many local people quickly formed a water bucket chain to help put out the fire. They waited for a fire truck to arrive from Kansas City. An investigation showed that the fire started behind Kelly & Pettit's Drug Store. Strong winds then spread the flames, making it very hard to control. After the fire, the people of Bonner Springs worked hard to rebuild their town.

Geography and Climate

Where is Bonner Springs Located?

Bonner Springs is mostly on the north side of the Kansas River. Most of the city is in southwestern Wyandotte County. Smaller parts stretch west into Leavenworth County and south across the Kansas River into Johnson County.

The city is next to Kansas City, Kansas to the north and Edwardsville to the east. To the south, across the Kansas River, is Shawnee. Major highways like Interstate 70 (part of the Kansas Turnpike) pass through the northern part of the city. These highways connect Bonner Springs to other cities like Kansas City, Missouri and Lawrence.

The city covers about 16 square miles (41.42 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

What is the Weather Like?

Bonner Springs has a humid continental climate. This means it usually has hot and humid summers. The winters are typically cold and dry.

Climate data for Bonner Springs, Kansas
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	74 (23)	81 (27)	85 (29)	91 (33)	95 (35)	105 (41)	114 (46)	107 (42)	106 (41)	98 (37)	84 (29)	76 (24)	114 (46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	38 (3)	45 (7)	56 (13)	67 (19)	76 (24)	84 (29)	89 (32)	88 (31)	80 (27)	69 (21)	54 (12)	42 (6)	67 (19)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	20 (−7)	25 (−4)	35 (2)	45 (7)	55 (13)	64 (18)	69 (21)	67 (19)	58 (14)	47 (8)	35 (2)	24 (−4)	45 (7)
Record low °F (°C)	−18 (−28)	−12 (−24)	−8 (−22)	13 (−11)	30 (−1)	43 (6)	48 (9)	46 (8)	30 (−1)	18 (−8)	1 (−17)	−22 (−30)	−22 (−30)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.26 (32)	1.27 (32)	2.74 (70)	3.78 (96)	5.41 (137)	5.22 (133)	4.03 (102)	3.56 (90)	4.69 (119)	3.48 (88)	2.97 (75)	1.76 (45)	40.17 (1,020)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	5.70 (14.5)	4.00 (10.2)	2.90 (7.4)	0.50 (1.3)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1.10 (2.8)	3.00 (7.6)	17.20 (43.7)

People of Bonner Springs

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	609	—
1910	1,447	137.6%
1920	1,599	10.5%
1930	1,837	14.9%
1940	1,837	0.0%
1950	2,277	24.0%
1960	3,171	39.3%
1970	3,884	22.5%
1980	6,266	61.3%
1990	6,413	2.3%
2000	6,768	5.5%
2010	7,314	8.1%
2020	7,837	7.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 2010-2020

What is the Population Like?

In 2020, the census counted 7,837 people living in Bonner Springs. There were 3,037 households and 2,065 families. About 76.2% of the people were white, and 6.7% were black or African-American. About 13.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

About 33.6% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.5 people. The average family had 3.1 people. The median age in the city was 37.0 years old.

Fun Things to Do

Azura Amphitheater: Concerts Under the Stars

Azura Amphitheater (2015)

Bonner Springs is home to the Azura Amphitheater. It first opened in 1984 as the Sandstone Amphitheater. This outdoor concert venue can hold about 18,000 people! It has reserved seats and a big grassy area where you can relax and listen to music. The venue has been updated with better seating and new sound and video systems.

National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame

National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame (2014)

You can visit the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs. This place teaches people about the history and importance of farming in America. It also honors leaders in farming and education. It's a great spot to learn how food gets from farms to your table!

Kansas City Renaissance Festival: Step Back in Time!

The city hosts the yearly Kansas City Renaissance Festival. This fair starts on Labor Day weekend and runs for seven weekends. It's open on Saturdays, Sundays, Labor Day, and Columbus Day. The festival began in 1977. It has 165 booths and 13 stages, offering lots of entertainment. About 180,000 people visit the fair each year!

Wyandotte County Park: Outdoor Fun

Wyandotte County Park has many picnic areas. The park also features soccer fields, tennis courts, and a skate park. You can play disc golf or watch model airplanes fly. There are also baseball fields. The park is home to the Wyandotte County Museum and Historical Society.

Sunflower Hills Golf Course

If you like golf, check out Sunflower Hills Golf Course. It opened in 1977 and has 18 holes. A famous architect named Roger Packard designed it. This course hosts the Wyandotte County Open, a long-running golf tournament. There's also a smaller junior golf course with six holes, a driving range, and a putting green.

Tiblow Days: A Local Celebration

Every year, during the last weekend of August, the city celebrates Tiblow Days. This festival honors Henry Tiblow, an early settler and the person the community was once named after. It's a fun way to celebrate the city's history!

Education in Bonner Springs

The city is served by the Bonner Springs–Edwardsville USD 204 public school district. This district includes Bonner Springs High School, Robert E. Clark Middle School, and three elementary schools. These are Bonner Springs Elementary, Delaware Ridge Elementary, and Edwardsville Elementary.

Bonner Springs residents also help fund Kansas City Kansas Community College. The city also has its own library, the Bonner Springs City Library.

City Services and Transportation

Utilities for Residents

Bonner Springs residents receive services from various utility companies:

Natural Gas: Atmos
Electricity: Evergy
Water & Sewer: Provided by the City of Bonner Springs
Cable Television: Spectrum Internet and AT&T
Telephone Service: Spectrum Internet and AT&T

How to Get Around

In the past, river transportation was very important for Bonner Springs. Its location on the Kansas River made it easy to trade goods. Today, Bonner Springs is connected by many roads, including major highways and interstates. It also has access to rail and river transportation.