KANSAS CITY
Kansas City is truly the gem of the Midwest. Capturing a certain European elegance, Kansas City is characterized by wide-open boulevards and gracious buildings. Known also as “The City of Fountains” Kansas City is accented by hundreds of majestic fountains sprinkled throughout the city proper each unique and each adding to the sophisticated ambiance of this cosmopolitan beauty. Kansas City also has an abundance of Art Deco buildings and ranks in the nations top ten cities for Art Deco neighborhoods. But Kansas City is more than just a pretty face. The city has been distinguished by several business journals relative to economic strength, employment opportunities and overall business environment. Kansas City has garnered accolades from Outlook magazine ranking the city number one of its top 25 list of “choice cities” in which to live and do business. Kansas City also ranked number one in the Midwest and in the top ten nationally in job growth in a report from Arizona State University. And both Fortune and Entrepreneur magazines recognized Kansas City’s supportive small business environment.
Known as the “Gateway to the West”, Kansas City has played an important role in the history of America. Located along the Santa Fe Trail, Kansas City grew in response to the vast migration of adventurers, prospectors and determined families that braved their way across the plains. The vast metropolis that is present day Kansas City had humble beginnings. In 1821, Francois Chouteau, a French adventurer established a modest trading post along the Missouri River. Several other French families soon followed and together they created a small community providing services to the endless stream of weary travelers westward bound. Enterprising men and women recognized the advantages of a town located along the Santa Fe Trail and decided there was no need to travel any further to find a perfect place to call home. As the century progressed Kansas City’s growth was slow and steady with a population of little over 500 by1840. By 1853 however, Kansas City had blossomed to over 2500 residents and was officially recognized by the state of Kansas. Kansas City took its name from the Kansa Indians who originally inhabited the area. In the late 1950’s and the early 1960’s several large area annexations significantly increased both the area and population of the city. Kansas City’s growth has been thoughtfully planned. Civic leaders wanted to build a city of memorable beauty and Kansas City is just that with more fountains than any city in the world outside of Rome and more boulevards than any city outside of Paris.
Kansas City is part of a large bi-state metropolitan area that crosses the state border between Kansas and Missouri and includes more than 136 cities the largest of which are Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City, Kansas, Overland Park, Kansas and Independence, Missouri. Over 1.8 million people live in the Kansas City metropolitan area and 146,000 in Kansas City, Kansas.
Kansas City is proud of the extensive well-planned network of interstates and highways that blanket the area and make transportation a snap. Impressively, Kansas City is one of the least congested major urban areas in the nation. Interstates 29, 435 and 35 provide easy access to all parts of the surrounding metropolitan area. The Metro, the city’s public bus system provides extensive coverage of the city proper and is an affordable and convenient transportation alternative. Kansas City is located literally in the heart of the country, equidistant from either coast by approximately 1900 miles. This central location makes it easy to visit just about anywhere in the contiguous United States. It is 190 miles from Wichita, 8 miles from Kansas City Missouri, and 459 miles from Dallas. Kansas City International Airport services the bi-state metropolitan area and has been rated one of the nation’s most user-friendly airports. It is located 20 miles northwest of downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas City is truly a Mecca of cultural and recreational entertainment. The Kansas City Zoo has a variety of diverse and engaging exhibits of animals the world over that promises to enthrall both young and old alike. In addition, the zoo features an IMAX Theatre. Worlds of Fun Amusement Park promises edge of your seat excitement as you explore all 175 acres of this thrill seekers paradise. Kansas City is also home to one of the most unique museums in the world. Built in 1914, the former Union Station has undergone a comprehensive renovation and was reintroduced as the new Science City Museum, one of the most engaging museums in the country. In addition to the science center, the complex houses a giant screen movie theater, a stage for live performances and several first rate restaurants and shops. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art houses an impressive collection of contemporary art and hosts several traveling exhibits each year. For a museum of a different flavor, the Arabia Steamboat Museum features the remains of the Arabia steamboat that sank to the bottom of the Missouri River in 1856. In addition to the steamboat itself, over 200 tons of cargo was salvaged providing one of the largest collections of pre-Civil War era artifacts in the country.
OLATHE
The city of Olathe has much to offer: a friendly ambiance, beautiful surroundings and a cosmopolitan lifestyle rich with culture. Within the city’s 54 square miles, Olathe’s 106,000 residents enjoy many of the desirable qualities that make a town a home: safety, a great school system and a well-developed recreational program that provides ample activity for this health conscious community.
