atchison is a city and county seat of atchison county, kansas, united states, and is along the missouri river. as of the 2010 census, its population was 11,021. the city is named for david rice atchison, united states senator from missouri. it was the original eastern starting point of the atchison, topeka and santa fe railway. aviator amelia earhart was born there. the amelia earhart festival is held every year in july. atchison is also home of benedictine college, a catholic liberal-arts college.