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Johnson County Administration Building in Olathe, Kansas. Photo by Susan Howell.
 Johnson County Administration Building

 

 

Johnson County

 Location of Johnson County, Kansas



County Seat: Olathe
Founded: 1855
Population:
    · 451,086   (2000)
    · 335,034   (1990)
    ·   18,104   (1900)
Area: 477 Square Miles
Standard Abbreviation: JO   

 

* History

Map of Johnson County, KS in 1899
Organized in 1855.  County seat Olathe.  Named for Rev. Thomas Johnson, who in 1829 established a mission among the Shawnee Indians about eight miles southwest of Kansas City.  Mr. Johnson took the Pro-Slavery side of politics, and was the President of the first Territorial Council.  He was shot and killed, in January 1865.
 
Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)
 
It's hard to believe that in 1900, Johnson County had fewer people than Jewell County. Today, the area's population is exploding, and new office parks and subdivisions seem to sprout overnight.
 
William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Johnson County.
 
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Olathe, Spring Hill, and Wilder.
 
The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Johnson County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

* Cities, Towns, & Villages of Johnson County

                           2000
    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
    Aubry                                               1090
    Bonita                                              1102
    Cedar                       26  67628                825
    Chouteau                                             770
    Clare                                               1028
    Craig                                                838
    De Soto                  4,561  66018-019            842
    Edgerton                 1,440  66021               1000
    Elmhurst                                            1070
    Fairway                  3,952  66205                950
    Frisbie                                              786
    Gardner                  9,396  66030-031           1160
    Holliday                                             800
    Kenneth                                              872
    Lackmans                                            1051
    Lake Quivira               932  66106                890
    Leawood                 27,656  66209                850
    Lenexa                  40,238  67645                860
    Merriam                 11,008  66202               1000
    Mission                  9,727                      1000
    Mission Hills            3,593  66208                950
    Mission Woods              165  66205                900
    Monticello                                          1010
    Morse                                               1085
    Ocheltree                                           1079
    Olathe                  92,962  66061-66062  1856   1040
    Overland Park          149,080  66210               1000
    Prairie Village         22,072  66202               1050
    Redel                                                900
    Roeland Park             6,817  66202                930
    Shawnee                 47,996  66203               1000
    Spring Hill              2,727  66083               1050
    Stanley                                             1000
    Stilwell                                            1067
    Westwood                 1,533
    Westwood Hills             378                       900
    Wilder                                               776
    Zarah                                                841
U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts about Johnson County

* Libraries

  • Corinth Library   (913) 967-8650
    8100 Mission Road, Shawnee Mission, KS 66208
  • De Soto Library   (913) 583-3106
    33145 West 83rd, DeSoto, KS 66018
  • Gardner Library   (913) 856-7223
    116 E. Main, Gardner, KS 66030
  • Johnson County Library
    8700 W 63rd Street / P. O. Box 2901, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201
  • Lackman Library  
    15345 W. 87th St. Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66219   (913) 752-8750
  • Leawood Pioneer Library   (913) 344-0250
    4700 Town Center Drive, Leawood, KS 66211
  • Oak Park Library   (913) 752-8700
    9500 Bluejacket, Overland Park, KS 66214
  • Olathe Public Library
    201 E. Park, Olathe, KS 66061
  • Shawnee Library   (913) 962-3800
    13811 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS 66216
  • Spring Hill Library   (913) 592-3232
    109 S. Webster, Spring Hill, KS 66083

* Museums

  • Ensor Farmsite and Museum   913-856-6454
    18995 W. 183rd St., Olathe, KS (about four miles S of Olathe, one mile E of 169 Hwy)
    1890 barn made of rough sawed lumber and wooden pegged beams.
    Open: June-Sept., Fri-Sun 1-5p.m & Special appt. 913-856-6454
    Groups may schedule special tours during May & Sept. by calling 913-592-4141.
  • Gardner Historical Museum  
    204 W. Main Street, Gardner, KS 66030
  • Johnson County Museums   913-631-6709
    6305 Lackman Road, Shawnee, KS 66217
       Includes The 1950's All-Electric House
  • Lanesfield School   913-893-6645
    187th & Dillie Rd., Edgerton, KS 66021
  • Legler Barn Museum   913-492-0038
    14907 West 87th Street Parkway., Lenexa, Kansas 66215-4135
  • Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm   913-782-6972
    1100 Kansas City Rd, Olathe, KS 66061

* Johnson County School Systems

* Colleges & Universities

* Newspapers

  • Gardner News   (913) 856-7615 or (913) 592-3542
    Tri-County Newspapers, Inc.
    936 E. Santa Fe / P. O. Box 303, Gardner, KS 66030-0303
  • Kansas City Kansan Online   (913) 371-4300   Fax (913) 342-8620
    P.O. Box 175002, Kansas City, KS 66117
  • Kansas City Record   (913) 362-1988
    P.O. Box 6197 / Kansas City, KS 66106
  • Kansas City Star  
    1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo., 64108
  • The Legal Record   (913) 780-5790
    213 E. Santa Fe, Ste. 2 / Olathe, KS 66061
  • Olathe Daily News   (913) 764-2211
    514 South Kansas Ave., Olathe, KS 66061
  • Spring Hill New Era
    Tri-County Newspapers, Inc.
  • Sun Publications   (913) 381-1010
    7373 W. 107th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212
    Publishes: Johnson Co. Business Times,  The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, and Kansas City Nursing News.

* More Data About Johnson County

Economic Development
  • Kansas County Profile Reports
    Statistical data from The Institute for Policy and Social Research, the University of Kansas
Health Data

* Genealogy

* Johnson County Offices

  • Johnson County   (913) 715-5000
    Santa Fe & Kansas Ave., Olathe, KS 66061
  • Extension Service   (913) 715-7000
    11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite 1500, Olathe, KS 66061
 
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Last updated on November 29, 2009 by COUNTIES@KSLIB.INFO
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photos by Susan Howell,
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