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Merriam, Kansas facts for kids

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Merriam, Kansas
Location within Johnson County and Kansas
Location within Johnson County and Kansas
KDOT map of Johnson County (legend)
Country United States
State Kansas
County Johnson
Incorporated 1950
Named for Charles Merriam
Area
 • Total 4.32 sq mi (11.19 km2)
 • Land 4.32 sq mi (11.18 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
909 ft (277 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 11,098
 • Density 2,569.0/sq mi (991.8/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
66202-66204
Area code 913
FIPS code 20-46000
GNIS ID 479213

Merriam is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 11,098. Merriam is included in the Shawnee Mission postal designation. It is also the headquarters of Seaboard Corporation.

History

Merriam was incorporated as a third class city on October 28, 1950, and established second class city status on January 18, 1957.

The city was named in honor of Charles Merriam, a one-time secretary/treasurer of the then Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf railroad which ran through the area.

Geography

Merriam is located at 39°1′15″N 94°41′38″W / 39.02083°N 94.69389°W / 39.02083; -94.69389 (39.020888, -94.693784). The city straddles approximately three miles of Interstate 35 from less than a mile southwest of its junction with Interstate 635 south to 75th Street. Shawnee Mission Parkway, an east-west road, nearly bisects the city. U.S. Routes 59 and 69 follow the Interstate to the south of the city and follow Shawnee Mission Parkway to the east from its junction with the Interstate. Turkey Creek, following a roughly parallel path to the Interstate, flows through the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.32 square miles (11.19 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1960 5,084
1970 10,851 113.4%
1980 10,794 −0.5%
1990 11,821 9.5%
2000 11,008 −6.9%
2010 11,003 0.0%
2020 11,098 0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
2010-2020

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 11,003 people, 4,900 households, and 2,788 families living in the city. The population density was 2,547.0 inhabitants per square mile (983.4/km2). There were 5,224 housing units at an average density of 1,209.3 per square mile (466.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.4% White, 6.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.7% of the population.

There were 4,900 households, of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.1% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 37.4 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

Libraries

Johnson County Library serves residents of Merriam. The library's Antioch branch is located at the intersection of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch road. At one time, this branch served as the headquarters for the library system.

Official sites
History


Economy

Seaboard Corporation is based in Merriam. Until 2019 the home of Lee Jeans.

IKEA announced the construction and opening of an IKEA store at Johnson Drive & Interstate 35. It added between 200 and 500 jobs in Spring 2015.

Top employers

According to Merriam's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Adventist Health/Shawnee Mission Med Ctr 3,024
2 Synchrony Financial/GE Credit Services 800
3 DS Bus Lines/First Student 360
4 IKEA Home Furnishings 350
5 Seaboard Allied Milling 342
6 Baron BMW/Shawnee Mission Kia 225
7 Aristocrat Motors 188
8 Carmax 186
9 Hendrick Chevrolet/Nissan 186
10 Home Depot 173

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Merriam (Kansas) para niños

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