Johnson County, Kansas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Johnson County, Kansas | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Kansas |
|
 Kansas's location in the USA |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | August 25, 1855 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Olathe |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
480 sq mi (1,244 km²) 477 sq mi (1,235 km²) 3 sq mi (9 km²), 0.70% |
| Population - (2005) - Density |
506,562 1062.0/sq mi (410.2/km²) |
| Time zone | Central : UTC-6/-5 |
| Website: www.jocogov.org | |
Johnson County (standard abbreviation: JO) is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States. The population was estimated to be 506,562 in the year 2005,[1] making it the most populous county in the state. Its county seat is Olathe,[2] and its most populous city is Overland Park. Johnson County has the highest median income in the state and the nation's 43rd highest per-person income and 62nd highest median household income. Most of the county is suburban, being a part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
Contents |
[edit] History
Johnson County is named for Rev. Thomas Johnson, and was one of the first counties established in the Kansas Territory in 1855. The Oregon-California and Santa Fe Trails, that originated in nearby Independence, Missouri, passed through the county. The renowned gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok settled for a time in the county, becoming constable of Monticello Township in 1858.
The county was largely rural until the early 20th Century, when communities such as Overland Park and Mission Hills were developed as suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri. Suburban development boomed after World War II and the later desegregation of the Kansas City, Missouri, schools.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,244 km² (480 mi²), of which 1,235 km² (477 mi²) is land and 9 km² (3 mi²), or 0.70%, is water.[3]
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Wyandotte County (north)
- Jackson County, Missouri (east)
- Cass County, Missouri (southeast)
- Miami County (south)
- Franklin County (southwest)
- Douglas County (west)
- Leavenworth County (northwest)
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 4,364 |
|
|
| 1870 | 13,648 | 212.7% | |
| 1880 | 16,853 | 23.5% | |
| 1890 | 17,385 | 3.2% | |
| 1900 | 18,104 | 4.1% | |
| 1910 | 18,288 | 1.0% | |
| 1920 | 18,314 | 0.1% | |
| 1930 | 21,179 | 15.6% | |
| 1940 | 33,327 | 57.4% | |
| 1950 | 62,783 | 88.4% | |
| 1960 | 143,792 | 129.0% | |
| 1970 | 220,073 | 53.0% | |
| 1980 | 270,269 | 22.8% | |
| 1990 | 357,048 | 32.1% | |
| 2000 | 451,086 | 26.3% | |
Johnson County's population was estimated to be 506,562 in the year 2005, an increase of 51,980, or +11.4%, over the previous five years.[1]
As of the U.S. Census in 2000,[4] there were 451,086 people, 174,570 households, and 121,675 families residing in the county. The population density was 365/km² (946/mi²). There were 181,612 housing units at an average density of 147/km² (381/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.11% White, 2.61% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American or Alaska Native, 2.83% Asian, 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.
There were 174,570 households 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.
[edit] Law and government
[edit] Federal representation
Johnson County is a part of Kansas's 3rd congressional district, which has been represented by Democrat Dennis Moore since 1999. The two U.S. Senators from Kansas are Republican Senator Sam Brownback and Republican Pat Roberts. Johnson County, like most Kansas counties, has historically voted Republican. Democrat Moore has been able to win elections in the district partially due to larger concentrations of Democratic voters who live in Wyandotte County, Kansas and in Douglas County, Kansas.
[edit] Sales taxes
The current sales tax rate in Johnson County is 7.525%, slightly higher than the 6.3% rate in Wyandotte (where Kansas City, Kansas is located).[5] The sales tax rates of each of the surrounding counties are nearly the same as the rate in Johnson County.[5] Individual cities also have additional sales taxes that are added on to these figures.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Cities and towns
[edit] Incorporated cities
Name and population (2005 estimate):[7]
- Overland Park,* 164,811
- Olathe, 111,334 (county seat)
- Shawnee,* 57,628
- Lenexa,* 43,434
- Leawood,* 30,145
- Prairie Village,* 21,454
- Gardner, 14,317
- Merriam,* 10,769
- Mission,* 9,751
- Roeland Park,* 6,975
- Bonner Springs, 6,942, of which about 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) is inside the county with the majority being in Wyandotte County
- De Soto, 5,170
- Spring Hill, 4,494
- Fairway,* 3,840
- Mission Hills,* 3,523
- Edgerton, 1,692
- Westwood,* 1,488
- Lake Quivira,* 919, of which a quarter of the city lies in Wyandotte County
- Westwood Hills,* 365
- Mission Woods,* 160
*Cities included in Shawnee Mission, KS, a postal designation encompassing the cities in northern and eastern Johnson County. The main Shawnee Mission post office is in Mission.
