Johnson County, Kansas

Johnson County (county code JO) is a county in northeast Kansas. The county is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. It contains many of the richer suburbs of Kansas City. As of the 2020 census, 609,863 people lived there.[3] Its county seat is Olathe.[4] The most populous city is Overland Park.

Johnson County
County
Former Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe (2009). It opened in 1952, closed in 2020, then demolished in 2021 after a new courthouse was finished.
Former Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe (2009). It opened in 1952, closed in 2020, then demolished in 2021 after a new courthouse was finished.[1][2]
Map of Kansas highlighting Johnson County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°52′N 94°52′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedAugust 25, 1855
Named forThomas Johnson
SeatOlathe
Largest cityOverland Park
Area
 • Total480 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Land473 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Water6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total609,863
 • Density1,289.4/sq mi (497.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitejocogov.org

In 2010, Money magazine ranked Overland Park 7th and Shawnee 17th in its list of the 100 Best Cities in the United States in which to live.[5] In 2008 the same magazine had ranked Olathe 11th.[6]

History
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18604,364—
187013,684213.6%
188016,85323.2%
189017,3853.2%
190018,1044.1%
191018,2881.0%
192018,3140.1%
193021,17915.6%
194033,32757.4%
195062,78388.4%
1960143,792129.0%
1970220,07353.0%
1980270,26922.8%
1990357,04832.1%
2000451,08626.3%
2010544,17920.6%
2020609,86312.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
2011 estimate

Johnson County is named for Thomas Johnson. It was one of the first counties in the Kansas Territory in 1855. The well known gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok lived in the county for a time. He was the constable of Monticello Township in 1858. Johnson County was the site of many battles dealing with slavery during Bleeding Kansas.

The county was mostly rural until the early 20th century. There was a large amount of urban development from 1914 though World War II. After the war, the development grew even greater.

Laws

Johnson County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was changed in 1986.[7]

Geography

The county has a total area of 480.15 square miles (1,243.6 km2). Of this, 476.78 sq mi (1,234.9 km2) (or 99.30%) is land, and 3.37 sq mi (8.7 km2) (or 0.70%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2020 Census):[9]

*Cities included in Shawnee Mission. The main Shawnee Mission post office is in Mission.

Unincorporated places
  • Bonita
  • Clare
  • Ocheltree
  • Stanley
  • Stilwell

Townships

Johnson County was divided into nine townships. Two of these no longer exist. They were made part of independent municipalities. All of the cities are considered governmentally independent. They are not included in the census numbers for the townships.

Sources: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau; Census Data Explorer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 Population
(2020)		Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)		 Land area
km² (sq mi)		Water area
km² (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Aubry032254,65054 (140)86 (33)1 (0)1.29%38°45′35″N 94°42′49″W
Gardner254502,59335 (92)73 (28)1 (0)1.40%38°46′33″N 94°53′56″W
Lexington398001,49711 (29)133 (51)4 (2)3.03%38°54′49″N 94°59′17″W
McCamish436259809 (24)104 (40)1 (0)0.79%38°48′14″N 95°0′37″W
Monticello47950------
Olathe5260089434 (88)26 (10)0 (0)0.70%38°53′38″N 94°52′48″W
Oxford538252,027283 (732)7 (3)0 (0)4.35%38°49′43″N 94°39′45″W
Shawnee64525------
Spring Hill676502,00435 (89)58 (22)1 (0)1.11%38°47′35″N 94°47′3″W

References
  1. "Demolition of old Johnson County Courthouse completed". Johnson County Government. August 26, 2021. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021.
  2. "The New Johnson County Courthouse opens in Olathe, Kansas". Building Design & Construction. February 9, 2021. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021.
  3. "QuickFacts: Johnson County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Money Magazine". CNN. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  6. "Best Places to Live 2008 – Kansas". Money Magazine. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  7. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  8. "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  9. https://data.census.gov

Other websites
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