About Johnson County, Kansas
Information and History
Johnson County began the 20th century with about 18,000 people. It grew slowly until The second world war, reaching a population around 33,000 by 1940. Following the war, suburban expansion quadrupled the population so that by 1960 over 143,000 people lived in the County. By the 2000 census, Johnson County is home to 530,000 individuals.
Created in 1855 and organized in 1857, Johnson County was one of the first 33 counties in Kansas. Located close to the twin cities of Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri, it contains 477 square miles, or 307,200 acres. Since the original establishment from the Shawnee Methodist Mission in 1839, Johnson County has developed into a complex combination of urban and rural areas.
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County government was established in Kansas to carry out state prescribed functions in the local level; that is, to do something as an administrative agent for that state in such matters as tax assessment and collection, registration of motor vehicles, and record keeping. Also, as a local government, the County has assumed responsibility for provision of the wide variety of local services for example roads, public safety, health, environment, parks and recreation, planning and zoning, airports, library and civil defense.
The seven-member Board of County Commissioners is Johnson County's chief governing and policy-making body. County Commissioners are elected to four-year terms through the residents in districts which are roughly equal in population.
You will find over 40 departments, offices and agencies and more than 4,000 employees in Johnson County Government. Together they provide a number of services.
The Library provides information services through nine branches. The Library's collection is obtainable via a computerized circulation system and includes more than 800,000 books; 3,000 periodicals; and 8,000 audiovisual items including videotapes.
The Museum system operates the County Historical Museum in Shawnee and also the Lanesfield School Historic Site near Gardner.
The Archives and Records Management Department keeps a repository for the storage and preservation of historical documents while assisting within the regulating active records.
Parks and Recreation maintains 5,000 acres of parkland, together with a countywide streamway park system, while offering more than 4,000 fee-supported recreation programs annually. Special areas and events include Tomahawk Hills Recreational Complex and Course, Heritage and Shawnee Mission Park's marinas, and also the annual Theatre around the block show season.
The Midcentury Air Center may be the County government's major economic, industrial and general aviation development agency.
The Office of Planning Development Codes provides countywide studies, urban development forecasts, and geographic information, as well as administering the zoning and planning for the unincorporated area.