What’s in a Name?
Cities and Towns
De Soto
Founded in 1857 and was named for the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto.
Source: History of De Soto. City of De Soto, 2005.
http://www.desotoks.us/Pages/history.htm
Edgerton
Judge David Martin arrived and owned a farm in the area where Edgerton exists today. For this reason, Edgerton was originally called Martinsburg. But residents renamed it Edgerton in 1871, in honor of the railroad’s chief engineer of the same name. Edgerton was the successor to the communities of Lanesfield, Martinsburgh, McCamish, and Hibbard.
Source: History of Edgerton. City of Edgerton, 2006.
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Edgerton/
Fairway
Rev. Thomas Johnson received the original grant for the land and the Shawnee Indian Methodist Mission was built; the mission then closed and the property sold to J.C. Nichols Company in 1938, who built a home development here which had a driving range on the other side of the highway. Nichols decided to call the area Fairway because of it’s locale to the Mission Hills, Old Mission and KC Golf Clubs.
Source:
"Historic Johnson County." Johnson County Herald, 3 September 1969, p. 7.
Gardner
Gardner is named in honor of Governor Henry J. Gardner of Massachusetts, elected on the Know-Nothing ticket in 1854 when Kansas opened to settlement.
Source:
History of Gardner. City of Gardner, 2005.
http://www.gardnerkansas.com/go/ history_gardner.php
Lake Quivira
Derived from “Guadalquiver,” an Arabic word from southern Spain meaning “Big River,” probably bestowed on the Mississippi.
Source: "Johnson County Cities Incorporation and Name Origins." Johnson County Sun, 27 July 1990.
Leawood
Named for principal landowner, Oscar G. Lee, who purchased about 600 acres of land.
Source: "Historic Johnson County." Johnson County Herald, 3 September 1969, p. 7.
Lenexa
Originally known as Brickley, and renamed for Indian Princess Len-ag-see, wife of the Shawnee Chief Blackhoof.
Source: "Historic Johnson County." Johnson County Herald, 3 September 1969, p. 9.
Merriam
Merriam was the second settlement in the county. It was first known as Campbelltown after early resident David Gee Campbell. The Post Office later changed the name to Spring Place for 41 days. It was also called Glenwood for a short time. In 1881, the community was tagged Merriam after G.F. Merriam, the township clerk in 1858.
Source: "Johnson County Cities Incorporation and Name Origins." Johnson County Sun, 27 July 1990.
Mission
Louis Breyfogle purchased the 160 acres that became Mission, Kansas, at the turn of the 19th century. In 1926, his heirs subdivided it into "Mission Hills Acres," and later shortened the name to Mission.
Source: "Johnson County Cities Incorporation and Name Origins." Johnson County Sun, 27 July 1990.
Mission Hills
The area was developed by the J.C. Nichols Company and was platted in 1914 as an extension of residential development from the Missouri side of State Line. It later organized as the Mission Hills Home Company.
Source: "Johnson County Cities Incorporation and Name Origins." Johnson County Sun, 27 July 1990.
Mission Woods
Located on a 40 acre home site of William McKenzie Johnson, son of the county’s namesake, Rev. Thomas Johnson, the city bears a name reflecting its wooded environment and the missions established there in the early to mid-1800s by the Methodists. Baptists and Quakers. The area was developed by J.C. Nichols Company in the 1930s as part of the residential expansion across the state line.
Source: "Johnson County Cities Incorporation and Name Origins." Johnson County Sun, 27 July 1990.
Olathe
Shawnee Indian word for “beautiful.” And founded in 1857 by Dr. John T. Barton.
Source: "Historic Johnson County." Johnson County Herald, 3 September, p. 9.
Overland Park
Originally platted in 1854 as Glenn, the City of Overland Park can trace its roots back to 1905 with the arrival of its founder William B. Strang Jr., who platted subdivisions along a military roadway. Strang envisioned a "park-like" community that was self-sustaining and well planned. He also sought strong commerce, quality education, vibrant neighborhoods, convenient transportation and accommodating recreational facilities. Strang platted several subdivisions and named one "Overland Park".
Source:
Overland Park: History. Overland Park Convention and Visitor Bureau, 2003. http://www.opcvb.org/welcome/history.html
Prairie Village
Named by J.C. Nichols in 1941 because of it’s resemblance of a village on the prairie and the Prairie School was located here. Land was originally the Porter Family Farm.
Source: "Historic Johnson County." Johnson County Herald, 3 September 1969, p. 7.
Roeland Park
Named for John Roe, great farmer and landowner who bought 267 acres of land in the area in the 1880s. He provided money to finance the Strang Line rail system and is created with bringing gas lines and hard-surfaced roads to the county. Sources: "Historic Johnson County." Johnson County Herald, 3 September 1969, p. 7.
"Johnson County Cities Incorporation and Name Origins." Johnson County Sun, 27 July 1990.
Shawnee
This was the first community founded in Johnson County. It was incorporated in 1856 as Gum Springs, and was the first county seat. The name was changed in 1922 when the city reincorporated. The name comes from the North American Indians who had headquarters here in the 1820s.
Source: "Johnson County Cities Incorporation and Name Origins." Johnson County Sun, 27 July 1990.
Spring Hill
James B. Hovey was the first citizen to settle in the Spring Hill area when he arrived in March of 1857. It was named after Spring Hill, Alabama, which is near Mobile.
Source:
History of Spring Hill. City of Spring Hill, 2000.
http://www.springhillks.com/community/ climate/history.html
Westwood
Named after Westwood View Elementary School and three existing subdivisions.
Source: "Johnson County Cities Incorporation and Name Origins." Johnson County Sun, 27 July 1990.
Westwood Hills
Developed by the J.C. Nichols Company in 1922 as a subdivision. According to Nichols publication, the city was “highly wooded, slightly rolling ground commanding a view of the beautiful Brush Creek valley”.
Source: "Johnson County Cities Incorporation and Name Origins." Johnson County Sun, 27 July 1990
