Johnson County Gateway | I-435, I-35, K-10
SEARCH

CURRENT PROJECT TOPICS: GROWTH TRENDS

Please install the latest Flash player to view Flash content.

Johnson County Growth

Johnson County is the fastest growing county in Kansas and has experienced tremendous growth over the decades. Population and employment has expanded both south and west in the county. In addition, other planned regional traffic generators are expected to have an impact on the County’s transportation system. The following major planned developments will have a significant impact on the regional transportation system:

  • Casino development, Kansas City, Kansas – (proposals are still being reviewed, but it is part of regional traffic forecasts.)
  • Schlitterbahn Vacation Village, Kansas City, Kansas
  • Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant Redevelopment, Johnson County, Kansas
  • Gardner Intermodal Facility, Gardner, Kansas
  • Corporate Woods Office Park, Overland Park, Kansas

Population and Employment Trends

According to the US Census Bureau, Johnson County's current population is estimated to be 516,731. This places Johnson County as the second largest county in the metropolitan area, behind Jackson County on the Missouri side of the state line. According to the Mid-America Regional Council's (MARC) Long Range Forecast, Johnson County is estimated to have a 2030 population of 744,059. This will place Johnson County as the largest county in the metropolitan area in terms of population and is projected to account for nearly half of the metropolitan area's growth.

 

Johnson County has developed into the metropolitan area's major economic and employment generator. According to the US Department of Labor, Johnson County has sustained an average annual job growth rate of 2.7%, compared to 0.6% in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and 1.4% for the United States. This corresponds to an average net increase of 10,498 new jobs per year. Unemployment in Johnson County remains below the state and national average, and stood at 4.3% as of May 2008. According to MARC, Johnson County is estimated to have 642,695 jobs by 2030. This will place Johnson County as the largest county in the metropolitan area in terms of number of total jobs.

LEFT: As noted by the video Johnson County population has grown and expanded south and west. The I-435/I-35/K-10 highways used to be at the outer fringe of development, but today they are more in the center of the growth.