In the early months of 1857, the survey of the Shawnee lands was followed closely by land speculators, among whom was Dr. John T. Barton, a physician assigned to the Shawnee tribal headquarters. Preemption law provided for town sites that gave town companies the opportunity to gain power, money, political influence, and concessions such as post offices.
Barton, a land speculator, and his associates chose the geographic center of the county, crossed by Mill Creek and the Santa Fe Trail, to claim for their town. Olathe, a Shawnee word understood to mean "beautiful," was incorporated in 1857, and because of unstable political institutions, again in 1858. The Mahaffie family was among the first to settle near Olathe. The first Board of Trustees, headed by John T. Barton, was elected in 1859. Olathe legally became the county seat in October of that year.
- Olathe (o lay’ tha)
Shawnee Indian word for "the beautiful"
- Incorporated: 1857
- Location:
On interstate 35, 20 miles southwest of downtown ansas City on the Oregon-California and Santa Fe Trail
- County Seat to Johnson County, one of the wealthiest counties in the United States
- City Population: 114,000 (estimate as of 12/04)
Since the 1950's, Olathe's population has quadrupled, and today is the 5th largest city in Kansas
- Second Largest in population in Johnson County, Kansas.
- Fifth largest in population in Kansas.
- City Residents' Median Age: 30.8
- Johnson County Population: 486,515
- Kansas City Area Population: 1.9 million
- Olathe Market Facts:
•Median Household Income-$61,111
•Total Estimated Households-42,800
•Average Home Cost-$196,000
•92% of the population age 25 possesses at least a high school degree
•39% of the population age 25 and over possesses a bachelor's degree or higher
- Form of Government: Council-city manager with elected mayor
- Sister City: Chur, Switzerland
- Quote from an Article in Midwest Living: Second Most livable city with a population over 100,000.
- Per Capita Income: Ranked 19th among cities with a population over 100,000.
- Culture:
•Olathe is the only city in Johnson County with an arts alliance that offers year-round arts and cultural events through a community theater, orchestra, civic band, chorus and exhibits. Plus, Olathe hosts several annual arts events.
•A Performing Arts Center is located downtown at 311 E. Park Street.
•Olathe hosts the annual Johnson County Old Settlers Days, a tradition since 1898.
•The Mahaffie Historic site preserves the 19th century westward expansion, and is the last existing stagestop on the Santa Fe Trail.
•Olathe has been home to the Kansas State School for the Deaf since it was established in 1866. The deaf community continues to be an integral part of Olathe with the Olathe Club for the Deaf, 221 S. Chestnut, and the Deaf Cultural Center, 455 E. Park St., opened in 2001.
- Led the KCMetro area for new housing permits in 2004
- Known as "City of Governors" for past Kansas leaders, and "City of Champions" for athletic & student activity success
- Home to MidAmerica Nazarene University, Garmin International, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
- First Kansas community to become designated a "City of Character"
- 4th most desirable place to live in Central US with pop. over 100,000, Money Magazine
- 20 miles to downtown Kansas City via I-35, located just outside the I-435 metropolitan loop
For population 25 years and over in Olathe
- High school or higher: 92.7%
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 39.9%
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.7%
- Unemployed: 2.6%
- Mean travel time to work: 21.0 minutes
Notable People from Olathe:
Birthplace of: Don Davis - 2005 NFL player (New England Patriots, born: Dec 17, 1972), Larry Parks - actor, Caleb Holmes - College basketball player (Yale Bulldogs), Danny Brown - College basketball player (San Diego Toreros), Joey Mundweiler - College basketball player (Wagner Seahawks), Kyle Spears - College basketball player (UMKC Kangaroos), Nick Holmes - College basketball player (Yale Bulldogs), Tyler Hughes - College basketball player (Kansas State Wildcats).
Elevation: 1040 feet
County: Johnson
Land area: 54.2 square miles
Zip codes: 66061, 66062.
Races in Olathe:
- White Non-Hispanic (86.2%)
- Hispanic (5.4%)
- Black (3.7%)
- Other race (2.6%)
- Two or more races (1.8%)
- American Indian (0.9%)
- Other Asian (0.7%)
- Asian Indian (0.6%)
- Chinese (0.5%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: German (28.2%), Irish (14.9%), English (13.0%), United States (7.6%), French (3.5%), Italian (3.3%).
New! Olathe, Kansas forum
Population change in the 1990s: +29,130 (+45.6%).
Single-family new house construction building permits:
- 1996: 1008 buildings, average cost: $109,200
- 1997: 966 buildings, average cost: $121,000
- 1998: 1333 buildings, average cost: $122,800
- 1999: 1499 buildings, average cost: $118,300
- 2000: 1220 buildings, average cost: $118,900
- 2001: 1437 buildings, average cost: $121,200
- 2002: 1247 buildings, average cost: $129,500
- 2003: 1219 buildings, average cost: $135,400
- 2004: 1174 buildings, average cost: $155,500
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Latitude: 38.88 N, Longitude: 94.80 W
Area code: 913
Daytime population change due to commuting: -9,891 (-10.6%)
Workers who live and work in this city: 17,143 (33.6%) |
Crime in Olathe (2002):
- 4 murders (4.3 per 100,000)
- 46 rapes (49.0 per 100,000)
- 28 robberies (29.8 per 100,000)
- 240 assaults (255.6 per 100,000)
- 260 burglaries (276.9 per 100,000)
- 2,414 larceny counts (2570.5 per 100,000)
- 248 auto thefts (264.1 per 100,000)
- City-data.com crime index = 229.6 (higher means more crime, US average = 328.4)
Olathe compared to Kansas state average:
- Unemployed percentage below state average.
- Black race population percentage significantly below state average.
- Median age below state average.
- Foreign-born population percentage below state average.
- Length of stay since moving in significantly below state average.
- House age significantly below state average.
Hospital/medical center in Olathe:
- OLATHE MEDICAL CENTER (20333 W 151ST ST)
Other hospitals/medical centers near Olathe:
- SAINT LUKES SOUTH HOSPSITAL (about 7 miles; OVERLAND PARK, KS)
- OVERLAND PARK REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 7 miles; OVERLAND PARK, KS)
- SELECT SPECIALTY HOSPITAL OF KS CITY (about 7 miles; OVERLAND PARK, KS)
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest Olathe:
- CHARLES B. WHEELER DOWNTOWN (about 23 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; ID: MKC)
- KANSAS CITY INTL (about 29 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; ID: MCI)
- FORBES FIELD (about 59 miles; TOPEKA, KS; ID: FOE)
Other public-use airports nearest to Olathe:
- JOHNSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE (about 6 miles; OLATHE, KS; ID: OJC)
- CEDAR AIR PARK (about 7 miles; OLATHE, KS; ID: 51K)
- NEW CENTURY AIRCENTER (about 8 miles; OLATHE, KS; ID: IXD)
Local government website: www.olatheks.org
Colleges/Universities:
- MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY (Full-time enrollment: 1,511; Location: 2030 E COLLEGE WAY; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.mnu.edu; Offers Master's degree)
- THE BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE (FT enrollment: 108; Location: 100 E SANTA FE STE 300; Private, for-profit; Website: www.bmcaec.com)
- SUPERIOR SCHOOL OF HAIRSTYLING (FT enrollment: 80; Location: 1215 E. Santa Fe; Private, for-profit)
- KANSAS CITY AVIATION CENTER INC (Location: PO BOX 1850; Private, for-profit)
Colleges/Universities with over 2000 students nearest to Olathe:
- JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 8 miles; OVERLAND PARK, KS; Full-time enrollment: 8,857)
- UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER (about 16 miles; KANSAS CITY, KS; FT enrollment: 2,168)
- KANSAS CITY KANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 17 miles; KANSAS CITY, KS; FT enrollment: 2,837)
- DEVRY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (about 17 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; FT enrollment: 2,189)
- METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGES (about 19 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; FT enrollment: 2,259)
- UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY (about 20 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; FT enrollment: 8,830)
- PARK UNIVERSITY (about 25 miles; PARKVILLE, MO; FT enrollment: 4,180)
Olathe Public Schools:
USD 233 -Olathe District Schools
- 3rd largest District in Kansas with over 24,500 students in 2005-06, and still growing
- District includes parts of 4 cities: Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, and Shawnee
- 4 comprehensive high schools (grades 10-12), 8 junior highs (grades 7-9), 31 elementary (PK/K-6)
- 2 special services student centers--Heartland Learning Center and Prairie Learning Center,
- 5 centers for secondary level alternative education in lower student/teacher ratios
- Growth of between 500-800 students annually for the past 25 years, including over 1100 in Fall 2005
- Consistently above state and national scores on standardized assessments
- Nationally recognized for staff development, technology innovation, crisis management planning
- For more information, connect to our district web site:
Olathe District Schools www.olatheschools.com
High Schools in Olathe:
- OLATHE SOUTH SR HIGH (Students: 1,486; Location: 1640 E 151ST ST; Grades: 09 - 12)
- OLATHE EAST SR HIGH (Students: 1,464; Location: 14545 W 127TH; Grades: 09 - 12)
- OLATHE NORTH SR HIGH (Students: 1,128; Location: 600 E PRAIRIE; Grades: 10 - 12)
- OLATHE NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 839; Location: 21300 COLLEGE BLVD; Grades: 09 - 12)
- SCHOOL FOR DEAF HIGH (Students: 78; Location: 450 EAST PARK STREET; Grades: 07 - 12)
Private High Schools in Olathe:
- BEREAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 237; Location: 15020 BLACKBOB RD; Grades: KG - 12)
- KEDESH ACADEMY (Students: 22; Location: 719 N MAHAFFIE; Grades: 1 - 12)
Biggest Public Primary/Middle Schools in Olathe:
- SANTA FE TRAIL JR HIGH (Students: 954; Location: 1100 N RIDGEVIEW RD; Grades: 07 - 09)
- CALIFORNIA TRAIL JR HIGH (Students: 845; Location: 13775 W 133 STREET; Grades: 07 - 09)
- FRONTIER TRAIL JR HIGH (Students: 790; Location: 15300 W 143RD STREET; Grades: 07 - 09)
- OREGON TRAIL JR HIGH (Students: 728; Location: 1800 W DENNIS; Grades: 07 - 09)
- CEDAR CREEK ELEM (Students: 710; Location: 11150 S CLARE RD; Grades: PK - 06)
- HEATHERSTONE ELEM (Students: 653; Location: 13745 W 123RD; Grades: PK - 06)
- CHISHOLM TRAIL JUNIOR (Students: 640; Location: 16700 W. 159TH STREET; Grades: 07 - 09)
- SUNNYSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 628; Location: 16025 S. LINDENWOOD; Grades: PK - 06)
- PIONEER TRAIL JR HIGH (Students: 616; Location: 15100 WEST 127TH; Grades: 07 - 09)
- REGENCY PLACE ELEMENTARY (Students: 603; Location: 13250 S GREENWOOD; Grades: KG - 06)
Private Primary/Middle Schools in Olathe:
- PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 527; Location: 16000 W 143RD ST; Grades: PK - 8)
- PIONEER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 87; Location: 220 N ROGERS RD; Grades: PK - 11)
Library in Olathe:
- OLATHE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $2,729,843; Location: 201 EAST PARK STREET; 201,772 books; 7,819 audio materials; 16,814 video materials; 426 serial subscriptions)
Largest Olathe Employers:
- Johnson County Goverment, 2350 employees
- Olathe Medical Center, 1600 employees
- Honeywell, 1300 employees
- TransAm Trucking, 1000 employees
- Garmin International, 925 employees
- Encore Receivable International, 900 employees
- Farmers Insurance, 800 employees
- Sysco Food Service, 725 employees
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