[edit] Unincorporated places
- Aubry**
- Bonita
- Clare
- Countryside, formerly a city, consolidated with the city of Mission in 2003.
- Morse**
- Ocheltree
- Stanley**
- Stilwell**
**These areas are today within Overland Park city limits, but were at one point unincorporated towns.
[edit] Townships
Johnson County is divided into nine townships. 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 (/mi²) |
Land area km² (mi²) |
Water area km² (mi²) |
Water % | Geographic coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aubry | 03225 | 5,440 | 43 (112) | 126 (49) | 0 (0) | 0.31% | ||
| Gardner | 25450 | 2,143 | 21 (55) | 102 (39) | 1 (0) | 0.53% | ||
| Lexington | 39800 | 1,315 | 10 (25) | 135 (52) | 2 (1) | 1.79% | ||
| McCamish | 43625 | 878 | 8 (20) | 112 (43) | 0 (0) | 0.34% | ||
| Monticello | 47950 | 0 | 0 (0) | 1 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 % | ||
| Olathe | 52600 | 1,187 | 27 (70) | 44 (17) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | ||
| Oxford | 53825 | 2,020 | 121 (313) | 17 (6) | 0 (0) | 1.54% | ||
| Shawnee | 64525 | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 % | ||
| Spring Hill | 67650 | 2,059 | 29 (76) | 70 (27) | 0 (0) | 0.30% | ||
| Sources: [3]Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files. U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. | ||||||||
[edit] Libraries
- Johnson County Library Free wireless [1]
- Olathe Public Library Free wireless [2]
[edit] Education
[edit] Unified school districts
- Blue Valley USD 229 (Web site)
- Spring Hill USD 230 (Web site)
- Gardner-Edgerton USD 231 (Web site)
- DeSoto USD 232 (Web site)
- Olathe USD 233 (Web site)
- Shawnee Mission USD 512 (Web site)
[edit] Colleges and universities
- Johnson County Community College (Web site)
- University of Kansas, Edwards Campus (Web site)
- MidAmerica Nazarene University
[edit] See also
Information on this and other counties in Kansas
- List of counties in Kansas
- List of Kansas county name etymologies
- Kansas locations by per capita income
Other information for Kansas
- List of cities in Kansas
- List of unified school districts in Kansas
- List of colleges and universities in Kansas
[edit] References
- See also: Geographic references and United States Census, 2000
- ^ a b Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Annual estimates of the population through 2005-07-01. Released 2006-03-16.
- ^ An additional source of county seats by state is Campbell's List.
- ^ a b Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files. U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division.
- ^ Census 2000 Gateway. U.S. Census Bureau.
- ^ a b Kansas County Treasurer's Association Kansas Sales Tax Rates by County
- ^ Kansas City Area Development Council ThinkKC Property Taxes (accessed 6/7/06)
- ^ Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Annual estimates of the population through 2005-07-01. Released 2006-06-21.
[edit] External links
Official sites
- Johnson County
- Johnson County Election Office
- Johnson County Community College
- Johnson County History
- Johnson County Library
- Johnson County Genealogical Society and Library
- Johnson County Public Health
- Johnson County Flu Facts
Additional information
| Metropolitan area of Kansas City |  |
|---|---|
| Central City: Kansas City, Missouri Largest cities (over 100,000 in 2000): Independence • Kansas City, Kansas • Olathe • Overland Park Medium-sized cities (10,000 to 100,000 in 2000): Blue Springs • Belton • Excelsior Springs • Gladstone • Grandview • Lansing • Leawood • Leavenworth • Lee's Summit • Lenexa • Liberty • Merriam • Ottawa • Prairie Village • Raymore • Raytown • Shawnee Counties: Jackson • Clay • Cass • Platte • Lafayette • Ray • Clinton • Bates • Caldwell • Johnson • Wyandotte • Leavenworth • Miami • Franklin • Linn |
