Wakarusa Township
Township
Lakeview Lake
Location in Douglas County
Coordinates: 38°56′10″N 095°15′21″W / 38.93611°N 95.25583°W / 38.93611; -95.25583
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Douglas
Area
• Total	46.74 sq mi (121.07 km2)
• Land	45.9 sq mi (118.87 km2)
• Water	0.85 sq mi (2.19 km2)  1.81%
Elevation	866 ft (264 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,318
• Density	50/sq mi (19/km2)
GNIS feature ID	0479514

Wakarusa Township is a township in Douglas County, Kansas, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 2,318. It was named for the Wakarusa River which flows through Douglas County from Wabaunsee County to the Kansas River near Eudora.

Geography

Wakarusa Township covers an area of 46.74 square miles (121.1 km²) surrounding the county seat of Lawrence. According to the USGS, it contains one cemetery, Richland.

Lake View Lake is within this township. The streams of Baldwin Creek, Burroughs Creek, Coal Creek, Washington Creek and Yankee Tank Creek run through this township.

Adjacent townships

• Rural Township, Jefferson County (northwest)
• Grant Township, Douglas County (north)
• Reno Township, Leavenworth County (northeast)
• Eudora Township, Douglas County (east)
• Palmyra Township, Douglas County (southeast)
• Willow Springs Township, Douglas County (southwest)
• Clinton Township, Douglas County (west)
• Kanwaka Township, Douglas County (west)
• Lecompton Township, Douglas County (west)

Towns and settlements

Although these towns may not be incorporated or populated, they are still placed on maps produced by the county. The city of Lawrence is considered governmentally independent and is not included on this list.

• Franklin, located at 38°56′16″N 95°11′10″W / 38.93778°N 95.18611°W / 38.93778; -95.18611 (Franklin, Kansas)
• Lake View, located at 39°00′38″N 95°17′37″W / 39.01056°N 95.29361°W / 39.01056; -95.29361 (Lake View, Kansas)
• Noria, located at 38°57′00″N 95°10′54″W / 38.95000°N 95.18167°W / 38.95000; -95.18167 (Noria, Kansas)
• Sibleyville, located at 38°53′04″N 95°12′19″W / 38.88444°N 95.20528°W / 38.88444; -95.20528 (Sibleyville, Kansas)

Transportation

Wakarusa Township is served directly by one interstate highway, one state highway and one national highway:

• I-70
• K-10
• US-59

Direct Routes

Wakarusa Township is served with direct routes to one interstate highway, two national highways and one state highway:

• I-35
• US-24
• US-40
• K-32

Places of interest

• Wells Overlook. A county-owned park with a watchtower that offers a scenic view of the surrounding area, including Lawrence. The overlook was used during the Bleeding Kansas era as a look out for pro-slavery threats.
• Lake View. A natural oxbow lake formed from the Kansas River. Lake View was once a popular lakeside resort and still has a small population today.
• The Baker Wetlands are between the Lawrence city limits and the Wakarusa River along 31st Street and supports various species of plants, birds and animals.
• The townsite of Franklin, along K-10, was once a pro-slavery town that competed with Lawrence. When Lawrence was burned in 1863 most of the houses were moved to help with the rebuilding.