Johnson County, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Johnson County is a county located in northeast Kansas
, in the central
United States
. The county is largely suburban, being part of the Kansas City metropolitan area
, and containing many of its affluent southwestern suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 544,179. Its county seat
is Olathe
, and its most populous city is Overland Park
. The county has the highest median household income
and highest per-capita income
in Kansas and is among the most affluent in the United States, boasting the 19th highest median household income in 2000 and the 46th highest per-capita income in 2005.
In 2010, Money
magazine, in its list of the 100 Best Cities in the United States in which to live, ranked Overland Park 7th (ranked 6th in 2006 and 9th in 2008) and Shawnee 17th (ranked 39th in 2008). In 2008 the same magazine also ranked Olathe 11th.
, and was one of the first counties established in the Kansas Territory
in 1855. The Oregon-California
and Santa Fe Trail
s, pass through nearby Independence
, Missouri
, also passed through the county. The renowned gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok
settled for a time in the county, becoming constable of Monticello Township in 1858. Johnson County was the site of many battles between Abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates during Bleeding Kansas
. In 1862 Confederate Guerrillas from nearby Missouri led by William Quantrill
raided the Johnson County communities of Olathe and Spring Hill, killing half a dozen men and destroying numerous homes and businesses.
The county was largely rural until the early 20th century, when housing subdivisions were developed in the northeastern portion of the county adjacent to Kansas City
, Missouri. Developer J.C. Nichols spurred the boom in 1914 when he built the Mission Hills Country Club
to lure upscale residents who previously had been reluctant to move from Missouri to Kansas. Suburban development continued at a steady pace until the close of World War II
. Following the war, the pace of development exploded, triggered by the return of soldiers in need of housing and white flight
, a common occurrence throughout the United States during the post-war period. The US Supreme Court 1954 school desegration ruling
and its impact in Kansas City, Missouri contributed to white flight throughout the region, resulting in increased migration from Kansas City, Missouri to the county and the furthering the county's reputation as a destination for quality public schools and as a good location for families. This growth slowed slightly in the 1970s, however beginning in the mid 1980's the pace of growth increased significantly, with the county adding 100,000 residents each decade between the 1990 census and 2010 census.
, county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
, which elected Republican Kevin Yoder
in the 2010 midterm elections. The two U.S. Senators from Kansas are Republican Senators Pat Roberts
and Jerry Moran
. The most affluent county in Kansas, Johnson County is solidly Republican. President George W. Bush
received 61% of the vote in 2004. Johnson County has not supported a Democrat on the Presidential ticket since Woodrow Wilson
in the 1916 election.
and 7 Kansas state senators
. 21 out of 22 of Johnson County's representatives are Republicans, as are all 7 of the county's senators. Most Johnson County Republicans identify themselves as moderates, the more socially progressive and fiscally conservative faction of the Kansas Republican Party. Johnson County House and Senate members at times come into conflict with representatives from other areas of the state, most notably in 2004 in the debate over school finance.
(where Kansas City
, Kansas
is located). The sales tax rates of each of the surrounding counties are nearly the same as the rate in Johnson County. Individual cities also have additional sales taxes that are added on to these figures.
Note: Some cities have multiple tax rates because they are divided among multiple school districts. The above rates are what exist for the majority of residents in the city.
of the county consists of gently rolling terrain. The Kansas River
forms a portion of the northwest boundary of the county. The elevation generally increases from north to south as the distance from the Kansas River and Missouri River
increases.
, Blue River
and Marais des Cygnes River
all of which are part of the Missouri River
watershed. Being located in northeastern Kansas, the county receives plentiful rainfall. Consequently, the county contains numerous small streams, including Kill Creek, Mill Creek, Turkey Creek, Indian Creek, Brush Creek, Tomahawk Creek, the Blue River, Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek.
Kill Creek begins in the southwest portion of the county and flows northward into the Kansas River at DeSoto. Mill Creek begins in the central portion of the county in Olathe, flowing northward it empties into the Kansas River at Shawnee
. Turkey Creek and Brush Creek each begin in northeast Johnson County. Turkey Creek flows northeastward into Wyandotte County
and joins the Kansas River just before its confluence with the Missouri River at Kaw Point
. Brush Creek flows east-northeastward through Prairie Village
and Mission Hills
, entering Kansas City, Missouri within the median of Ward Parkway
and passing the Country Club Plaza
before emptying into the Blue River east of the Country Club Plaza and north of Swope Park
. Indian Creek begins in the southern portion of Olathe and Tomahawk Creek begins in south Overland Park. Each flows northeastward meeting in Leawood
, where the stream retains the name of Indian Creek, just before crossing the state line and entering the Blue River in Kansas City, Missouri. The Blue River begins in rural southern Johnson County and flows north-northeastward through the southeastern portion of the county and crossing the state line just east of the intersection of 151st Street and Kenneth Road in southern Overland Park. The Blue River flows through southern and eastern Kansas City before joining the Missouri River. Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek begin in rural southwestern Johnson County and flow southward where they enter Hillsdale Lake
before continuing into Miami County
, eventually joining the Marais des Cygnes at Paola
.
