Lenexa, KS

Located in the northeast corner of Kansas, Lenexa is in Johnson County and had a population of 45,681 in the 2007 census. Lenexa is about 12 miles southwest of Kansas City and 25 miles east of Lawrence. Lenexa earned a spot on CNN Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live" list, coming in at No. 26. The town was praised for its festivals, business base, bioscience companies and strong job growth.

The city's name came from Na-Nex-Se Blackhoof, the widow of the Shawnee Nation's Chief Blackhoof, who ceded about 1.6 million acres of Kansas Shawnee reservation land to the U.S. government in 1854. In 1869, which was 12 years before Lenexa was surveyed, James Butler Hickok claimed 160 acres of land; Hickok came to be known more famously as Wild Bill Hickok. Today, Wild Bill Hickok Park resides nears his former claim on Clare Road in Lenexa.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Lenexa is a mid-sized, well-educated, prosperous community. There are 11 residential neighborhoods of mostly single-family homes and about 59 percent of them are owner-occupied.

Some of Lenexa's most expensive neighborhoods include Monticello, Lackman Road and Pflumm Road. These are quiet family neighborhoods comprised of well-established homes.

Children attend one of the three public school districts in the area. The school districts in Lexena include Shawnee Mission School District, Olathe School District and De Soto School District. Saint James Academy is a Catholic high school in the area.

Lenexa is creating a new downtown area to be called Lenexa City Center, which is planned as a pedestrian-friendly urban area that combines a mix of shopping, entertainment, restaurants, offices, hotels and residential communities. There will also be parks, plazas and a civic center. This 200-acre neighborhood will be split into five sections, and each will each feature hotels, offices and residential areas.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Lenexa has low unemployment rate compared with the national average. Some of the leading industries in the city are retail, educational services, waste management services and health care. For the median income of households the average salary in Lenexa is $61,990.

During the 1930s, Lenexa was called the Spinach Capital of the World because of the many spinach crops planted and cultivated by Belgian farmers. Today, Lenexa's main industries are manufacturing and distribution.

Many local businesses produce their products locally and then ship them around the world. Some businesses located in Lenexa include Data Systems, Amcor Pet Packaging, Applebee's International, Coca-Cola Bottling, Consolidated Container Co., JC Penney Logistics Center, National Envelope Corporation and Williams 's.

There are about 40 business parks and 27 shopping centers in Lenexa. The goal of the city is to build more business parks near residential areas. One of these is the Lenexa City Center.

EVENTS

• The Great Lenexa Barbecue Battle started in 1982 and has since been officially titled the Kansas State Championship. The contest is always held on the fourth Saturday of June and has grown from 12 contestants to more than 185 contestants.
• The Spinach Festival celebrates the city of Lenexa's past as the Spinach Capital of the World. More than 90 booths feature arts and crafts and antiques, and there is a spinach recipe contest, the world's largest spinach salad, games, children's activities and live entertainment. This festival has been held for 25 years.

Other festivals and events held each year in Lenexa are:

• Lenexa Freedom Run (July 4th)
• Community Days Parade (July 4th)
• Midnight Bike Run (July)
• Tails on the Trail (July)
• Waterfest (August)
• Chili Challenge (October)
• Enchanted Forest (October)
• Old Town Lighting (December)

BEST BETS

• Legler Barn Museum is a stone barn that was built in 1864 and was originally situated on the Santa Fe Trail. It features a variety of displays about Lenexa history, including the history of business development in the area and the history of the Freemasons.
• Lenexa Frisco Depot was built in 1912 and 1913 and was moved to the same area as Legler Barn. The depot exhibits various modes of transportation used throughout Lenexa's history. The Lenexa Historical Society manages both the Barn Museum and the Frisco Depot and hosts events at both.
• The Lenexa Historical Society also supports the Strang Line Waiting Station, a restored prairie schooner, and a Northern Pacific caboose.

FAMILY FUN

Lenexa Parks and Recreation oversees all of the area's local attractions and parks. There are 30 parks in Lenexa, with plans to create more.

• Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park is situated on 53 acres and offers swimming, jogging and walking trails, play and picnic areas and sports facilities for tennis, basketball, soccer and volleyball. The park includes an aquatic center complete with water slides and children's play areas. Also within the park is a two-acre lake, where you can catch fish.
• Ad Astra Park features swimming, walking and jogging trails and picnic areas on 10 acres of land.