Community Profile

Caney, Kansas is set in a valley surrounded by the Chautauqua hills on the west, Oklahoma lakes (Copan and Hulah Lake) on the south and prairie grasses on the north and east. Caney has a population of approximately 2,000 and located within our city are 16 churches of all faiths. We are rich in historical culture and have a strong historical society organization. Caney earned its name from the numerous wild cane brakes that lined the banks of the Caney River.

Osage Indians frequently camped along the Little Cane River before being moved from their home in Montgomery County to the present Osage County, OK. Chief Black Dog of the Osage tribe blazed a trail "30 horses wide" along the Kansas-Indian Territory border and set a camp of the Osage tribe in the Caney vicinity. A sign in Wark Memorial Park today commemorates that trail.

Caney began as a settlement in 1869. While many towns in the area were started by railroads or the mining and petroleum industries, Caney began as a trading post for people along the border. It found its first connection with the outside world in 1885 when the Denver, Memphis and Atlantic Railroad chugged into the community.

Today, Caney is home to industrial companies like Spears Manufacturing, Engineered Systems & Equipment, Inc. and Kopco, Inc.  Most likely though, you have heard of Caney due to their incredible Safari Zoological Park, an experiencial tour of a zoo like you have never seen before!