, there were 451,086 people, 174,570 households, and 121,675 families residing in the county. The population density
was 946 people per square mile (365/km2). There were 181,612 housing units at an average density of 381 per square mile (147/km2). The racial makeup
of the county was 91.11% White
, 2.83% Asian
, 2.61% Black or African American
, 0.33% Native American
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 1.55% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races
. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 3.98% of the population. 25.1% were of German
, 12.2% Irish
, 12.0% English
and 7.9% American
ancestry according to Census 2000.
By 2005 85.8% of Johnson County's population was non-Hispanic whites. 3.7% of the population was African-American. An equal amount were of Asian descent. 0.4% of the population was Native American. 5.5% of the population was Latino.
There were 174,570 household
s out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples
living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.
The median income for a household
in the county was $61,455, and the median income for a family was $72,987. Males had a median income of $49,790 versus $32,145 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $30,919. About 2.10% of families and 3.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.30% of those under age 18 and 3.60% of those age 65 or over.
* Cities included in Shawnee Mission
, a postal designation encompassing cities or regions thereof in northeastern Johnson County. The main Shawnee Mission post office is in Mission
.
, two of which have since been eliminated by the annexation of all their territory into independent municipalities. All of the cities are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.
runs through much of the county, and serves as a developmental "border" in the along the northbound–southbound portion. The westbound–eastbound part of I-435 divides the county into a northern and southern section. The northern section is older, while the southern portion is the fastest-growing area in Johnson County, as well as containing a massive volume of new homes.
The Johnson County street grid begins at around Johnson Drive (near 55th Street), and is a continuation of the adjacent Kansas City, Missouri
street grid. The grid continues to about 175th Street, with most suburban development ending around 159th Street.
Another principal highways running through the area is Interstate 35
, which runs diagonally through the county, entering it near Downtown Kansas City, Missouri and continuing through Olathe and Gardner. Outside the county, it eventually leads to Duluth, Minnesota
in the north and the US–Mexico border in the south. U.S. 69 also serves Johnson County, entering from Wyandotte County at the south end of Interstate 635
. Much of U.S. 69 within the county is freeway; this freeway eventually heads south and connects to Fort Scott
and the rest of southeast Kansas.
Additional information
Maps
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, in the central
Central United States
The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model, roughly coincident with the Midwestern United States plus the western and central portions of the Southern United States; the term is also sometimes used...
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The county is largely suburban, being part of the Kansas City metropolitan area
Kansas City Metropolitan Area
The Kansas City Metropolitan Area is a fifteen-county metropolitan area that is anchored by Kansas City, Missouri and is bisected by the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. As of the 2010 Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 2,035,334. The metropolitan area is the...
, and containing many of its affluent southwestern suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 544,179. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Olathe
Olathe, Kansas
Olathe is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. Located in northeastern Kansas, it is also the fifth most populous city in the state, with a population of 125,872 at the 2010 census. As a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Olathe is the fourth-largest city in the...
, and its most populous city is Overland Park
Overland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
. The county has the highest median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
and highest per-capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
in Kansas and is among the most affluent in the United States, boasting the 19th highest median household income in 2000 and the 46th highest per-capita income in 2005.
In 2010, Money
Money Magazine
Money Magazine is a business news and financial programme that is broadcast on Sundays at 7:00pm in Hong Kong by television channel TVB Pearl.-Producers and reporters:...
magazine, in its list of the 100 Best Cities in the United States in which to live, ranked Overland Park 7th (ranked 6th in 2006 and 9th in 2008) and Shawnee 17th (ranked 39th in 2008). In 2008 the same magazine also ranked Olathe 11th.
History
Johnson County is named for Thomas JohnsonThomas Johnson (Kansas)
Thomas Johnson was a Methodist missionary and a member of the Kansas territorial legislature. He was robbed and murdered in 1865. Johnson County, Kansas is named for him...
