New Ennis, Osage

New Ennis, is a town in north-west Osage. A tourist and cultural hub of the state, New Ennis is home to many of the state's oldest buildings and most important historical sites. The city was first settled in the early 1700s by roaming French fur traders as a river camp on a bluff. The river saw frequent river traffic from local Indian tribes and Dutch traders. The camp at the time was known as Colline Nicolet after the explorer Jean Nicolet.

The camp was eventually ceded to Great Britain as a trade deal in 1726. Most of the three hundred French settlers left to return back to France or head west. English colonists soon settled the area and set up a thriving mill and fishing industry. The town was renamed New Ennis after the city in Ireland, Ennis.

The population saw growth in the late 1700's with the expansion of the river trade. The city was a popular river crossing point into the new western territory as it held one of the only bridges in a direct path to the Gonner Trail. New Ennis saw more and more travelers stay, this only increased once the railroad established a line to the city. This continued until the 1880's where the population tripped to 3,000 people in 1895. The rapidly changing city was a region leader in industry, religion and culture.

The town is is a Catholic Dioceses with St. Rafael's Basilica dominating the town's skyline. The city has long been an important city in the Catholic faith. Early Irish immigrants were among the largest population in the boom of the 1880s.

New Ennis is a popular tourist destination for its incredibly well preserved historic districts and architecture. It has consistently ranked in the top ten tourist destinations of the Midwest for over a decade. The city offers an incrdible history, unique dining destinations, a boomtown market and numerous historically accurate business and experiences.