Baldwin City is a city in Douglas County, Kansas, United States about 12 miles (19 km) south of Lawrence and 15 miles (24 km) west of Gardner. It is part of the Lawrence, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,400 at the 2000 census. The city is home to Baker University, the oldest four-year university in the state. It is the only town with its name in the United States.