, and was one of the first counties established in the Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
in 1855. The Oregon-California
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
s, pass through nearby Independence
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, also passed through the county. The renowned gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok , better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized.Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach...
settled for a time in the county, becoming constable of Monticello Township in 1858. Johnson County was the site of many battles between Abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates during Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas, Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a series of violent events, involving anti-slavery Free-Staters and pro-slavery "Border Ruffian" elements, that took place in the Kansas Territory and the western frontier towns of the U.S. state of Missouri roughly between 1854 and 1858...
. In 1862 Confederate Guerrillas from nearby Missouri led by William Quantrill
William Quantrill
William Clarke Quantrill was a Confederate guerrilla leader during the American Civil War. After leading a Confederate bushwhacker unit along the Missouri-Kansas border in the early 1860s, which included the infamous raid and sacking of Lawrence, Kansas in 1863, Quantrill eventually ended up in...
raided the Johnson County communities of Olathe and Spring Hill, killing half a dozen men and destroying numerous homes and businesses.
The county was largely rural until the early 20th century, when housing subdivisions were developed in the northeastern portion of the county adjacent to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri. Developer J.C. Nichols spurred the boom in 1914 when he built the Mission Hills Country Club
Mission Hills Country Club (Kansas)
The Mission Hills Country Club is a private club and golf course in Mission Hills, Kansas.The Club, on the banks and hills of Brush Creek, was founded on June 30, 1914, largely through the efforts of J.C. Nichols, who was also developing the upscale planned community of Mission Hills...
to lure upscale residents who previously had been reluctant to move from Missouri to Kansas. Suburban development continued at a steady pace until the close of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Following the war, the pace of development exploded, triggered by the return of soldiers in need of housing and white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
, a common occurrence throughout the United States during the post-war period. The US Supreme Court 1954 school desegration ruling
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
and its impact in Kansas City, Missouri contributed to white flight throughout the region, resulting in increased migration from Kansas City, Missouri to the county and the furthering the county's reputation as a destination for quality public schools and as a good location for families. This growth slowed slightly in the 1970s, however beginning in the mid 1980's the pace of growth increased significantly, with the county adding 100,000 residents each decade between the 1990 census and 2010 census.
Law and government
Laws
Johnson County was a prohibition, or "dry"Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
, county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
Federal representation
Johnson County is a part of Kansas's 3rd congressional districtKansas's 3rd congressional district
Kansas's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kansas. Located in eastern Kansas, the district encompasses Wyandotte and Johnson counties, which include the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, and portions of Douglas County, which includes part of the college town...
, which elected Republican Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
Kevin W. Yoder is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He was the Kansas State Representative for the 20th district from 2002 until 2011.-Early life, education, and career:...
in the 2010 midterm elections. The two U.S. Senators from Kansas are Republican Senators Pat Roberts
Pat Roberts
Charles Patrick "Pat" Roberts is the senior United States Senator from Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, he has served since 1997...
and Jerry Moran
Jerry Moran
Jerry Moran is the junior U.S. Senator from Kansas and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing ....
. The most affluent county in Kansas, Johnson County is solidly Republican. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
received 61% of the vote in 2004. Johnson County has not supported a Democrat on the Presidential ticket since Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
in the 1916 election.
State representation
Johnson County is home to 22 Kansas state representativesKansas House of Representatives
The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. State of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on...
and 7 Kansas state senators
Kansas Senate
The Kansas Senate is the upper house of the Kansas Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Kansas. It is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal amount of districts, each with a population of at least 60,000 inhabitants. Members of the Senate are elected to a four year term....
. 21 out of 22 of Johnson County's representatives are Republicans, as are all 7 of the county's senators. Most Johnson County Republicans identify themselves as moderates, the more socially progressive and fiscally conservative faction of the Kansas Republican Party. Johnson County House and Senate members at times come into conflict with representatives from other areas of the state, most notably in 2004 in the debate over school finance.
