A Brief History of Overland Park, Kansas

The following article is brought to you by the lawyers of sexual abuse from Overland Park. Our legal team hopes to encourage locals and visitors to learn more about the history of the city and what it has to offer.

Short History of Overland Park

Overland Park is a city in Johnson County, Kansas. Also the second-most populous city within the Kansas City metro area and the state of Kansas, its history dates back to 1905. Its founder, William B. Stranf Jr., had arrived in the area and began plotting subdivisions along an old military roadway that would become the city's principal thoroughfare. He then developed most of what would become downtown Overland Park. On May 20, 1960, the area was incorporated as a "city of first class." In the early 2000s, it became the second-largest city in the state, with a population of 173,250 people as of the 2010 census. In 2018, Overland Park was awarded "One of the most popular cities for millennials" and "Best city to raise a family."

As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 197,238 people and a total area of 75.37 square miles. It is bordered by Kansas City, Kansas, on the north, Mission and Prairie Village on the northeast, Leawood on the east, Stilwell on the south, Lenexa and Olathe on the west, and Merriam and Shawnee on the northwest. Most of Overland Park lies in the watershed of the Blue River.

Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens was opened in 1991. It is owned and managed by the City of Overland Park. The arboretum, opened in 1990, features mature trees, limestone bluffs, around six miles of trails, and two bridges that cross Wolf Creek, a major tributary of the Blue River. In 1996, the first garden was dedicated. Today, 85% of the property has been set aside for natural ecosystems. The eight ecosystems that can be found within the arboretum include:

• Dry-Mesic Prairie
• Dry-Oak Hickory
• Dry Oak-Savanna
• Dry Wooded Swales
• Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest
• Old Field
• Riparian Woodland
• Wooded Draws

The gardens that are also housed here are the Betsy and Gordon Ross Herb Garden, Children's Discovery Garden, Cohen Iris Garden, Erickson Water Garden, Legacy Garden, Marder Woodland Garden, Monet Garden, Stous Promenade, Train Garden and Welcome Garden. It is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex

Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex is the biggest sports complex in Overland Park. Located on Switzer Road, it encompasses 96 acres of land. Thanks to this complex, the city has been named a top soccer city by Livability.com. The sports complex offer amenities like 12 lighted, regulated-size synthetic turf fields, basketball and tennis courts, a skate park, playgrounds, a fieldhouse, a tournament storage area, a referee lounge, men's and women's locker rooms, electronic videos boards, 1,100-square-feet of meeting space, concession stands, and many more. It is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Our Local Office

Contact our Overland Park sexual abuse attorneys if you or a loved one has been suffering from abuse. We can help you take legal action to hold your predator accountable for their crimes. Call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation.