Founded: 1856, Pop: (2000) 5,011. The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 4,715, an increase of 17 since 1990. Elev: 900 ft.
Paola is located in Miami County, (of which it is the county seat and the largest community).
Paola is part of the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas metro area. Hillsdale State Park, one of the newest reservoirs in Kansas is nearby, to the north.
The Native American that have lived in Miami County are the Miamis, the Confederated tribes, the Pottawatomies and the Shawnees. The Confederated Tribes were composed of the Weas, Piakeshaws, Peorias and Kaskaskias. They inhabited the northern part of the county, bordering the Shawnee Reservation.
