Johnson County, Kansas
Encyclopedia : J : JO : JOH : 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
- Wyandotte County (north)
- Jackson County, Missouri (east)
- Cass County, Missouri (southeast)
- Miami County (south)
- Franklin County (southwest)
- Douglas County (west)
- Leavenworth County (northwest)
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 census² 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
Unincorporated places
- Aubry
- Bonita
- Clare
- Morse**
- Ocheltree
- Stanley**
- Stilwell**
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% | [38°49′7″N, 94°54′31″W]
|-
| 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% ||
|}LibrariesEducationUnified school districts
Colleges and universities
Tax RatesSales taxThe 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 taxProperty 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.
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. See also
ReferencesExternal links
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