Wakarusa is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Shawnee County, Kansas, United States. Wakarusa is 11 miles (18 km) south of downtown Topeka. Wakarusa has a post office with ZIP code 66546. As of the 2010 census, its population was 260. Wakarusa is also the name of an unincorporated community in adjacent Douglas County, Kansas, 6.6 mi (10.6 km) southwest of downtown Lawrence and the name of the township that includes Lawrence, Kansas.Wakarusa was founded in 1858.