County Government & Unincorporated Areas
The county government is administered by an elected, seven-member Board of County Commissioners. Ed Eilert, former mayor of Overland Park serves as the current County Chairman. Governance of the county is divided into six districts. The county government has full jurisdiction of the unincorporated areas of the county and limited jurisdiction of those areas of the county within incorporated places. For instance, decisions regarding the regulation of land use, development and zoning in unincorporated areas of the county are the responsibility of the county government, whereas such decisions for areas within incorporated places are the jurisdiction of the incorporated city of which the property is a part.| District | Area Served | Commissioner | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | Northeast | C. Edward Peterson | January 12, 2015 |
| Two | North | James Allen | January 14, 2014 |
| Three | Southeast | David Lindstrom | January 14, 2013 |
| Four | East Central | Jason Osterhaus | January 12, 2015 |
| Five | West Central | Michael Ashcraft | January 12, 2015 |
| Six | Western | Calvin Hayden | January 14, 2013 |
Incorporated Places
There are twenty incorporated places with land area within Johnson County.Sales taxes
The current sales tax rate in Johnson County is 6.4%, slightly higher than the 6.3% rate in WyandotteWyandotte County, Kansas
Wyandotte County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The county's population was 157,505 for the 2010 census. Its county seat and most populous city is Kansas City with which it shares a unified government...
(where Kansas City
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
is located). The sales tax rates of each of the surrounding counties are nearly the same as the rate in Johnson County. Individual cities also have additional sales taxes that are added on to these figures.
Property taxes
Property taxes are a conglomeration of state, county, city, and school district taxes. Property tax rates are generally lower in Johnson County because property values in the county are higher than in other counties throughout Kansas.| City | Commercial | Real Property | Motor Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Soto | 3.20 | 1.47 | 3.84 |
| Gardner | 3.39 | 1.56 | 4.07 |
| Leawood | 3.39 | 1.56 | 4.07 |
| Lenexa | 2.75 | 1.26 | 3.30 |
| Merriam | 2.57 | 1.18 | 3.08 |
| Olathe | 3.09 | 1.42 | 3.71 |
| Overland Park | 2.31 | 1.06 | 2.77 |
| Prairie Village | 2.71 | 1.25 | 3.25 |
| Shawnee | 2.61 | 1.20 | 3.13 |
Note: Some cities have multiple tax rates because they are divided among multiple school districts. The above rates are what exist for the majority of residents in the city.
Topography
The natural topographyTopography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
of the county consists of gently rolling terrain. The Kansas River
Kansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
forms a portion of the northwest boundary of the county. The elevation generally increases from north to south as the distance from the Kansas River and Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
increases.
Watersheds & Streams
The county is drained by the watersheds of the Kansas RiverKansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
, Blue River
Blue River (Missouri)
The Blue River is a stream that flows through Johnson County, Kansas and Jackson County, Missouri in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The river rises in Johnson County near the border of the states of Kansas and Missouri...
and Marais des Cygnes River
Marais des Cygnes River
The Marais des Cygnes River is a principal tributary of the Osage River, about long, in eastern Kansas and western Missouri in the United States. Via the Osage and Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
all of which are part of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
watershed. Being located in northeastern Kansas, the county receives plentiful rainfall. Consequently, the county contains numerous small streams, including Kill Creek, Mill Creek, Turkey Creek, Indian Creek, Brush Creek, Tomahawk Creek, the Blue River, Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek.
Kill Creek begins in the southwest portion of the county and flows northward into the Kansas River at DeSoto. Mill Creek begins in the central portion of the county in Olathe, flowing northward it empties into the Kansas River at Shawnee
Shawnee, Kansas
Shawnee is a city located in northwest Johnson County, Kansas, United States and is a western suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 62,209. Shawnee's fur trading and pioneering heritage blends histories of these Kansas Territory townships: Monticello and...
. Turkey Creek and Brush Creek each begin in northeast Johnson County. Turkey Creek flows northeastward into Wyandotte County
Wyandotte County, Kansas
Wyandotte County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The county's population was 157,505 for the 2010 census. Its county seat and most populous city is Kansas City with which it shares a unified government...
and joins the Kansas River just before its confluence with the Missouri River at Kaw Point
Kaw Point
Kaw Point is the name given to the point where the Kansas River terminates at the Missouri River in the West Bottoms area of Kansas City, Kansas. Kaw Point is also where the Missouri ceases its southerly course and turns to flow generally east through the State of Missouri to the Mississippi River...
. Brush Creek flows east-northeastward through Prairie Village
Prairie Village, Kansas
Prairie Village is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 21,447.- History :...
and Mission Hills
Mission Hills, Kansas
Mission Hills is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,498. The city is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, which is adjacent to the east, across the aptly named State Line Road. Mission Hills was originally developed by noted Kansas...
