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Overland Park, Kansas: Encyclopedia BETAFree Encyclopedia |
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HistoryThe city was incorporated as a first-class city on May 20, 1960, making it one of the youngest communities in Johnson County. Its initial population was 28,085 and was bounded by Antioch Road (West), 107th Street (South), Chadwick (East) and I-35 (North).In 1960 the population was 28,085 with 17.2 square miles incorporated. By 1990 the population was 111,790 and in 1995 the incorporated land area was 56.6 square miles. Since 1995, the population has since grown to over 167,000 by 2005 with 62.26 square miles of land area. Overland Park is now the second most populous city in Kansas. The city traces its roots back to 1905, with the arrival of its founder, William B. Strang Jr., who platted subdivisions along a military roadway on 600 acres (2.4 km²) he purchased that are now part of the old downtown area. One of those subdivisions was named Overland Park, and was the site for the first airplane flight west of the Mississippi with shows by the Wright brothers, sponsored by Strang, on December 24, 1909. Overland Park is home to the communications giant Sprint Nextel Corporation. The city is known for its many parks. There is a growing suburban sprawl and corporate developments. AttractionsThe city is home to Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, a 300 acre (1.2 km²) arboretum & botanical garden. Examples of ecosystems demonstrated there are dry-mesic prairie, dry oak savanna, riparian woodland, and wooded draws.Oak Park Mall is one of the area's top shopping locations with Nordstrom, 2 Dillards, The Jones Store, JC Penney's and over 180 major stores. The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, named after a police officer killed in the line of duty, is a replica of an early 1900s farmhouse. It includes farm animals, gardens, a one-room country schoolhouse, a fishing pond, and horse-drawn wagon rides. The New Theatre Restaurant, with seating for 600, is the only year-round professional Actors' Equity Association theater in the state. The city is home to one of Dick Clark's American Bandstand Grills, complete with music memorabilia from his personal collection. Major EmployersThe largest employer in Overland Park is Sprint Nextel Corporation. Its campus occupies 240 acres (1 km²) in the city, and employs about 14,500 people. The city is also the headquarters for YRC Worldwide, the restaurant chain Applebee's, and the employee-owned Black & Veatch Corporation.The Shawnee Mission School District and Blue Valley School District and Olathe School District employ several thousand people in the city. Colleges and universities*KU Edwards Campus*Johnson County Community College GeographyOverland Park is centered at 38°56'24" North, 94°40'51" West (38.94, -94.68).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 147.2 km² (56.8 mi²). 147.0 km² (56.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.18% water. Demographics
Overland Park has the second highest percentage in the country of residents age 25 and over with four-year college degrees. Approximately 46.4% of its residents have such degrees. There are 62,586 housing units at an average density of 425.8/km² (1,102.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 90.65% White, 2.55% African American, 0.27% Native American, 3.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.24% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 3.77% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 59,703 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% are married couples living together, 7.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% are non-families. 27.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 3.06. In the city the population is spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.1 males. The median income for a household in the city is $62,116, and the median income for a family is $77,176. Males have a median income of $52,072 versus $34,186 for females. The per capita income for the city is $32,069. 3.2% of the population and 2.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.9% of those under the age of 18 and 3.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Overland Park has the lowest property tax rate of any city in Johnson County and any first-class city in Kansas. External links*Overland Park's website*Convention Center *Visitor's Bureau *Chamber of Commerce *Blue Valley School District Website *Shawnee Mission School District Website
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