Olathe is the second largest community in Johnson County, Kansas, with a population of 122,000 (2006). The city is located approximately 20 miles from downtown Kansas City, giving it the amenities and advantages of a major metropolitan area. Despite Olathe’s proximity to its big city neighbor, it still has the quality and charm of a small town with rolling hills and pleasant neighborhoods. After all, Olathe is the Shawnee Indian word for “beautiful.” The city’s aesthetic beauty and its quality of life have many people wanting not only to visit Olathe, but to call it home.
Olathe has many outdoor recreation opportunities such as biking, fishing, boating, swimming, and team sports. The area is also popular for sailboarding and hot air ballooning. Additionally, the city has two public lakes: Olathe Lake and Cedar Lake. Fitness trails, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and four public swimming pools are available to those who seek recreational activities in the area.
Interesting cultural attractions in Olathe include the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site, which is the last publicly open stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail; the Ernie Miller Nature Center, with 113 acres of diverse habitats; the Ensor Farmsite and Museum; the William Marra Museum, which displays the photographic works of students attending the Kansas State School for the Deaf; the Olathe Community Theatre; and the Olathe Convention and Visitors Bureau.
