Overland Park, Kansas
Overland Park (OH-vər-lend PARK) is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States,[1] and the second-most populous city in the state of Kansas.[6] It is one of four principal cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area and the most populous suburb of Kansas City, Missouri.[7][8][9] As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 197,238.[10][4][5]
History
In 1905, William B. Strang Jr.[11] arrived and began to plot subdivisions along an old military roadway, which later became the city's principal thoroughfare. He developed large portions of what would later become downtown Overland Park.[12]
On May 20, 1960, Overland Park was officially incorporated as a "city of first class",[13] with a population of 28,085. Less than thirty years later, the population had nearly quadrupled to 111,790 in 1990, increasing to 173,250 as of the 2010 census.[14] Overland Park officially became the second largest city in the state, following Wichita, Kansas, after passing Kansas City, Kansas in the early 2000s.
Population growth in the city can mainly be attributed to the traditional greenfield suburban development, appreciated on the city's annexation map.[15] Overland Park's last annexation attempt, in 2008, garnered widespread news coverage after massive outcry from affected residents.[16][17][18] Overland Park now has a combined land area of 75.37 square miles (195.21 km2) and spans nearly the full north–south length of Johnson County. Since the expansion of Overland Park, state legislators have amended laws governing annexations to require a majority vote of affected residents in all future annexations over 40 acres (0.16 km2).[19]
On April 13, 2014, a pair of shootings committed by a lone gunman occurred at the local Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City and Village Shalom, a local Jewish retirement community. A total of three people were killed in both shootings. The suspected gunman, described as a man in his seventies,[20][21] later identified as Neo-Nazi Frazier Glenn Miller, Jr., was taken into custody.[22][23]
Education
Primary and secondary education
Overland Park spans four public school districts. The portion of the city north of Interstate 435 lies within the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD).[55] SMSD, which is headquartered in Overland Park, operates thirty eight elementary schools, two middle schools, six high schools, and multiple support facilities in the city.[56] Most of the city south of I-435 lies within the Blue Valley School District.[55] Blue Valley, also based in Overland Park, operates 20 elementary schools, nine middle schools, five high schools, and one alternative high school in the city.[57] A portion of western Overland Park lies within the Olathe Public Schools district which operates two elementary schools in the city.[55][58] The extreme southwestern part of Overland Park lies within the Spring Hill School District.[55]
There are more than 12 private and parochial schools in Overland Park.[43][59] The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas oversees five Catholic schools in the city including four elementary schools and St. Thomas Aquinas High School.[60] The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod oversees two schools, Bethany Lutheran School (Grades K–8) and Christ Lutheran School (K–8).[61][62] The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod oversees a third Lutheran school, Mount Olive Lutheran School (K–8).[63] Other Christian schools in the city are Kansas City Christian School's Oxford Park Campus (PK–2) and Overland Christian Schools (PK–12).[64][65] Overland Park also hosts one Jewish school, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (K–12).[66] Non-religious private schools in the city include Accelerated Schools of Overland Park (4–12) and two Montessori schools.[43][67]
Kansas City Japanese School, a Japanese weekend educational program, is held at the Kansas Christian College in Overland Park.[68]
K–12 schools:
Infrastructure
Transportation
Interstate 435, the Kansas City area's beltway, and U.S. Route 50 run concurrently east–west through central Overland Park. Interstate 35 runs northeast–southwest through the city's northwestern and northern fringe. U.S. Route 56 and U.S. Route 169 run concurrently with I-35 through the city's northwestern fringe and then split off to the east as Shawnee Mission Parkway at interchange 226, running east–west through northern Overland Park. U.S. Route 69 runs generally north–south through the city, merging with I-35, U.S. 56, and U.S. 169 at interchange 225 just northwest of the city. U.S. 69 then splits off to the east with U.S. 56 and U.S. 169 as Shawnee Mission Parkway before turning north again as Metcalf Avenue. In extreme northern Overland Park, U.S. 69 then re-merges with I-35. Metcalf Avenue continues north out of the city as Interstate 635.[70]
Johnson County Transit, also known as "The JO", provides public transportation via multiple bus routes throughout the city. Several of these routes connect Overland Park with other suburbs and downtown Kansas City, Missouri.[71]
Kansas City International Airport is located approximately 22 mi (35 km) north of central Overland Park.[70] Johnson County Executive Airport, a public general aviation facility, is located immediately west of the city in Olathe.[70][72]
BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad each operate a freight rail line through Overland Park. The BNSF line runs roughly parallel with I-35 through the northwestern and northern fringe of the city. The Union Pacific line runs northeast through the extreme southeastern part of the city.[25] Kansas City's Union Station, which is a stop on Amtrak's Missouri River Runner and Southwest Chief passenger rail lines, is located approximately 8 mi (13 km) northeast of central Overland Park.[70]
Utilities
Evergy (formerly Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L)) provides electric power. Google Fiber, AT&T, Spectrum, and Consolidated Communications offer cable television, landline telephone, and broadband internet service.[73] Local residents predominantly use natural gas for heating fuel; utility gas service is provided by Atmos Energy and Kansas Gas Service.[43][73] WaterOne, an independent public utility, oversees water provision, distribution, and infrastructure maintenance.[74] The Johnson County Wastewater department manages waste water collection, transportation, and treatment.[75] Multiple privately owned trash haulers, evaluated and given permits by the city government, offer trash removal and recycling service.[76]
Health care
Hospitals in Overland Park include AdventHealth South Overland Park, Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Saint Luke's South Hospital.[77]
Parks and recreation
Overland Park has more than 1,800 acres (7.3 km2) of park land and open space. The city's 72 parks offer public golf, sand volleyball, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, and reservable shelters.
Overland Park has one sister city.