, entering Kansas City, Missouri within the median of Ward Parkway
Ward Parkway
Ward Parkway is a boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri near the Kansas-Missouri state line. Ward Parkway begins at Brookside Boulevard on the eastern edge of the Country Club Plaza and continues westward along Brush Creek as U.S. Route 56 until it turns southward across the creek just before the...
and passing the Country Club Plaza
Country Club Plaza
The Country Club Plaza is an upscale shopping district and residential neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It was the first shopping center in the world designed to accommodate shoppers arriving by automobile...
before emptying into the Blue River east of the Country Club Plaza and north of Swope Park
Swope Park
Swope Park is an 1805-acre city park within the city of Kansas City, Missouri. It is the 29th-largest municipal park in the United States , and the largest park in Kansas City. It is named in honor of Colonel Thomas H. Swope, a philanthropist who donated the land to the city in 1896...
. Indian Creek begins in the southern portion of Olathe and Tomahawk Creek begins in south Overland Park. Each flows northeastward meeting in Leawood
Leawood, Kansas
Leawood is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The city is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri and is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 31,867.-History:...
, where the stream retains the name of Indian Creek, just before crossing the state line and entering the Blue River in Kansas City, Missouri. The Blue River begins in rural southern Johnson County and flows north-northeastward through the southeastern portion of the county and crossing the state line just east of the intersection of 151st Street and Kenneth Road in southern Overland Park. The Blue River flows through southern and eastern Kansas City before joining the Missouri River. Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek begin in rural southwestern Johnson County and flow southward where they enter Hillsdale Lake
Hillsdale Lake
Hillsdale Lake is a reservoir located in the northwestern part of Miami County, in northeast Kansas and the central United States of America; it is approximately from Kansas City. The surface area of the lake is approximately , and the lake has a maximum depth of approximately .-External...
before continuing into Miami County
Miami County, Kansas
Miami County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 32,787. Its county seat and most populous city is Paola...
, eventually joining the Marais des Cygnes at Paola
Paola, Kansas
Paola is a city in and the county seat of Miami County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,602.-History:...
.
Flora & Fauna
The county consists primarily of prairie grassland with corridors of forested areas along streams and rivers.Land & Water Area
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 480.15 square miles (1,243.6 km²), of which 476.78 square miles (1,234.9 km²) (or 99.30%) is land and 3.37 square miles (8.7 km²) (or 0.70%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Wyandotte CountyWyandotte County, KansasWyandotte County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The county's population was 157,505 for the 2010 census. Its county seat and most populous city is Kansas City with which it shares a unified government...
(north) - Jackson CountyJackson County, MissouriJackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
(east) - Cass CountyCass County, MissouriCass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 99,478. Its county seat is Harrisonville. The county was organized in 1835 as "Van Buren County", renamed in 1848 after Michigan U.S...
, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
(southeast) - Miami CountyMiami County, KansasMiami County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 32,787. Its county seat and most populous city is Paola...
(south) - Franklin CountyFranklin County, KansasFranklin County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 25,992. Its county seat and most populous city is Ottawa...
(southwest) - Douglas CountyDouglas County, KansasDouglas County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 110,826...
(west) - Leavenworth CountyLeavenworth County, KansasLeavenworth County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 76,227. Its county seat and most populous city is Leavenworth...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the U.S. Census in 2000United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, there were 451,086 people, 174,570 households, and 121,675 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 946 people per square mile (365/km2). There were 181,612 housing units at an average density of 381 per square mile (147/km2). The racial makeup
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of the county was 91.11% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 2.83% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 2.61% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.33% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 1.55% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
. Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race were 3.98% of the population. 25.1% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 12.2% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 12.0% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 7.9% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
By 2005 85.8% of Johnson County's population was non-Hispanic whites. 3.7% of the population was African-American. An equal amount were of Asian descent. 0.4% of the population was Native American. 5.5% of the population was Latino.
There were 174,570 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.
The median income for a household
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
in the county was $61,455, and the median income for a family was $72,987. Males had a median income of $49,790 versus $32,145 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $30,919. About 2.10% of families and 3.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.30% of those under age 18 and 3.60% of those age 65 or over.
Incorporated cities
Name and population (2005 estimate):- Overland ParkOverland Park, Kansas-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
,* 164,811 - OlatheOlathe, KansasOlathe is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. Located in northeastern Kansas, it is also the fifth most populous city in the state, with a population of 125,872 at the 2010 census. As a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Olathe is the fourth-largest city in the...
, 111,334 (county seat) - ShawneeShawnee, KansasShawnee is a city located in northwest Johnson County, Kansas, United States and is a western suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 62,209. Shawnee's fur trading and pioneering heritage blends histories of these Kansas Territory townships: Monticello and...
