Olathe, KS

Located in the northeastern part of Kansas, Olathe is the fifth most populated city in the state, with a population of about 118,000. A suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Olathe is the county seat of Johnson County. In 2008, CNN/Money and Money magazine included Olathe as number 11 in their ranking of 100 Best Cities to Live in the United States.

Olathe is a family-oriented city with a highly regarded school system, a low crime rate, and a high rate of home ownership (approximately 69 percent).

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

In 1996, downtown Olathe completed a revitalization of the Original Town area. Four properties in Olathe's Original Town are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and three are listed on the Register of Historic Places in Kansas.

Some of Olathe's most popular residential neighborhoods include the following:

• DeSoto is a quiet neighborhood located in a rural setting with mostly midsize, single-family homes. The majority of the residents of this neighborhood work as manufacturers or laborers.
• Brougham Drive is an urban neighborhood, and most residents here work as executives or managers. The majority of the homes in Brougham were built in the 1970s.
• Other neighborhoods include Lindenwood Drive, Lackman Road, Rogers Road, and Locust Street.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Business and business development have always been essential aspects of what Olathe is all about. Because it is located just 20 miles southwest of Kansas City, Olathe is a desirable location for business. In the past, railroads were Olathe's prime industry, while today the city has created office and industrial parks to encourage economic growth. The population and commercial growth that began during the 1950s has continued, as more people come to the area each year. This population increase is projected to continue as the city of Olathe expands into the rural areas and farms to the south, west, and north of town.

• Olathe has 14 office and industrial parks, including the Deerfield Business Park, the South Olathe Business Park, and the Lone Elm Industrial Park.
• Companies that call Olathe's commercial and industrial parks home include Honeywell, ALDI, Garmin, and Farmers Insurance Group.
• Olathe is home to an Air Route Traffic Control Center that is maintained and administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Johnson County Executive Airport is the second busiest in the state.
• Since 1873, Olathe Boot Company has been creating custom boots for cowboys and westerners, earning the city the nickname the Cowboy Boot Capital.

FOR VISITORS

• Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site features three 19th-century buildings, including the last surviving stagecoach shop used in the 1850s on the Santa Fe Trail. The site hosts Civil War reenactments and other events throughout the year.
• William J. Marra Museum of Deaf History and Deaf Culture houses a collection of artifacts and features two exhibit halls; one tells the story of the Kansas School for the Deaf, and the other tells about the culture of the hearing-impaired.
• Old Olathe Naval Air Museum was established in 1976 to display historic aircraft such as a B-24J Liberator bomber.

FAMILY FUN

• Ernie Miller Nature Center and Park was the first nature center in Johnson County and features 113 acres of forest and prairie. Visitors can see live animals, walk the trails, learn about the environment, take backpacking hikes, and attend camps in the summer.
• Olathe Sports and Leisure Parks includes 25 parks that offer hiking, fishing, soccer, and walking trails.

EVENTS

• Hidden Glen Arts Festival is an outdoor art festival that features more than 100 visual and performing artists. The event is held each September.
• Wild West Show and Bullwhacker Days are held each September at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site. The event features a rodeo, food, and depictions of buffalo soldiers, cowboys, mountain men, and other Western characters.

EDUCATION

• MidAmerica Nazarene University offers graduate and undergraduate programs and is located on a beautiful 105-acre campus with buildings constructed in a Colonial style.
• Kansas State School for the Deaf was built in 1861 on a lovely tree-lined campus located in downtown Olathe.

SPORTS TEAMS

• The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I Men's Basketball National Championship has been held annually in Olathe for more than 70 years.
• The Olathe Marathon, held each March, features a full marathon, a half marathon, a 5K run, and a kids' run. The course is United States of America Track and Field (USATF) certified.