Despite these early European incursions at the start of the 19th century, the area was largely controlled by the Osage people.

[7] These formed the Confederated Allied Tribe, which was led by Baptiste Peoria, who was of both French and Indian ethnicity.

[8] By the 1840s, Euro-American settlers were moving into the area, and several missionaries lived in and near "Peoria Village".

The priest, Father Paul D. Ponziglione, was credited with renaming Peoria Village to Paola, after a small town on the coast of Calabria, Italy.

The Peoria Indians of the area continued to call it Paola, because they had great respect for Father Ponziglione.

[7] By 1854 there was a large number of settlers who moved to the settlement, and a town plat was laid out by 1855.

In 1855, the First Territorial Legislature passed an act that incorporated the Paola Town Company.

[9] Following Kansas' admission to the Union in 1861, Civil War pressure to move the Native American tribes increased, and they were exiled to Oklahoma by 1868.

Some individuals stayed and became citizens of the United States, however, their leader Baptiste Peoria left Paola with the tribe.

From the late 1860s and through the 1870s, Paola grew and progressed, building its first school, jail, and bank.

In 1898 the Miami County Courthouse was built, designed by architect George Washburn.

Martha Smith had the Paola Library building constructed in honor of her husband John, a wine maker.

The Patterson's home still stands in Paola in the 600 block of north Mulberry, as the only remaining structure from the circus winter headquarters.

[10] Paola's town began with the Indian tribes who once lived in the area and used it as their primary gathering place.

[8] Prior to their exile to Oklahoma, Indian leader Baptiste Peoria gave this area to the Paola Town Company (of which he was a member) as a treaty of peace.

In the 1800s the square was used as a track for racing horses in addition to serving as a central point for parades, celebrations, and other community events.

[11] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool dry winters.

[17] The 2020 United States census counted 5,768 people, 2,396 households, and 1,440 families in Paola.

[8] Water recreation and camping are available at Lake Miola, a contemporary Aquatic Center in Wallace Park, the Swan River Museum, and the Miami County Historical and Genealogical Society, and a variety of events held at the Paola Community Center.