,* 57,628 - LenexaLenexa, KansasLenexa is a city in the central part of Johnson County, located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,190. As a satellite city of Kansas City, Kansas, Lenexa is included in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
,* 43,434 - LeawoodLeawood, KansasLeawood is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The city is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri and is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 31,867.-History:...
,* 30,145 - Prairie VillagePrairie Village, KansasPrairie Village is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 21,447.- History :...
,* 21,454 - GardnerGardner, KansasGardner is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 19,123.-History:Gardner was founded where the California Trail and Santa Fe Trail divided, sending travelers due west over the mountains and through Colorado and Salt Lake City toward San...
, 14,317 - MerriamMerriam, KansasMerriam is a city in the northeastern part of Johnson County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,003. As a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, it is included in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
,* 10,769 - MissionMission, KansasMission is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 9,727 at the 2000 census. The city is a first-tier suburb in the Kansas City Metro. In 2003, Mission absorbed the neighboring city of Countryside.- History :...
,* 9,751 - Roeland ParkRoeland Park, KansasRoeland Park is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 6,817 at the 2000 census.-History:The City of Roeland Park was originally named after John Roe, an immigrant from Ireland who settled on in 1883, part of which Roeland Park now stands...
,* 6,975 - Bonner SpringsBonner Springs, KansasBonner Springs is a river city in Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a suburb in the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. The vast majority of the city, which lies in Wyandotte County, is part of the "Unified Government" which contains Kansas City,...
, 6,942, of which about 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) is inside the county with the majority being in Wyandotte CountyWyandotte County, KansasWyandotte County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The county's population was 157,505 for the 2010 census. Its county seat and most populous city is Kansas City with which it shares a unified government...
and Leavenworth CountyLeavenworth County, KansasLeavenworth County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 76,227. Its county seat and most populous city is Leavenworth... - De SotoDe Soto, KansasDe Soto is a city in Johnson and Leavenworth counties in the U.S. state of Kansas, along the Kansas River. The population was 4,561 at the 2000 census...
, 5,170 - Spring HillSpring Hill, KansasSpring Hill is a city in Johnson and Miami counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,437.-History:In 1856, James B. Hovey named the community after a town near Mobile, Alabama...
, 4,494 - FairwayFairway, KansasFairway is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. The population was 3,952 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fairway is located at...
,* 3,840 - Mission HillsMission Hills, KansasMission Hills is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,498. The city is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, which is adjacent to the east, across the aptly named State Line Road. Mission Hills was originally developed by noted Kansas...
,* 3,523 - EdgertonEdgerton, KansasEdgerton is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,671.-History:BNSF Railway Company announced in October 2010 plans to build its new 443-acre $250 million intermodal shipping facility in Edgerton, and after complete will replace the...
, 1,692 - WestwoodWestwood, KansasWestwood is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,506. It is a suburb of Kansas City.-Geography:Westwood is located at...
,* 1,488 - Lake QuiviraLake Quivira, KansasLake Quivira is a city in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. The population was 932 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lake Quivira is located at ....
,* 919, of which a quarter of the city lies in Wyandotte CountyWyandotte County, KansasWyandotte County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The county's population was 157,505 for the 2010 census. Its county seat and most populous city is Kansas City with which it shares a unified government... - Westwood HillsWestwood Hills, KansasWestwood Hills is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 378 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Westwood Hills is located at...
,* 365 - Mission WoodsMission Woods, KansasMission Woods is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 178.-Geography:Mission Woods is located at...
,* 160
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Shawnee Mission, Kansas is a name created by the United States Postal Service to describe an area of Johnson County, Kansas that contains numerous towns. Parts of southern Overland Park are not part of Shawnee Mission as they were annexed from unincorporated Stanley and use zip code 66085...
, a postal designation encompassing cities or regions thereof in northeastern Johnson County. The main Shawnee Mission post office is in Mission
Mission, Kansas
Mission is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 9,727 at the 2000 census. The city is a first-tier suburb in the Kansas City Metro. In 2003, Mission absorbed the neighboring city of Countryside.- History :...
.
