City of Lenexa known for its schools and festivals

Lenexa is a suburb of Kansas City in Johnson County, Kansas. About 23 miles from downtown, Lenexa is a bustling city with outstanding schools, business community, and recreational facilities. The city has a strong history and commitment to future growth.

Money Magazine put Lenexa on the national map twice, with its “Best Places to Live” list. In 2013, Bloomberg BusinessWeek named Lenexa the Best Place To Raise Kids in Kansas.

Shawnee Mission School District

The school system is considered the city’s “most important resource” according to the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce. Johnson County and the City of Lenexa have one of the highest education achievements of any county in the country.

Students attend school in the Shawnee Mission, Olathe, and DeSoto school districts. The Shawnee Mission and Olathe districts are ranked in the top 25 in the nation.

The value of education extends beyond students. You’ll find a strong business community in Johnson County. It’s ranked 1st for the percentage of adults with at least a high school education, among all US counties with more than 250,000 people.

Recreation

Lenexa offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, from festivals to hiking trails. There are 33 parks covering hundreds of acres, 26 miles of biking and hiking trails, fishing and non-gas powered boating.

There’s also an aquatic center, community pools, seasonal ice skating at Bois D’Arc Park, and community fitness programs at the Lenexa Community Center.

City of Festivals

Lenexa is called the “City of Festivals.” Some of the festivals have historical roots. In the 1930s, Lenexa was the Spinach Capital of the World. The city celebrates its historical past every year with a Spinach Festival.

Kansas City is known for its BBQ, and it comes from all over the metro including the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle. It’s grown so much it’s the official Kansas State BBQ Championship with more than 185 contestants.

Black Hoof Park
BBQ in Lenexa

Lenexa City Center

While we’re talking about food, how about an 11,000-square-foot food hall and market right in City Hall? The Lenexa Public Market features diverse merchants with locally-sourced and handcrafted products. It’s brand new, opening September 1, 2017.

Lenexa continues to grow. Old Town is a historic business district where the original town site once stood. Lenexa envisioned a new downtown, which took root in 1997. The investment continues today with the Lenexa City Center at the intersection of 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard, right near Interstate 435. The Public Market is the heart of the City Center.

The City Center also has housing, retail, restaurants, a golf course, hotel and conference center, and business space. The area will continue to take shape over the next decade as a place residents can work, shop, live and enjoy entertainment.

Lenexa City Center

Quick Facts

  • Population 52,903
  • Owner occupied housing rate 63.2
  • Median value owner occupied housing 225,500
  • High school graduate or higher – 95.5
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher 54.9
  • Travel time work 19.8 minutes
  • Median household income 75,954

*Source: U.S. Census

**Pictures used with permission from the City of Lenexa.

Sally Moore is a Kansas City area Realtor® with Keller Williams. She specializes in new construction, resales, and home staging. See the difference with FREE home staging. Follow The Sally Moore Real Estate Team on Facebook for the latest real estate trends.

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