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Land title abstracts for Johnson County, Kansas

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 536

Overview

This collection includes land title abstracts for Johnson County, Kansas, created by the Anderson Title Company.

Dates

  • Creation: 1860-approximately 1950

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

These materials are stored in the KU Annex off-site storage area.

All researchers interested in reviewing this material must consult Spencer Research Library staff (785-864-4334, 8-5 M-F CST) no less than three days in advance of a planned visit. Be advised that drop-in requests for this material can not be accommodated.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

History of Johnson County

Johnson County was part of the Shawnee Tribe reservation until it was opened for white settlement with the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. The county was officially established on August 25, 1855 by the Kansas Territorial Legislature and was named after Reverend Thomas Johnson, founder of the Shawnee Methodist Mission, an ‘Indian school’ located in modern-day Fairway. During the ‘Bleeding Kansas’ conflict, Johnson County was the site of many battles and skirmishes between abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates.

Due to its proximity to Kansas City, Johnson County grew quickly, especially with the rise of suburban development in the early 1900s. The population boomed again in the 1950s when large portions of the white population of Kansas City engaged in the nationwide ‘White Flight’ trend and moved to the suburbs. In the 1970s the county worked to establish itself as a leader in office development in order to minimize its reputation as a ‘bedroom community’ to Kansas City. During this decade several major companies such as Black and Veatch moved their headquarters to Johnson County, and Johnson County Community College was founded.

The county’s population was over 600,000 as of 2021, making it the most populous county in Kansas. Its largest communities include Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Prairie Village, and Leawood. The county seat is the city of Olathe.

[information retrieved from the Johnson County Museum website and the United States Census Bureau.]

Extent

57 Linear Feet (57 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

RH MS 536

Physical Location

Annex (Contact Spencer Library Public Services)

Title
Guide to the Anderson Title Company Collection
Subtitle
Land title abstracts for Johnson County, Kansas
Author
Finding aid prepared by amc, 2006. Finding aid encoded by jtf, 2006. Finding aid revised by kls and mwh, 2023.
Date
2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/1262798642
Preferred citation
Anderson Title Company collection, Kansas Collection, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334