Kansas

Johnson

609,863
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Johnson

Johnson, Kansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 4,364. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 609,863.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 15 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Bleeding Kansas — Battle of Black Jack, Jayhawker Raid on Westport, Quantrill's Raid on Olathe Kansas, and 34 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020609,863
2010544,179
2000451,086
1990355,054
1980270,269
1970217,662
1960143,792
195062,783
194033,327
193027,179
192018,314
191018,288
190018,104
189017,385
188016,853
187013,684
18604,364
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Johnson

Military engagements that took place in Johnson, Kansas.

Bleeding Kansas — Battle of Black Jack
1856
Jayhawker Raid on Westport
1861
Quantrill's Raid on Olathe Kansas
1862
Shawnee Town Skirmish
1862
Quantrill's Raid on Olathe 1862
1862
Quantrill Raid – Middle Creek and Gardner, KS
1862
Sacking of Aubry Kansas by Quantrill
1862
Attack on Olathe KS
1862
Quantrill's Raid on Shawnee 1862
1862
Quantrill's Raid on Shawnee KS
1862
Quantrill's Raid on Shawnee Kansas
1862
Raid on Westport (1863)
1863
Skirmish at Westport (Price's advance)
1864
Battle of Westport – Union Counterattack
1864
Battle of Byram's Ford – Big Blue River
1864

Historic places in Johnson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Johnson, Kansas.

Shawnee Mission
Fairway
Sunflower Village Historic District
DeSoto
Voigts, Herman J. and Ella B., House
Leawood
Turner, William Thomas, Barn
Gardner
Lanter, Franklin R., House
Olathe
Mahaffie, J. B., House
Olathe
Wolcott House
Mission Hills
Overland Theater
Overland Park
Campbell Dome House
Overland Park
Lanesfield School
Edgerton
Browse all Kansashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Kansas

Explore census history and historic records for more Kansas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Johnson County, Kansas

This page charts the census history of Johnson County, Kansas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Johnson

When does Johnson first appear in the US census?
Johnson, Kansas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 4,364.
What is the population of Johnson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Johnson had a recorded population of 609,863.
Were any battles fought in Johnson?
15 documented military engagements took place in Johnson, including Bleeding Kansas — Battle of Black Jack, Jayhawker Raid on Westport, Quantrill's Raid on Olathe Kansas.
How many historic places are in Johnson?
34 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Johnson, Kansas.
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