Lenexa, Kansas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lenexa is a city in Johnson County, Kansas and a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. The population was 40,238 at the 2000 census. It is well known for being home of "The Great Lenexa Barbeque Battle."[citation needed]
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[edit] History
Twelve years before the town of Lenexa was platted in 1869, a young man named James Butler Hickok staked a claim on 160 acres at what is now the corner of 83rd and Clare Road. At about the same time, a census of the Shawnee Indians living in the area was being taken. One of the residents was listed as "Na-Nex-Se Blackhoof," the widow of Chief Blackhoof, who was the second signer of the 1854 treaty that ceded 1.6 million acres (6,500 km²) of the Kansas Shawnee Indian reservation to the U.S.Government. A few miles east in Westport, Missouri, was the start of the Old Santa Fe Trail. It meandered through the southeast part of Lenexa on its way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Life in eastern Kansas was about to change dramatically.
Later, Mr. Hickok became a scout for the Free-State Army, a sharpshooter and eventually, Wild Bill Hickok, legendary lawman of the Old West. In 1865, shortly before Na-Nex-Se died, the Kansas and Neosho Valley Railroad was organized to take advantage of favorable new land laws. It later changed its name to Missouri River, Ft. Scott and Gulf Railroad and in 1869 purchased a right-of-way from C.A. Bradshaw with the stipulation that the railroad build a depot on the property. Mr. Bradshaw then sold 10.5 acres to Octave Chanute, a railroad civil engineer, who platted a town in 1869. Legend states that the town was first proposed to be named Bradshaw, but he modestly refused and the name "Lenexa," a derivation of the name Na-Nex-Se, was adopted.
[edit] History of Elected Officials
| Name | Title | Timeline | Notable Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dick Gaul | Mayor | Responsible for developing first full time professional police force in Lenexa | |
| Johnna Lingle | City Councilman Mayor |
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| Dennis Manske | City Councilman Mayor |
Born: September 10, 1939; Wayne, Nebraska Signed First Industrial Revenue Bond in Lenexa History Hired Lenexas First Parks and Recreation Director, Bill Nicks. |
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| Gunnard Nelson | Mayor | Particpated in development of "Lenexa 2020" plan | |
| Rich Becker | City Councilman Mayor |
Born: April 16, 1931 Obtained Kansas State House of Represenatives and Kansas State Senate Seats |
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| Joan Bowman | City Councilman Mayor |
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| Mike Boehm | City Councilman Mayor |
Current Mayor |
[edit] Geography
Lenexa is located at (38.964689, -94.759535)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 89.2 km² (34.4 mi²). 88.8 km² (34.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.46%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 40,238 people, 15,574 households, and 10,559 families residing in the city. The population density was 453.2/km² (1,173.8/mi²). There were 16,378 housing units at an average density of 184.5/km² (477.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.50% White,6.50% African American, 0.38% Native American, 3.63% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.60% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.
There were 15,574 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $61,990, and the median income for a family was $76,321. Males had a median income of $50,495 versus $32,166 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,212. About 1.8% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Libraries
The award-winning Johnson County Library provides access to ideas, information, experiences and historical materials that support and enrich people's lives. The Library includes 13 locations throughout Johnson County, including the Lackman Library in Lenexa.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- homepage for the City of Lenexa
- City Data
- LenexaKansas.com
| 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 |
