Lenexa, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lenexa, Kansas
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Lenexa City Center (2017)
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Location within Johnson County and Kansas
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Kansas | |
| County | Johnson | |
| Incorporated | 1907 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 34.39 sq mi (89.08 km2) | |
| • Land | 34.07 sq mi (88.24 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2) 1.02% | |
| Elevation | 873 ft (266 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 57,434 | |
| • Density | 1,670.08/sq mi (644.75/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
66200-66299
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| Area code | 913 | |
| FIPS code | 20-39350 | |
| GNIS ID | 485612 | |
Lenexa is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. It is part of the larger Kansas City metropolitan area. In 2020, about 57,434 people lived there. This makes Lenexa the 9th biggest city in Kansas. It shares borders with Shawnee to the north and Overland Park to the east. To the west is De Soto, and to the south is Olathe.
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History of Lenexa
Lenexa has an interesting past. About 12 years before the town was officially planned, a famous person named James Butler Hickok made a land claim. This was in 1857. His claim was on 160 acres (about 65 hectares) of land. Today, this spot is near 83rd and Clare Road.
Wild Bill Hickok's Connection
Hickok's land was not far from the Kansas River. It was also about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Westport, Missouri. Westport was the starting point of the Santa Fe Trail. This important trail for travelers and traders went right through the Lenexa area. In 1858, Hickok became one of the first constables (like a police officer) for Monticello Township nearby. Later, he became a scout, a great sharpshooter, and a famous folk hero of the American West. He was known as Wild Bill Hickok.
The Shawnee People and the Town's Name
Around the same time Hickok claimed his land, a count was done of the Shawnee Native Americans living there. One person listed was Na-Nex-Se Blackhoof. She was the wife of Chief Blackhoof. He was important in signing a treaty in 1854. This treaty gave 1.6 million acres (647,500 hectares) of the Shawnee Indian reservation to the U.S. government.
Railroad and Founding of the City
In 1865, a railroad company was formed. It was called the Kansas and Neosho Valley Railroad. Later, its name changed to Missouri River, Ft. Scott and Gulf Railroad. In 1869, this railroad bought land from C.A. Bradshaw. The deal said that a train station, or depot, had to be built on the property. Bradshaw also sold 10.5 acres (4.2 hectares) to Octave Chanute. He was a civil engineer for the railroad. Chanute then planned out the town in 1869.
Legend says that the first name suggested for the town was "Bradshaw." But Bradshaw said no, and the name "Lenexa" was chosen instead. This name came from "Na-Nex-Se," the name of Chief Thomas Blackhoof's wife.
Geography of Lenexa
Lenexa is located in northeastern Kansas. It covers a total area of about 34.45 square miles (89.2 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 34.10 square miles (88.3 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.35 square miles (0.9 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 583 | — | |
| 1920 | 472 | −19.0% | |
| 1930 | 452 | −4.2% | |
| 1940 | 502 | 11.1% | |
| 1950 | 803 | 60.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,497 | 211.0% | |
| 1970 | 5,242 | 109.9% | |
| 1980 | 18,639 | 255.6% | |
| 1990 | 34,034 | 82.6% | |
| 2000 | 40,238 | 18.2% | |
| 2010 | 48,190 | 19.8% | |
| 2020 | 57,434 | 19.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010-2020 |
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Lenexa has grown a lot over the years. In 1910, only 583 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 57,434 people.
2020 Census Information
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 57,434 people living in Lenexa. There were 23,934 households, which are groups of people living together. The city had about 1,685 people per square mile (650 per square kilometer).
Most people in Lenexa, about 78%, were white. About 6.4% were black, and 4.15% were Asian. About 8% of the population identified as being from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up about 8.3% of the population.
About 27.7% of households had children under 18 living there. Many households, about 51.8%, were married couples. The average household had 2.4 people. The average family had 2.9 people. The median age in Lenexa was 38.4 years old. This means half the people were younger than 38.4, and half were older. About 21.7% of the population was under 18.
Economy of Lenexa
The economy of Lenexa is strong, with several large companies. Lenexa is where Garmin, a company famous for GPS devices, started. It is also home to a big office for Kiewit Construction.
Major Employers in Lenexa
Here are some of the biggest employers in Lenexa, based on a 2015 report:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 1 | United Parcel Service | 2,087 |
| 2 | Quest Diagnostics/Lab One | 1,954 |
| 3 | Kiewit Power Engineers Company | 1,292 |
| 4 | JC Penney Logistics Center | 1,200 |
| 5 | Alliance Data Systems | 730 |
| 6 | Gear for Sports | 600 |
| 7 | Lakeview Village | 586 |
| 8 | Lexmark | 570 |
| 9 | Clinical Reference Lab | 567 |
| 10 | PRA International | 560 |
Education in Lenexa
Lenexa does not have its own public school district. Students in Lenexa attend schools in one of three nearby districts. These are the Shawnee Mission School District, the Olathe School District, or the De Soto School District. The city also has some private schools. St. James Academy, a private high school, opened in Lenexa in 2005. The Johnson County Library has a branch located in the Lenexa City Center. Friends University, based in Wichita, also has a branch campus in Lenexa.
Culture and Events
Lenexa has several fun events and interesting cultural spots.
Annual Events
Every June, Lenexa hosts "The Great Lenexa Barbecue Battle." This event is also the Kansas State Championship for barbecue. In the 1930s, Lenexa was known as the "Spinach Capital of the World." To celebrate this history, the city holds a Spinach Festival every September.
Religious Communities
Lenexa is home to the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church. This church was first started in Kansas City in 1906. It moved to Lenexa in 2006. The church built a new building in the Byzantine style. It also has a cultural center. The church hosts a SerbFest in the summer and a Food Festival in the fall. The Church of the Nazarene, a large Protestant Christian group, moved its international headquarters to Lenexa in 2008.
Healthcare Services
In April 2023, construction began for a new hospital in Lenexa. It will be called AdventHealth Lenexa and is part of the AdventHealth system.
Transportation in Lenexa
Johnson County Transit provides bus services for people to travel within Lenexa and to nearby areas.
Notable People from Lenexa
Many interesting people have lived in or were born in Lenexa:
- Warren Ault (1887–1989), a historian.
- Cam F. Awesome (born 1988), a boxer.
- Baron Corbin (born 1984), a WWE Wrestler.
- Madison Desch (born 1997), a gymnast.
- Drake Dunsmore (born 1988), a football player.
- Wild Bill Hickok (1837–1876), a famous gunfighter. He claimed land in what is now Lenexa.
- Lucas Rodríguez (born 1986), a soccer player.
- Paul Rudd, (born 1969), a well-known actor.
- William Shaw (born 1955), a biochemist and autism researcher.
- Grace VanderWaal (born 2004), the winner of America's Got Talent.
- Jason Wiles (born 1970), an actor, director, and producer. He starred in the TV show Third Watch.
- Ron Worley (born 1945), a Kansas state legislator.
