Johnson County, Kansas

Johnson County (standard abbreviation: JO) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The 2000 census shows the county's population to be 451,086. However, a 2005 estimate puts the population at over 500,000, making the county the most populated in the state. The county seat is Olathe. Johnson County has the 62nd highest median household income and 43rd highest per-person income in the United States and the highest median income in Kansas. Most of Johnson County is suburban, being part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

The area is 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 Democrat voters that live in Wyandotte County, Kansas and in Douglas County, Kansas.

History

Johnson County is named for Rev. Thomas Johnson, and was one of the first counties established in the Kansas Territory in 1855. The Santa Fe Trail, originating 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,244 km² (480 mi²). 1,235 km² (477 mi²) of it is land and 9 km² (3 mi²) of it (0.70%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical populations
Census year	Population	Change	Percent Change

1860	4,364	-	-
1870	13,648	9,284	213%
1880	16,853	3,205	23%
1890	17,385	532	3%
1900	18,104	719	4%
1910	18,288	184	1%
1920	18,314	26	0%
1930	21,179	8,865	48%
1940	33,327	6,148	23%
1950	62,783	29,456	88%
1960	143,792	81,009	129%
1970	220,073	67,967	53%
1980	270,269	76,281	22%
1990	357,048	86,779	32%
2000	451,086	94,038	26%
2005*	500,995	49,909	11%
*estimated amount only, not an actual census year

As of the census ² of 2000, 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, 2.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. 3.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

Overland Park,* 162,728
Olathe, 108,390 (county seat)
Shawnee,* 56,178
Lenexa,* 42,615
Leawood,* 29,504
Prairie Village,* 21,511
Gardner, 12,937
Merriam,* 10,774
Mission,* 9,772
Roeland Park,* 6,997
Bonner Springs, 6,892, of which about 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) is inside the county with the majority being in Wyandotte County
De Soto, 5,070
Spring Hill, 4,159
Fairway,* 3,849
Mission Hills,* 3,524
Edgerton, 1,600
Westwood,* 1,488
Lake Quivira,* 919, of which a quarter of the city lies in Wyandotte County
Westwood Hills,* 366
Countryside,* 295
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 Overland Park.

Unincorporated places

Aubry
Bonita
Clare
Morse**
Ocheltree
Stanley**
Stilwell**

(**)These areas are today within Overland Park city limits, but were at one point unincorporated towns.

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.

align="bottom"|Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township	FIPS	Population	Population density /km² (/mi²)	Land area km² (mi²)	Water area km² (mi²)	Water %
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%

Libraries

Education

Unified school districts

Blue Valley USD 229
Spring Hill USD 230
Gardner-Edgerton USD 231
DeSoto USD 232 http://www.usd232.org
Olathe USD 233
Shawnee Mission USD 512

Colleges and universities

Tax Rates

Sales tax

The current sales tax rate in Johnson County is 6.4%, which makes it slightly lower than the 6.45% rate in Shawnee (where Topeka is located) and also considerably lower than the 7.3% rate in Sedgwick (where Wichita is located), but slightly higher than the 6.3% rate in Wyandotte (where Kansas City is located).Kansas County Treasurer's Association Kansas Sales Tax Rates by County 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 tax

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.

Property tax rates by city in Johnson County (2005)Kansas City Area Development Council ThinkKC Property Taxes (accessed 6/7/06)


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.

References

External links

Official websites Johnson County

General county information Blue Skyways

County Level Data Kansas Statistical Abstract

Kansas counties | Johnson County, Kansas | Kansas City metropolitan area

Johnson County (Kansas) | Condado de Johnson (Kansas)

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