Olathe, Kansas

Olathe, Kansas is a city located in northeast Kansas, and a suburb of Kansas City. Olathe has had its share of national recognition. In 2005, Midwest Living named Olathe, Kansas to be the second most livable city (where city is defined as a community with more than 100,000 citizens) in the Midwest. In 2006 Money magazine ranked Olathe as the 13th best place to live in the United States.

Olathe, Kansas' history extends back to 1857, when Dr. John Barton traveled to Johnson County and plotted out the city's site. According to popular legend, Barton was struck by the the pastoral, flower-strewn pasture of that location, and turned to a nearby Shawnee translator to ask what the word was for "beautiful" in that tongue. The answer is the name of the city.

Early Olathe history is marred by violence, first from battles between Missouri slaveowners and Olathe abolitionists, and later in 1862, as Confederate marauders from Missouri killed six men, wrecked much of the town and robbed homes, again targeting Olathe because of its status as an abolitionist stronghold. Later, Olathe became a trade center on the Oregon Trail, and then when I-35 brought Kansas City onto its doorstep, a rapidly growing suburban community.

Olathe Schools

The Olathe School District and Blue Valley School District manage the Olathe schools, tallying an enrollment of 22,000 students. Olathe schools offer a surprising breadth of topics, including Aerospace Engineering, E-Communications, and Sports Medicine and Athletic Training. Olathe School District is honored to claim Josh Anderson, 2007 Kansas Teacher of the Year, among its educators. Blue Valley also has bragging news, since it was the only district in Kansas with more than 10,000 students that achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as defined in the No Child Left Behind Act. All the schools in the district reached the AYP goal.

Olathe Weather

Olathe weather reflects the city's location in northeast Kansas, with about ten days of snow per year, a strong rainy season, about a month of hot days each summer (greater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit) and cold but not bitter winters. At its coldest, an average year of Olathe weather includes 102 days of lows below freezing. However, the average low temperature bottoms at 19.9°F. In short, Olathe weather encompasses all four seasons, with a slight tilt toward the brisk. If you're seeking an apartment in a city like that, take a look at what Olathe has to offer!