Johnson County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

County in Kansas

Johnson County

County

Former Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe (2009). It was opened in 1952, closed in 2020, then demolished in 2021 after a new courthouse was finished.[1][2]

Location within the U.S. state of Kansas

Kansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 38°52′N 94°52′W﻿ / ﻿38.867°N 94.867°W﻿ / 38.867; -94.867
Country|  United States
State|  Kansas
Founded| August 25, 1855
Named after| Thomas Johnson
Seat| Olathe
Largest city| Overland Park
Area

• Total

| 480 sq mi (1,200 km2)
• Land| 473 sq mi (1,230 km2)
• Water| 6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  1.4%
Population

(2020)[3]

• Total

| 609,863

• Estimate

(2023)[4]

| 622,237
• Density| 1,300/sq mi (490/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| jocogov.org

Johnson County  is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas, along the border of the state of Missouri. Its county seat is Olathe.[5] As of the 2020 census, the population was 609,863, making it the most populous county in Kansas.[3] The county was named after Thomas Johnson, a Methodist missionary who was one of the state's first settlers. Largely suburban, the county contains a number of suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri, including Overland Park, a principal city of and the second most populous city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.[6][7]

## History

[edit]

See also: History of Kansas

This was part of the large territory of the Osage people, who occupied lands up to present-day St. Louis. After the Indian Removal, the United States government reserved much of this area as Indian territory for a reservation for the Shawnee people, who were relocated from east of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwest.

The Santa Fe Trail and Oregon–California Trail, which pass through nearby Independence, Missouri, also passed through the county. Johnson County was established in 1855 as one of the first counties in the newly organized Kansas Territory; it was named for proslavery American missionary Thomas Johnson.[8] The renowned gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok settled for a time in the county, becoming constable of Monticello Township in 1858.

Johnson County was the site of many battles between abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates during the period of Bleeding Kansas, prior to the residents voting on whether slavery would be allowed in the territory. In 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate guerrillas from nearby Missouri, led by William Quantrill, raided the Johnson County communities of Olathe and Spring Hill. They killed half a dozen men and destroyed numerous homes and businesses.[9]

The county was largely rural until the early 20th century, when housing subdivisions were developed in the northeastern portion of the county adjacent to Kansas City, Missouri. Developer J. C. Nichols spurred the boom in 1914 when he built the Mission Hills Country Club to attract upscale residents who previously had been reluctant to move from Missouri to Kansas.[10] Suburban development continued at a steady pace until the close of World War II.

Following the war, the pace of development exploded, triggered by the return of veterans in need of housing, construction of highways that facilitated commuting from suburbs, and the pent-up demand for new housing. The US Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ruled that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. Integration of public schools in Kansas City, Missouri, resulted in many white families leaving the inner city, resulting in increased migration to the county for new housing and what were considered higher quality public schools, generally an indicator of higher economic status. From the mid-1980s, the pace of growth increased significantly, with the county adding 100,000 residents each decade between the 1990 census and 2010 census.

The 1952 Johnson County Courthouse was closed in 2020, then demolished in 2021.[1] It was replaced by a seven-story courthouse in 2021 after over two years of construction. This new courthouse is the county's fourth such building.[2]

## Geography

[edit]

Olathe City Hall (2009)

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 480 square miles (1,200 km2), of which 473 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (1.4%) is water.[11]

### Topography

[edit]

The natural topography of the county consists of gently rolling terrain. The Kansas River forms a portion of the northwestern boundary of the county. The elevation generally increases from north to south as the distance from the Kansas and Missouri rivers increases.

### Watersheds and streams

[edit]

The county is drained by the watersheds of the Kansas, Blue, and Marais des Cygnes, all of which are part of the Missouri River watershed. Located in northeastern Kansas, the county receives plentiful rainfall. The county contains numerous small streams, including Kill Creek, Mill Creek, Turkey Creek, Indian Creek, Brush Creek, Tomahawk Creek, the Blue River, Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek.