Townships
Johnson County was originally divided into nine townshipsCivil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
, two of which have since been eliminated by the annexation of all their territory into independent municipalities. All of the cities are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.
| Township | FIPS | Population center |
Population | Population density /km² (/sq mi) |
Land area km² (sq mi) | Water area km² (sq mi) | Water % | Geographic coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aubry Aubry Township, Johnson County, Kansas Aubry Township is one of seven townships in Johnson County, Kansas, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 5,440.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Aubry Township covers an area of 48.85 square miles ; of this, 48.7 square miles is land and 0.15 square miles Aubry... |
03225 | 5,440 | 43 (112) | 126 (49) | 0 (0) | 0.31% | 38°46′48"N 94°41′4"W | |
| Gardner | 25450 | 2,143 | 21 (55) | 102 (39) | 1 (0) | 0.53% | 38°49′7"N 94°54′31"W | |
| Lexington | 39800 | 1,315 | 10 (25) | 135 (52) | 2 (1) | 1.79% | 38°55′0"N 95°0′13"W | |
| McCamish | 43625 | 878 | 8 (20) | 112 (43) | 0 (0) | 0.34% | 38°47′22"N 94°59′48"W | |
| Monticello | 47950 | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 % | 39°1′59"N 94°47′57"W | |
| Olathe | 52600 | 1,187 | 27 (70) | 44 (17) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | 38°54′21"N 94°49′18"W | |
| Oxford | 53825 | 2,020 | 121 (313) | 17 (6) | 0 (0) | 1.54% | 38°49′58"N 94°40′54"W | |
| Shawnee | 64525 | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 % | 39°1′51"N 94°47′47"W | |
| Spring Hill | 67650 | 2,059 | 29 (76) | 70 (27) | 0 (0) | 0.30% | 38°46′35"N 94°48′55"W | |
| Sources: | ||||||||
Transportation and infrastructure
Johnson County has a grid network through most of the county with a road every mile. The grid has facilitated rapid growth and easy access. Interstate 435Interstate 435
Interstate 435 is an Interstate Highway beltway that encircles much of the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area in the states of Kansas and Missouri, USA.- Route description :...
runs through much of the county, and serves as a developmental "border" in the along the northbound–southbound portion. The westbound–eastbound part of I-435 divides the county into a northern and southern section. The northern section is older, while the southern portion is the fastest-growing area in Johnson County, as well as containing a massive volume of new homes.
The Johnson County street grid begins at around Johnson Drive (near 55th Street), and is a continuation of the adjacent Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
street grid. The grid continues to about 175th Street, with most suburban development ending around 159th Street.
Another principal highways running through the area is Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
, which runs diagonally through the county, entering it near Downtown Kansas City, Missouri and continuing through Olathe and Gardner. Outside the county, it eventually leads to Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
in the north and the US–Mexico border in the south. U.S. 69 also serves Johnson County, entering from Wyandotte County at the south end of Interstate 635
Interstate 635
Interstate 635 may refer to:* Interstate 635 , a connector highway between Interstate 35 in Overland Park, Kansas and Interstate 29 in Kansas City, Missouri...
. Much of U.S. 69 within the county is freeway; this freeway eventually heads south and connects to Fort Scott
Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States, south of Kansas City, on the Marmaton River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Fort Scott National...
and the rest of southeast Kansas.
Major highways
- I-35 – Southwest corner with Franklin County northeast through Edgerton, Gardner, Olathe, Lenexa, Overland Park, and Merriam to the northeast corner with downtown Kansas City
- I-435 – Northern border with Wyandotte County south through Shawnee and Lenexa to K-10 then east through Overland Park and Leawood to the Missouri border
- K-10 – Western border with Douglas County east through DeSoto, Lenexa, and Olathe to I-435
- US-69 – Southeast border with Miami County north through Stilwell and Overland Park past I-435 to I-35
- K-7K-7 (Kansas highway)K-7 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. It is mostly a small country highway winding its way through the Osage Questas and Glaciated Regions of eastern Kansas, although a portion of the highway passes through the Kansas City metropolitan area. Significant portions of the highway overlap...
– Southern border with Miami County north through Spring Hill, Olathe, Lenexa, and Shawnee to Wyandotte County - US-56 Southwest border with Douglas County east though Edgerton and Gardner to I-35
- US-169U.S. Route 169U.S. Route 169 currently runs for 966 miles from the city of Virginia, Minnesota to Tulsa, Oklahoma at U.S. Route 64.-Oklahoma:U.S. Highway 169 is a major south–north highway spanning in Oklahoma. The southern terminus for US-169 is Memorial Drive...
– Southern border with Miami County. Joins with I-35 in Olathe.
Other major roads
- Shawnee Mission ParkwayShawnee Mission ParkwayShawnee Mission Parkway is a stretch of roadway in Johnson County, Kansas and Jackson County, Missouri . Its western terminus at K-7 in Shawnee, Kansas and its eastern terminus at Ward Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri...
