Overland park, Kansas is located in southeast Johnson County and is a thriving suburb with a population around 177,000 making it the second largest city in Kansas. The climate is very changeable and is typical of all central Midwestern states. Enjoying the seasons contributes to making it a great place to live. It's beauty and well planned community started long before it became a city. Being located along the Santa Fe Trail, which is located in what is now called historical downtown Overland Park, it originally had graveled streets, steam electric interurban railroad line, restaurants, dance hall, a general store, and blacksmith shop. It really began to blossom from these humble beginnings with a man that had a long term vision of what he wanted it to become.This man was William B. Strang Jr., an entrepreneur and an American railroad magnate that arrived in 1905. He originally purchased 600 acres of land south of Kansas City. He initially developed several housing communities off a military highway and each development had the name of Overland in it. One of the developments was called Overland Park and thus became the name of this city.
Strang was the original founder of the interurban railroad line that provided transportation from Olathe, Kansas to Kansas City, Missouri until its last trip in 1940. He had a far reaching vision which was to develop a self-sustaining, well planned park like community. Before his death in 1921, he started to accomplish this goal by building an airport, providing land for schools, and building several housing developments. It would be many years before it separated from Mission Urban Township.On May 20, 1960 Overland Park became incorporated and now contains 73 square miles of homes, businesses, quality neighborhoods, and schools. It also provides an array of events and attractions. There is something for everyone to enjoy. In 2010, Money Magazine considered Overland Park the 7th of best places to live and raise children in the U.S. It's also among the top 50 safest cities to live in. The Overland Park, KS, yellow pages and Overland Park, KS business directory contain a wealth of information that will guide you to the people, places, and things that this city has to offer. Strang's vision of a well planned, self sustained city was continued on by other forward thinking people to what is now the city of Overland Park, Kansas.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
