The story
History
19th century
After the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the area east of present-day Leawood opened for settlement. The Santa Fe Trail which ran through the area also contributed to the development of the area. The Border Ruffian War (1855–1857), part of a larger conflict known as Bleeding Kansas, damaged the local economy as pro-slavery activists from the slave state of Missouri attacked settlers, traders, and those traveling along the Santa Fe Trail. Conditions improved with the founding of Oxford, Kansas, the predecessor of Leawood. The township was destroyed by the American Civil War, and there was little left by 1865.
Leawood was named for Oscar G. Lee, the original land owner of the town site.
20th century
Modern Leawood was established in the 1920s, after Oscar G. Lee, a retired police chief from Oklahoma, moved to Johnson County. He supervised the construction of Lee Boulevard for public use.
In 1948, a housing development by the Kroh Brothers led to the incorporation as a city. On November 30, 1948, Leawood became a city of the third class with a population of less than 2,000. By 1959, it had become a city of the second class. As of 2014, it is a city of the first class with approximately 32,800 residents. The 2020 Census shows population of 33,902.
As of 2015, it was one of the Kansas City metropolitan area's wealthiest suburbs, alongside Mission Hills, Kansas, and the Country Club Plaza. Particularly the neighborhoods of Hallbrook and Mission Hill Estates were all rated in the top 1%, according to a widely cited research professor.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Leawood had a population of 33,902 with 12,742 households and 9,974 families. The population density was 2,244.3 per square mile (866.5/km2). There were 13,484 housing units at an average density of 892.6 per square mile (344.6/km2); 5.5% were vacant.
The median age was 46.5 years; 24.0% were under the age of 18, 6.6% were from 18 to 24, 17.5% were from 25 to 44, 29.4% were from 45 to 64, and 22.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.1 males age 18 and over.
Of the 12,742 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 70.9% were married-couple households; 8.7% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present; and 17.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
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100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
Non-Hispanic whites comprised 85.58% of the population.
2016–2020 American Community Survey
The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimated the average household size at 2.6 and the average family size at 3.0; 57.9% of residents had a bachelor's degree or higher.
The median household income was $156,538 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,441) and the median family income was $194,974 (+/- $22,055). Males had a median income of $116,151 (+/- $13,915) versus $46,187 (+/- $8,762) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $76,032 (+/- $4,591). Approximately, 1.0% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under the age of 18 and 1.8% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 31,867 people, 11,781 households, and 9,367 families living in the city. The population density was 2,116.0 inhabitants per square mile (817.0/km2). There were 12,384 housing units at an average density of 822.3 per square mile (317.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.3% White, 1.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.8% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.
There were 11,781 households, of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.7% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 20.5% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.09.
The median age in the city was 44.7 years. 28.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18% were from 25 to 44; 34.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.
The city has become more Democratic in voting since 2016, going from majority conservative to a reliably swing district with near parity in party identification and fundraising. The city is evenly divided 50/50 Democratic-Republican.
From Wikipedia’s article on Leawood, Kansas, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4