– Interchange with K-7 in Shawnee east through Merriam, Mission, Fairway, and Mission Woods then joining up with Ward Parkway in Missouri - Metcalf Avenue – Runs parallel with US-69 from Miami County north through Stilwell and Overland Park past I-435 and Shawnee Mission Parkway to join up with I-635 and I-35 in Wyandotte County
- 135th Street / Santa Fe Street – Interchange with State Line Road at MO-150 in south Kansas City, Missouri, west to Spoon Creek Road. Within the city limits of Olathe, 135th Street is legally known as Santa Fe Street. The numbering system changes to reflect the change in street name.
- 175/179th Street – Interchange with US-56 and I-35 as 175th St. east to Pflumm Rd. where it turns southeast to become 179th street then east to US-69 and Metcalf Ave.
- 199th Street – Intersection with US-56 in Edgerton east through Spring Hill and Stilwell to the Missouri border
- 119th Street – Major street that connects Olathe, Overland Park, and I-35 to each other.
- 151st Street – Major street that connects I-35 with U.S. 69 skirting the Johnson County Executive AirportJohnson County Executive AirportJohnson County Executive Airport is a public airport located four miles southeast of the central business district of Olathe, a city in Johnson County, Kansas, USA.The facility is the fourth busiest airport in the state of Kansas.-History:...
and The Great Plains Mall.
Unified school districts
- Blue Valley USD 229 (Web site)
- Spring Hill USD 230 (Web site)
- Gardner EdgertonGardner-Edgerton Unified School DistrictThe Gardner-Edgerton Unified School District is one of the major school districts in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. , the district comprises 1 high school, 2 middle schools, and 6 elementary schools...
USD 231 (Web site) - De SotoDe Soto School DistrictThe De Soto School District is a public school district in northwestern Johnson County, Kansas, United States. Named after De Soto, Kansas, the district encompasses over serving the city of De Soto and approximately 60% of Shawnee, 40% of Lenexa, 10% of Olathe and other smaller towns around those...
USD 232 (Web site) - OlatheOlathe School DistrictThe Olathe Unified School District is one of the major school districts in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. , the district comprises 4 high schools, 9 middle schools, and 34 elementary schools.-Administration:...
USD 233 (Web site) - Shawnee MissionShawnee Mission School DistrictThe Shawnee Mission School District is one of the major school districts in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Located in northeast Johnson County, Kansas, the school district enrolled approximately 40,000 students in the 2009-2010 school year...
USD 512 (Web site)
Colleges and universities
- Johnson County Community CollegeJohnson County Community CollegeJohnson County Community College Is referred to locally by the synechdoche "Ju-co", and is located in Overland Park, Kansas at College Boulevard and Quivira Road.-History:...
(Web site) - University of KansasUniversity of KansasThe University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, Edwards Campus (Web site) - MidAmerica Nazarene UniversityMidAmerica Nazarene UniversityMidAmerica Nazarene University is a Christian liberal arts college in Olathe, Kansas. It was established in 1966 by the Church of the Nazarene.-History:Mid-America Nazarene College was founded in 1966...
(Web site)
Popular culture
- Johnson County was the setting of the TV show Married to the KellysMarried to the KellysMarried to the Kellys is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 2003 to 2004 with a run of 22 episodes. Set in a suburb of Kansas City, the series stars Breckin Meyer and Kiele Sanchez. The show was a part of the TGIF Friday night line up, after Hope and Faith, airing at 9:30 EST...
. - Overland Park is the setting for The United States of Tara.
- Blue Valley Northwest High SchoolBlue Valley Northwest High SchoolBlue Valley Northwest High School is a high school in Overland Park, Kansas. It is part of the Blue Valley Unified School District. Blue Valley Northwest is one of several schools located within the city limits of Overland Park. The school colors are purple, black, and white...
students were featured in the series High School ConfidentialHigh School Confidential (TV series)High School Confidential is an eight-part documentary television series created by Sharon Liese following twelve high school teenagers from Blue Valley Northwest High. The show airs on the WE tv. The original run began on March 10, 2008 and concluded on April 28, 2008....
, centered in south Johnson County.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Johnson County, KansasNational Register of Historic Places listings in Johnson County, KansasThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Johnson County, Kansas.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Johnson County, Kansas, United States...
Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook), (Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
Official sites- Johnson County
- Johnson County History
- Johnson County Library
- Johnson County Genealogical Society and Library
Additional information
Maps
- 2010 Johnson County Map, KDOT
- 2011 Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
- 2011 Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
- 2005 Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE