Olathe, Kansas

Olathe is a city in the United States, located in Johnson County, Kansas. It is an important place because it is the county seat, meaning it is the main city for the county. Olathe is also the fourth-most populous city in both the Kansas City metropolitan area and the state of Kansas. In 2020, the city had a population of 141,290 people, making it a lively and growing community. It plays a key role in the area as a center for business, education, and daily life for many families.

History

See also: Early Kansas History

19th century

Olathe was founded by John T. Barton in the spring of 1857. He chose a spot in the middle of Johnson County and marked out land for the new town. Barton thought the area was very beautiful and wanted to name the town “Beautiful.” He asked a Shawnee interpreter how to say “Beautiful” in their language, and was told it was “Olathe.”

Olathe became an official city in 1857 and was chosen as the county seat in 1859 because it was growing quickly. The nation was facing tough times over the issue of slavery, which caused fights between people from different areas. These fights were part of a bigger struggle called Bleeding Kansas. When Kansas joined the United States as a free state in 1861, the fighting started to calm down, but Olathe still had hard times ahead.

In 1862, a group of Confederates led by William Quantrill suddenly attacked the city, causing damage and some deaths. They tried to make the men promise to support the Confederacy, but this promise wasn’t accepted later because the attackers weren’t seen as a real army. Kansas soldiers stayed in Olathe for the rest of the Civil War.

Confederate soldiers tried to attack Olathe two more times—one in 1863 as they moved toward Lawrence, Kansas, and again in 1864 when a large group led by Major General Sterling Price was moving south. After the Civil War ended, the military post in Olathe was closed.

Olathe was an important stop for people traveling west on the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail. Local shops made money by selling supplies to travelers. The Mahaffie House, a place where travelers often stopped, is now a historical site where visitors can see old-fashioned costumes, ride in stagecoaches, and meet farm animals. People especially enjoy the Civil War re-enactments and Wild West Days there.

After the transcontinental railroad was built, the old trails were used less, and Olathe became a quiet town.

20th century

In the 1950s, new roads, including Interstate 35, connected Olathe to nearby Kansas City, Missouri. This brought many new families to live in Olathe. In the 1980s, the city grew even more with new shops and businesses, attracting even more people. By 2001, Olathe’s population had grown to over 100,000, and it kept growing as the city expanded into areas that were once farms.

Geography

Olathe is next to the cities of Lenexa to the north, Overland Park to the east, De Soto to the northwest, and Gardner to the southwest.

The city covers a total area of 60.42 square miles (156.49 km²), with 59.66 square miles (154.52 km²) of land and 0.76 square miles (1.97 km²) of water. Olathe has two public lakes: Lake Olathe and Cedar Lake.

Olathe has cold winters and hot summers. Temperatures can range from around 20 °F (−7 °C) in January to nearly 90 °F (32 °C) in July. The city gets about 40 inches (1,000 mm) of rain each year, mostly in the spring and early summer. Snow usually falls in the winter, averaging about 19 inches each year.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 141,290 people living in Olathe. This included 50,070 households and 37,409 families. The city had many different groups of people. Most were European American, but there were also many black or African-American people, some Asian people, and others from many backgrounds.

Most families in Olathe had children, and many were married couples living together. About one-third of people had finished college or higher education. The city had a good amount of money on average, with many families doing well.

2010 census

In 2010, Olathe had 125,872 people living there. This included 44,507 households and 33,274 families. The city had many white people, but also African American, Asian, and others. Most families had children, and many were married couples.

Economy

Olathe has many big companies in its commercial and industrial parks, such as Honeywell, Husqvarna, ALDI, Garmin, Grundfos, and Farmers Insurance Group. Even though Farmers Insurance is based in Los Angeles, California, Olathe has more of its workers than any other city in the United States.

The Federal Aviation Administration, part of the United States Department of Transportation, runs an important air traffic-control center in Olathe called Kansas City Center or ZKC. This center helps manage air traffic across the United States. Johnson County also has an airport in Olathe, known as the Johnson County Executive Airport. It covers about 500 acres (2.0 km²) and has a long runway, making it the second-busiest airport in the state.

Largest employers

According to the city's 2022 report, the biggest employers in Olathe are:

Government

Olathe has its own local government, which includes leaders called mayors who help manage the city. You can find more information about these leaders on the list of mayors of Olathe, Kansas List of mayors of Olathe, Kansas.

Education

Olathe has several school districts that help children learn, including Olathe USD 233, De Soto USD 232, Spring Hill USD 230, Blue Valley USD 229, and Gardner Edgerton USD 231. In 2008, more than 26,000 students were part of the Olathe USD 233 district, which includes many elementary, middle, and high schools such as Olathe North, Olathe South, Olathe East, Olathe Northwest, and Olathe West.

The city is also home to MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Kansas School for the Deaf, which began in 1861.

Infrastructure

Airports

Olathe has two nearby airports:

• Johnson County Executive Airport
• New Century AirCenter

The nearest airport with flights is Kansas City International Airport in Platte County, Missouri.

Bus

• Johnson County Transit runs buses all over the county, including Olathe.
• The closest place to catch a bus to other cities is the Kansas City Bus Station.

Rail

• The BNSF Railway's Chicago-Los Angeles main line goes through Olathe.
• The closest train station for passengers is at Kansas City Union Station.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Olathe, Kansas

See also: List of MidAmerica Nazarene University people

Olathe, Kansas, has been home to many famous people. Willie Aames became well known for acting in TV shows like Eight Is Enough and Charles in Charge. John Anderson, Jr., who was born near Olathe, served as the governor of Kansas. Jonathan Quinn was a football coach and played for teams like the Kansas City Chiefs. Darren Sproles was a successful football player for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Philadelphia Eagles. Buddy Rogers starred in the first movie to win the Best Picture Oscar. Charles Miller was a musician known for his work with the band War.

In popular culture

See also: List of films set in Kansas

Olathe is an important place in the 1967 film In Cold Blood, starring Robert Blake and Scott Wilson. The city is also featured in the 2003 documentary Lost Boys of Sudan, directed by Megan Mylan and Jon Shenk.