The secret of this exceptional city is out. With a sizable influx of new residents and businesses relocating to Olathe, it is now the fastest growing city in the state. The community of Olathe welcomes newcomers with open arms while at the same time being careful to maintain the small town ambiance that is important in sustaining community intimacy. Change and growth have added a new dynamic to this vital city making it an exciting time to live here. Growth is galvanizing the already strong economy and bringing new sources of revenue into the city’s coffers.
The city of Olathe was founded during a time of great unrest in the United States. In 1857 the state government of Kansas was deciding issues of allegiance, whether to come into the nation as a free state or one that would allow the institution of slavery. The debate was not to be tame. Growing tensions resulted in invasions from neighboring states and increasing incidents of localized violence for years previous to the outbreak of the Civil War. This was the stage upon which Dr. John Barton, Kansas City’s first settler, arrived into the territory in 1857. More than a passive bystander, Dr. Barton became an active participant in the monumental debate and helped to stabilize the fledgling settlement. At the war’s conclusion, Olathe became a busy stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail providing entertainment, food and lodging to as many as 600 coaches a week. Before long, Olathe began to settle down, and the establishment of schools, businesses and churches replaced the riotous activities of an untamed ‘border town”. Olathe takes its name from the Shawnee Indian word for beauty, beauty that is enhanced by a vibrant and diverse community.
Olathe School District comprises over 28 elementary schools, 7 junior high schools and 3 senior high schools with a student body totaling over 21,000. Over 93% of the adult population of Olathe have graduated high school and over 40% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, an impressive statistic when compared to the national average which is less than half that figure. The community recognizes the importance of a good education as the essential foundation for a successful future and the scholastic achievements of the students stand as a testimony to these standards. Fourteen Olathe district schools have been honored with the title of National Blue Ribbon awarded by the U.S. Department of Education two of which are repeat honorees. Both state and national awards have been showered upon Olathe schools including the Kansas Award for Excellence and nine consecutive awards from the School Match program. What is more, Olathe schools have been diligent in maintaining an excellent student to teacher ratio of 16/1and continue to do in the midst of an expanding population Olathe also ranks in 90th percentile for students that graduate from high school.
OVERLAND PARK
A byproduct of the Mission Urban Township subdivision, Overland Park is an amalgamation of land other communities passed over. Overland Park was originally platted in 1905 by real estate entrepreneur William B. Strang Jr. who envisioned a safe, well-planned “park-like” community. Mr. Strang’s dream included a town with a strong economy, quality education and an abundance of parks and outdoor areas. It wasn’t until 1960 that the subdivision was formally incorporated. As a result of the pressures of a growing population, city leaders recognized the necessity for further land development and Overland Park was born.
The city of Overland Park continued to grow and prosper fulfilling many of Mr. Strang’s hopes and ambitions for a thriving community. The 50 Fabulous Places to Raise a Family honored Overland Park by including them in the 1993 edition and again in the 1997 revision. Cities were evaluated in several key areas including crime, education, health care and city planning Overland Park was again distinguished in the 1996 County Economic Research Institute report which ranked the city number one out of thirteen similar communities based upon a quality of life index. Overland Park once again took center stage in 2001 by being named the second best city in America in which to live by Business Development Outlook Magazine.
At the time of its incorporation in 1960, Overland Park had a population of 28,085. Today the city has a residency of over 162,592 making it the second most populous city in the state of Kansas. The median age of the community is 36 and the average household income is $81,000. Overland Park is part of Johnson County and the larger Kansas City metropolitan area. It is 56 square miles in size
Although the city is within close proximity to Kansas City, Overland Park has many interesting and fun filled attractions of its own including live theater, beautiful gardens, petting zoos and amusement parks. The New Theater Restaurant has been recognized by none other than the Wall Street Journal as “the best dinner theater in the country”. Combining five star American fare with an excellent cast and award winning musicals, The New Theater is a wonderful place to spend a out on the town. The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden is 300 acres of natural beauty and outdoor splendor. Lyrical trails meander past waterfalls, through theme gardens and beds of flowers. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is the perfect stop for family outings. This replica of a 1900’s farmstead offers hayrides, a petting zoo, vegetable and flower gardens and a fishing pond. For those who love the music Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill is chocked full of memorabilia from Mr. Clark’s personal collection of music history.
- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