Kill Creek begins in the southwestern portion of the county and flows northward into the Kansas River at De Soto. Mill Creek begins in the central portion of the county in Olathe, flowing northward it empties into the Kansas River at Shawnee. Turkey Creek and Brush Creek each begin in northeastern Johnson County. Turkey Creek flows northeastward into Wyandotte County and joins the Kansas River just before its confluence with the Missouri River at Kaw Point. Brush Creek flows east-northeastward through Prairie Village and Mission Hills, entering Kansas City, Missouri, within the median of Ward Parkway and passing the Country Club Plaza before emptying into the Blue River east of the Country Club Plaza and north of Swope Park. Indian Creek begins in the southern portion of Olathe and Tomahawk Creek begins in southern Overland Park. Each flows northeastward meeting in Leawood, where the stream retains the name of Indian Creek, just before crossing the state line and entering the Blue River in Kansas City, Missouri. The Blue River begins in rural southern Johnson County and flows north-northeastward through the southeastern portion of the county and crossing the state line just east of the intersection of 151st Street and Kenneth Road in southern Overland Park. The Blue River flows through southern and eastern Kansas City before joining the Missouri River. Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek begin in rural southwestern Johnson County and flow southward where they enter Hillsdale Lake before continuing into Franklin County, eventually joining the Marais des Cygnes at Paola.

### Flora and fauna

[edit]

The county consists primarily of prairie grassland, with corridors of forested areas along streams and rivers.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Wyandotte County (north)
* Jackson County, Missouri (east)
* Cass County, Missouri (southeast)
* Miami County (south)
* Franklin County (southwest)
* Douglas County (west)
* Leavenworth County (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 4,364| | —
1870| 13,684| | 213.6%
1880| 16,853| | 23.2%
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%
2010| 544,179| | 20.6%
2020| 609,863| | 12.1%
2023 (est.)| 622,237| [12]| 2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[3]

Johnson County (county code JO) is included in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The county has the highest median household income at $107,261 in 2019-2023 and the highest per-capita income in Kansas, with the 19th highest median household income in 2000 and the 46th highest per-capita income in 2005.[citation needed] 56.9 percent of residents have Bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023 according the U.S Census Bureau.[17]

### 2010

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 544,179 people, 210,278 households, and 143,509 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,150 inhabitants per square mile (440/km2). There were 226,571 housing units at an average density of 381 per square mile (147/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.0% White, 4.2% Asian, 4.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.2% of the population. 30.6% identified as of German, 16.8% Irish, 13.6% English and 5.7% American ancestry.[18]

There were 210,278 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.[18]

In the county, 26.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.60% was from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. 48.8% of the population were males and 51.2% of the population were females.

The median income for a household in the county was $73,733, and the median income for a family was $90,380. Males had a median income of $61,346 versus $43,785 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,882. About 3.6% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.[18]

### 2000

[edit]

As of the census of 2000, there were 451,086 people, 174,570 households, and 121,675 families residing in the county. The population density was 365/km2 (950/sq mi). There were 181,612 housing units at an average density of 147/km2 (380/sq mi). 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 was 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, 27.10% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.60% was from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% was 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. 3.40% of the population and 2.10% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.30% of those under the age of 18 and 3.60% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

## Government

[edit]

### Laws

[edit]

Johnson County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink, with a 30% food sales requirement.[19]

The county voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas abortion referendum, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 69% to 31%, outpacing its support of Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election.[20][21]

### Federal representation

[edit]

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Johnson County, Kansas  Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 154,247  | 44.47%  | 183,451  | 52.89% | 9,162  | 2.64%
2020 | 155,631  | 44.54%  | 184,259  | 52.74% | 9,496  | 2.72%
2016 | 137,490  | 46.73% | 129,852  | 44.14%  | 26,866  | 9.13%
2012 | 158,401  | 57.58% | 110,526  | 40.18%  | 6,147  | 2.23%
2008 | 152,627  | 53.70% | 127,091  | 44.72%  | 4,493  | 1.58%
2004 | 158,103  | 61.12% | 97,866  | 37.83%  | 2,718  | 1.05%
2000 | 129,965  | 59.74% | 79,118  | 36.37%  | 8,453  | 3.89%
1996 | 110,368  | 57.82% | 68,129  | 35.69%  | 12,397  | 6.49%
1992 | 85,418  | 43.83% | 59,573  | 30.57%  | 49,875  | 25.59%
1988 | 95,591  | 62.81% | 55,183  | 36.26%  | 1,425  | 0.94%
1984 | 101,987  | 72.39% | 38,019  | 26.99%  | 876  | 0.62%
1980 | 78,048  | 62.95% | 33,210  | 26.79%  | 12,725  | 10.26%
1976 | 75,798  | 66.41% | 35,605  | 31.19%  | 2,739  | 2.40%
1972 | 76,161  | 74.14% | 24,324  | 23.68%  | 2,242  | 2.18%
1968 | 55,060  | 62.63% | 26,034  | 29.61%  | 6,818  | 7.76%
1964 | 37,672  | 54.46% | 31,213  | 45.12%  | 294  | 0.42%
1960 | 43,026  | 66.16% | 21,914  | 33.70%  | 93  | 0.14%
1956 | 35,511  | 71.40% | 14,185  | 28.52%  | 37  | 0.07%
1952 | 29,103  | 72.46% | 10,990  | 27.36%  | 70  | 0.17%
1948 | 14,191  | 60.70% | 8,982  | 38.42%  | 205  | 0.88%
1944 | 11,951  | 67.24% | 5,771  | 32.47%  | 51  | 0.29%
1940 | 10,326  | 63.97% | 5,770  | 35.75%  | 46  | 0.28%
1936 | 8,399  | 57.71% | 6,108  | 41.97%  | 47  | 0.32%
1932 | 6,487  | 49.53% | 6,485  | 49.52%  | 124  | 0.95%
1928 | 8,185  | 70.40% | 3,373  | 29.01%  | 69  | 0.59%
1924 | 6,102  | 66.15% | 2,519  | 27.31%  | 603  | 6.54%
1920 | 4,325  | 64.27% | 2,303  | 34.22%  | 101  | 1.50%
1916 | 3,767  | 47.68%  | 3,928  | 49.72% | 205  | 2.59%
1912 | 834  | 19.00%  | 1,837  | 41.85% | 1,719  | 39.16%
1908 | 2,313  | 51.17% | 2,091  | 46.26%  | 116  | 2.57%
1904 | 2,573  | 61.07% | 1,373  | 32.59%  | 267  | 6.34%
1900 | 2,393  | 51.58% | 2,171  | 46.80%  | 75  | 1.62%
1896 | 2,313  | 47.82%  | 2,462  | 50.90% | 62  | 1.28%
1892 | 2,070  | 50.48% | 0  | 0.00%  | 2,031  | 49.52%
1888 | 2,164  | 53.13% | 1,435  | 35.23%  | 474  | 11.64%
1884 | 2,110  | 52.87% | 1,392  | 34.88%  | 489  | 12.25%
1880 | 2,132  | 58.06% | 1,180  | 32.14%  | 360  | 9.80%

Johnson County is entirely located within Kansas's 3rd congressional district, which has been represented by Democrat Sharice Davids since 2019. The two U.S. Senators from Kansas are Republicans Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran.

Johnson County was historically a Republican stronghold. It was won by the GOP in every presidential election from 1920 to 2016, including Barry Goldwater's 1964 election victory despite his statewide loss. The county was one of the few to reject Franklin Roosevelt in all four of his successful campaigns, with his closest margin coming in 1932, where he lost by just two votes.[22] However, the margin narrowed considerably in the early 2000s. In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democrat since Lyndon Johnson to win as much as 40 percent of the county's vote. In 2016, Republican Donald Trump won the county by less than three points, as the GOP's shift toward right-wing populism alienated moderate voters. In 2020, Joe Biden became the first Democrat to win the county since Woodrow Wilson in 1916, securing an 8% margin and the highest share of the vote ever for a Democrat there at the time. In 2024, Kamala Harris not only carried the county but also achieved the highest Democratic vote share in its history, becoming the first Democrat to lose a presidential election while carrying Johnson County since 1896. Johnson County is one of nine counties that shifted more than 25 percentage points to the left from 2012 to 2024.[23]

This leftward shift was mirrored in the state's Senate races, where the Democratic candidates won Johnson County in 2020 and 2022 despite losing statewide. Once a classic suburban Republican bastion, the county now leans Democratic at the national level, reflecting broader trends in Kansas's suburban areas.

On November 8, 2020, Democrats made historic gains in Johnson County, securing a majority on the Board of Commissioners for the first time in the county's history. In both the 2022 and 2024 elections, Democrats expanded their majority on the Board and flipped the sheriff's office for the first time in 96 years.[24][25]

### State representation

[edit]

Johnson County is home to 25 Kansas state representatives and nine Kansas state senators. Thirteen out of 25 of Johnson County's representatives are Republicans, as are six of the county's nine senators.[26][27] Numerous Republicans from the area identify as moderates, compared to some of the more ideological hard-liners from other parts of the state. Differences between moderates and the more hard-line members can most commonly be seen on social issues, the most infamous being the numerous debates about the state's school finance formula in 2004[28] and 2014–2018.[29][30][31][32]

### County government and unincorporated areas

[edit]

The county government is administered by an elected, seven-member Board of County Commissioners, with six elected from single-member districts and one at-large.[33] Governance of the county is divided into six districts. The county government has full jurisdiction of the unincorporated areas of the county and limited jurisdiction of those areas of the county within incorporated places. For instance, decisions regarding the regulation of land use, development and zoning in unincorporated areas of the county are the responsibility of the county government, whereas such decisions for areas within incorporated places are the jurisdiction of the incorporated city of which the property is a part.

#### Board of Commissioners

[edit]

Board of Commissioners districts and party affiliation after the 2024 election

Democratic Party

Republican Party

As of 2024:[34][35][36][37]

Party  | District  | Name

|
|

| Democratic  | At-large  | Mike Kelly
| Democratic  | District 1  | Becky Fast
| Democratic  | District 2  | Jeff Meyers
| Democratic  | District 3  | Julie Brewer
| Democratic  | District 4  | Janeé Hanzlick
| Democratic  | District 5  | Michael Ashcraft
| Democratic  | District 6  | Shirley Allenbrand

#### Elected county officials

[edit]

Party  | Office  | Name  | Reference(s)

|
|
|

| Republican  | District Attorney  | Stephen Howe  | [38]
| Democratic  | Sheriff  | Byron Roberson  | [39]

### Sales taxes

[edit]

The current sales tax rate in Johnson County is 7.975%, higher than the 6.5% rate in Wyandotte (where Kansas City, Kansas is located).[40] The sales tax rates of each of the surrounding counties are nearly the same as the rate in Johnson County.[40] Individual cities have additional sales taxes.

### Property taxes

[edit]

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)[41] 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.

## Law enforcement

[edit]

Law enforcement agency

Johnson County Sheriff's Office

Patch of Johnson County Sheriff's Office

Abbreviation| JCSO
Agency overview
Formed| 1861; 164 years ago (1861)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction| Johnson, Kansas, US
Operational structure
Headquarters| 27747 West 159th Street, New Century, KS 66031
Agency executive|

* Calvin Hayden (R)[42], Sheriff

Website
Official website

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office runs the jails at Olathe and New Century,[43] and patrols the unincorporated parts of Johnson County as well as the cities of Edgerton and DeSoto.[44]

In 2019, the county announced that it is creating a new task force with shared jurisdiction between neighboring Miami and Franklin counties to combat crime.[45]

In April 2024, Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden claimed that he "had a search warrant in hand" when local election officials "decided in a hurry to destroy" ballots from 2019, 2020 and 2021, despite Kansas state law ordering the regular destruction of old ballots, and the local officials having informed Hayden in November 2023 that they would move to destroy the old ballots, which Hayden had asked to be preserved during his investigation of an election software firm. The local prosecutors' office said that it was "unaware of any search warrant being submitted to a judge for review". In May 2024, when Hayden was questioned on which judge approved his search warrant, Hayden responded: "there's no judge"; when the questioner replied: "A judge has to sign a search warrant to be valid", Hayden responded: "I didn’t say it was valid".[46][47]

## Education

[edit]

Entrance to the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies school in south Overland Park

According to the 2010 Census Bureau, the education attainment of the population 25 years and over: 95.6% high school graduate or higher, 51.1% bachelor's degree or higher, and 17.9% graduate or professional degree.[18]

The Johnson County Library has 13 branches.[48]

### Unified school districts

[edit]

School districts include:[49]

* Blue Valley USD 229
* De Soto USD 232
* Eudora USD 491
* Gardner-Edgerton USD 231
* Olathe USD 233
* Shawnee Mission USD 512
* Spring Hill USD 230
* Wellsville USD 289

### Colleges and universities

[edit]

* Johnson County Community College
* University of Kansas Edwards Campus
* Kansas State University, Olathe Campus
* Kansas Christian College (Overland Park)
* MidAmerica Nazarene University
* Baker University, Overland Park Campus
* Ottawa University, Overland Park Campus
* Park University, Lenexa Campus

## Transportation

[edit]

Johnson County has a grid network through most of the county, with a road every mile. The grid has facilitated rapid growth and easy access. Interstate 435 runs through much of the county, and serves as a developmental "border" in the northbound–southbound portion. The westbound–eastbound part of I-435 divides the county into a northern and southern section. The northern section is older, while the southern portion is the fastest-growing area in Johnson County, containing a massive volume of new homes.[citation needed]

The Johnson County numbered street grid generally begins at 47th Street, the Wyandotte County line (the lowest numbered street is 40th Street in Bonner Springs), and is a continuation of the adjacent Kansas City, Missouri, street grid. The grid continues to 215th Street, and into Miami County (with somewhat differently named roads) to 407th Street at the Miami-Linn county line, with most suburban development ending around 167th Street. Named streets in the grid run from State Line Road (1900 West) to County Line Road (40699 West) at the Douglas County line. A portion of the grid extends north from Westwood into the Rosedale area in Kansas City, Kansas.

Another principal highway running through the area is Interstate 35, which runs diagonally through the county, entering it near Downtown Kansas City, and continuing through Olathe and Gardner. Outside the county, it eventually leads to Duluth, Minnesota in the north and the US–Mexico border in the south. U.S. 69 also serves Johnson County, entering from Wyandotte County at the south end of Interstate 635. Much of U.S. 69 within the county is freeway; this freeway eventually heads south and connects to Fort Scott and the rest of southeastern Kansas.

### Major highways

[edit]

* I-35 Southwestern corner with Franklin County northeast through Edgerton, Gardner, Olathe, Lenexa, Overland Park, and Merriam to the northeastern corner with downtown Kansas City
* I-435 Northern border with Wyandotte County south through Shawnee and Lenexa to K-10 then east through Overland Park and Leawood to the Missouri border
* I-635 Starts in Johnson County at I-35 and enters Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS less than 1000 feet later.
* US-50 Southwestern corner with Franklin County northeast through Edgerton, Gardner, Olathe, Lenexa, Overland Park, and Merriam to the northeastern corner with downtown Kansas City
* US-56 Southwestern border with Douglas County east through Edgerton and Gardner to I-35
* US-69 Southeastern border with Miami County north through Stilwell and Overland Park past I-435 to I-35
* US-169 Southern border with Miami County. Joins with I-35 in Olathe.
* K-7 Southern border with Miami County north through Spring Hill, Olathe, Lenexa, and Shawnee to Wyandotte County
* K-10 Western border with Douglas County east through De Soto, Lenexa, and Olathe to I-435

### Airports

[edit]

Johnson County is home to three general aviation airports:

* Johnson County Executive Airport
* New Century AirCenter
* Hillside Airport

The closest airport with airline service is Kansas City International Airport in Platte County, Missouri

### Public transit

[edit]

Johnson County Transit is the public transit operator.

## Communities

[edit]

2005 map of Johnson County[50] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Johnson County.[50]

### Cities

[edit]

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

* Bonner Springs‡
* De Soto‡
* Edgerton
* Fairway
* Gardner
* Lake Quivira‡
* Leawood
* Lenexa
* Merriam
* Mission
* Mission Hills
* Mission Woods
* Olathe (county seat)
* Overland Park
* Prairie Village
* Roeland Park
* Shawnee
* Spring Hill‡
* Westwood
* Westwood Hills

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Aubry
* Bonita
* Clare
* Ocheltree
* Stilwell
* Wilder

### Townships

[edit]

Johnson County was originally divided into nine townships, two of which have since been eliminated by the annexation of all their territory into independent municipalities. 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 (/sq mi) | Land area
km2 (sq mi) | Water area
km2 (sq mi) | Water %  | Geographic coordinates

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Aubry | 03225  |  | 5,440  | 43 (112)  | 126 (49)  | 0 (0)  | 0.31%  | 38°46′48″N 94°41′4″W﻿ / ﻿38.78000°N 94.68444°W﻿ / 38.78000; -94.68444
Gardner | 25450  |  | 2,143  | 21 (55)  | 102 (39)  | 1 (0)  | 0.53%  | 38°49′7″N 94°54′31″W﻿ / ﻿38.81861°N 94.90861°W﻿ / 38.81861; -94.90861
Lexington | 39800  | De Soto | 3,712  | 10 (25)  | 135 (52)  | 2 (1)  | 1.79%  | 38°55′0″N 95°0′13″W﻿ / ﻿38.91667°N 95.00361°W﻿ / 38.91667; -95.00361
McCamish | 43625  |  | 878  | 8 (20)  | 112 (43)  | 0 (0)  | 0.34%  | 38°47′22″N 94°59′48″W﻿ / ﻿38.78944°N 94.99667°W﻿ / 38.78944; -94.99667
Mission (defunct)  | \-  |  | 0  | 0 (0)  | 0 (0)  | 0 (0)  | 0%  | 39°0′7″N 94°38′11″W﻿ / ﻿39.00194°N 94.63639°W﻿ / 39.00194; -94.63639
Monticello (defunct)  | 47950  |  | 0  | 0 (0)  | 0 (0)  | 0 (0)  | 0%  | 39°1′59″N 94°47′57″W﻿ / ﻿39.03306°N 94.79917°W﻿ / 39.03306; -94.79917
Olathe | 52600  |  | 1,187  | 27 (70)  | 44 (17)  | 0 (0)  | 0.04%  | 38°54′21″N 94°49′18″W﻿ / ﻿38.90583°N 94.82167°W﻿ / 38.90583; -94.82167
Oxford | 53825  |  | 2,020  | 121 (313)  | 17 (6)  | 0 (0)  | 1.54%  | 38°49′58″N 94°40′54″W﻿ / ﻿38.83278°N 94.68167°W﻿ / 38.83278; -94.68167
Shawnee (defunct)  | 64525  |  | 0  | 0 (0)  | 0 (0)  | 0 (0)  | 0%  | 39°1′51″N 94°47′47″W﻿ / ﻿39.03083°N 94.79639°W﻿ / 39.03083; -94.79639
Spring Hill | 67650  |  | 2,059  | 29 (76)  | 70 (27)  | 0 (0)  | 0.30%  | 38°46′35″N 94°48′55″W﻿ / ﻿38.77639°N 94.81528°W﻿ / 38.77639; -94.81528
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.Kansas Historical Society, Johnson County. Retrieved from the website on June 11, 2021.

## In popular culture

[edit]

* The ABC apocalyptic drama film The Day After was partially filmed in De Soto.
* Mission Hills is the setting for The ABC Family show Switched at Birth.
* Netflix original documentary Dirty Money, season 1 episode 2, entitled "Payday", features the infamous predatory loan practices of Scott Tucker,[51] a resident of Leawood. The episode features numerous aerial views of the area.
* The indie film All Creatures Here Below is partially set in De Soto, and filmed in Kansas City.[52]

## See also

[edit]

* Kansas portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Johnson County, Kansas

Community information for Kansas

* Kansas locations by per capita income
* List of counties in Kansas
* List of townships in Kansas
* List of cities in Kansas
* List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
* List of ghost towns in Kansas

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Demolition of old Johnson County Courthouse completed". Johnson County Government. August 26, 2021. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021.
2. ^ a b "The New Johnson County Courthouse opens in Olathe, Kansas". Building Design & Construction. February 9, 2021. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021.
3. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Johnson County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
5. ^ "Fast Facts". Johnson County Kansas. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019.
6. ^ "Home Page". Johnson County Kansas. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
7. ^ McCammon, Sarah (September 4, 2017). "As Kansas City Booms And Sprawls, Trying Not To Forget Those In Between". National Public Radio. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
8. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 169.
9. ^ "The Johnson County War: 1892 Invasion of Northern Wyoming | WyoHistory.org". www.wyohistory.org. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
10. ^ A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans – William E. Connelly – Lewis Publishing Company – 1918. 1918. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
12. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
15. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
17. ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/johnsoncountykansas/PST045224 [bare URL]
18. ^ a b c d "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
19. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
20. ^ Panetta, Grace (August 3, 2022). "14 of the 19 Kansas counties that rejected an anti-abortion amendment voted for Trump in 2020". Business Insider. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
21. ^ "Kansas Abortion Amendment Election Results". The New York Times. August 2, 2022.
22. ^ "Presidential Election Results by County Pre 1960". Geoelections.free.fr. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
23. ^ Goldmacher, Shane (May 25, 2025). "How Donald Trump Has Remade America's Political Landscape". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
24. ^ Kraske, Steve (November 13, 2024). "Byron Roberson will be the first Black sheriff in Johnson County history". KCUR 89.3.
25. ^ "Official Final Results" (PDF). jocoelection.org. November 12, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
26. ^ "Johnson County Election Office | State Representatives". www.jocoelection.org. Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
27. ^ "Johnson County Election Office | State Senators". www.jocoelection.org. Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
28. ^ Milburn, John (August 24, 2004). "Lawmakers debate what constitutes 'suitable education'". .ljworld.com. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
29. ^ "Kansas to extend school-funding debate this week". Shawnee Dispatch. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
30. ^ "Capitol Update: Sen. Skubal says time has come for legislature to 'do its job to fully fund our schools'". Shawnee Mission Post - Neighborhood news and events for northeast Johnson County. January 15, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
31. ^ Sloan, Betsy Webster, Nick. "As school funding debate continues in Kansas, JoCo superintendents request $12M". Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
32. ^ "Capitol Update: Rep. Rooker says 'devil is in the details' on Brownback budget proposal, including $600 million for schools". Shawnee Mission Post - Neighborhood news and events for northeast Johnson County. January 15, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
33. ^ "Board of County Commissioners". www.jocogov.org. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
34. ^ "After switching parties, moderate Johnson County commissioner advances in primary". The Kansas City Star. August 12, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
35. ^ "Find My Elected Officials". Johnson County Republican Party. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
36. ^ "2024 Candidates". Johnson County, Kansas, Democrats. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
37. ^ "Two JoCo commissioners keep seats, newcomer ousts an incumbent". Johnson County Post. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
38. ^ "Johnson County District Attorney". Retrieved November 2, 2024.
39. ^ "2024 Election Results: Johnson County, Kansas Sheriff". KMBC9 News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
40. ^ a b Kansas County Treasurer's Association Kansas Sales Tax Rates by County Archived August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
41. ^ Kansas City Area Development Council ThinkKC Property Taxes Archived August 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine (accessed June 7, 2006)
42. ^ "Three Republican candidates for sheriff agree on many of questions posed by conservative group". June 8, 2016.
43. ^ "Detention Bureau". Johnson County Sheriff. January 13, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
44. ^ "Patrol". Johnson County Sheriff. February 15, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
45. ^ "Johnson County forming new task force to combat violent crime, keep teens safe". March 29, 2019.
46. ^ Ritter, Sarah (April 18, 2024). "JoCo Sheriff Hayden lied about having warrant to seize old ballots for election probe". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
47. ^ Shorman, Jonathan; Ritter, Sarah (May 8, 2024). "'I didn't say it was valid': Johnson County sheriff admits he didn't have signed warrant". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
48. ^ "Our Story". Johnson Countly Library. June 14, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
49. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Johnson County, KS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 22, 2024. \- Text list
50. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Johnson County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). July 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 22, 2024.
51. ^ "Payday loan mogul Scott Tucker can't pay for his own defense attorneys". kansascity. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
52. ^ "Kansas City-raised David Dastmalchian: From Twin Peaks to Ant-Man to his latest KC-filmed feature, All Creatures Here Below". May 14, 2019.

## Further reading

[edit]

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

* History of Johnson County, Kansas; Ed Blair; 469 pages; 1915.
* Standard Atlas of Johnson County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 78 pages; 1922.
* Standard Atlas of Johnson County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 51 pages; 1902.
* Atlas Map of Johnson County, Kansas; E.F. Heisler; 86 pages; 1874.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Johnson County, Kansas.

County

* Johnson County - Official
* Johnson County - Directory of Public Officials

Historical

* Johnson County History

Maps

* Johnson County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
* Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
* Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

Places adjacent to Johnson County, Kansas

| Leavenworth County | Wyandotte County |

|
|

|  |
Douglas County |

Johnson County, Kansas

| Jackson County, Missouri
|  |
Franklin County | Miami County | Cass County, Missouri

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Johnson County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Olathe

Cities|

* Bonner Springs‡
* De Soto‡
* Edgerton
* Fairway
* Gardner
* Lake Quivira‡
* Leawood
* Lenexa
* Merriam
* Mission
* Mission Hills
* Mission Woods
* Olathe
* Overland Park
* Prairie Village
* Roeland Park
* Shawnee
* Spring Hill‡
* Westwood
* Westwood Hills

Map of Kansas highlighting Johnson County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Aubry
* Bonita
* Clare
* Ocheltree
* Stilwell
* Wilder

Townships|

* Aubry
* Gardner
* Lexington
* McCamish
* Olathe
* Oxford
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‡This community also has portions in an adjacent county or counties.

* Kansas portal
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