Wyandotte County, Kansas

Wyandotte County, Kansas is a county located in the northeastern part of Kansas, bordering Missouri to the east and Jackson County, Missouri to the southeast. The county is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, which also includes Johnson County, Kansas, Leavenworth County, Kansas, and Miami County, Kansas. The county seat is Kansas City, which is also the largest city in the county and the third-largest city in Kansas, after Wichita and Overland Park. The county is named after the Wyandot people, a Native American tribe that was forcibly removed from their lands in Ohio to Kansas in the mid-19th century, with the help of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and John Jacob Astor.

Geography

The county is located in the northeastern part of Kansas, bordering Missouri to the east and Jackson County, Missouri to the southeast. The county has a total area of 151 square miles, of which 147 square miles is land and 4 square miles is water. The county is drained by the Kansas River, which forms the southern boundary of the county, and the Missouri River, which forms the eastern boundary. The county is also home to several parks and nature reserves, including Wyandotte County Park, Kansas City's Shawnee Park, and the George Owens Nature Park, which is managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The county's geography is also influenced by the Prairie Park area, which is a large prairie ecosystem that covers parts of Johnson County, Kansas, Leavenworth County, Kansas, and Miami County, Kansas, and is home to several Native American tribes, including the Kansa people and the Osage Nation.

History

The county was established on January 29, 1859, and was named after the Wyandot people, a Native American tribe that was forcibly removed from their lands in Ohio to Kansas in the mid-19th century, with the help of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and John Jacob Astor. The county was part of the Louisiana Purchase and was originally inhabited by the Kansa people and the Osage Nation. The county was also home to several fur trading posts, including the Fort de Cavagnial, which was established by the French in the early 18th century, and the Fort Leavenworth, which was established by the United States Army in the early 19th century. The county played an important role in the American Civil War, with several battles taking place in the county, including the Battle of Westport and the Battle of Mine Creek, which were fought between the Union Army and the Confederate States Army. The county was also home to several notable figures, including John Brown, who led the Pottawatomie Massacre in nearby Linn County, Kansas, and Charles Robinson, who was the first governor of Kansas.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of the county was 169,245, with a population density of 1,151 people per square mile. The county has a diverse population, with a mix of White American, African American, Hispanic and Latino American, and Asian American residents. The county is also home to several Native American tribes, including the Wyandot people and the Kansa people. The median household income in the county is $43,649, and the median family income is $53,455. The county has a high school graduation rate of 85.1%, and a bachelor's degree or higher rate of 23.1%. The county is also home to several institutions of higher education, including the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City Kansas Community College, and the Donnelly College, which is a Catholic Church-affiliated college.

Economy

The county has a diverse economy, with a mix of manufacturing, health care, education, and government jobs. The county is home to several major employers, including the General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant, the Cerner Corporation, and the University of Kansas Medical Center. The county is also a major transportation hub, with several major highways, including Interstate 35 and Interstate 70, and several major railroads, including the BNSF Railway and the Kansas City Southern Railway. The county is also home to the Kansas City International Airport, which is a major airport serving the Kansas City metropolitan area. The county's economy is also influenced by the Kansas City Board of Trade, which is a major commodity exchange that trades in agricultural commodities such as wheat, corn, and soybeans.

Government

The county is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, which is composed of three commissioners who are elected by the voters of the county. The county is also part of the Kansas 3rd congressional district, which is represented by Sharice Davids in the United States House of Representatives. The county is also home to several state and local government agencies, including the Kansas Department of Transportation, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. The county's government is also influenced by the League of Kansas Municipalities, which is a statewide organization that represents the interests of municipal governments in Kansas.

Education

The county is served by several school districts, including the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, the Piper USD 203, and the Turner USD 202. The county is also home to several institutions of higher education, including the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City Kansas Community College, and the Donnelly College. The county's education system is also influenced by the Kansas State Department of Education, which is responsible for overseeing the state's education system, and the Kansas Board of Regents, which is responsible for overseeing the state's system of higher education. The county is also home to several notable educational institutions, including the Kansas City Kansas Community College's Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center, which offers training programs in fields such as automotive technology and nursing, and the University of Kansas Medical Center's School of Medicine, which offers degree programs in medicine and biomedical sciences.