The Shawnee Indians were the first inhabitants of the area known today as Lenexa. The name Lenexa was taken from “Len-AG-See,” the princess daughter of Shawnee Indian tribal leader Chief Blackhoof. The Shawnee were a peaceful tribe, friendly to white traders, mapmakers and immigrants headed west on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. The railroads arrived in the late 1800s and Octave Chanute founded Lenexa along the remnants of the Sante Fe and Oregon Trails. Many of the original buildings still stand today in the “Old Town” area, which is the heart of the original city and a unique entertainment destination. The city was incorporated in 1907.
Today, more than 40,000 people call Lenexa home. As Kansas City grew westward, young families, professionals and Fortune 500 companies discovered the city’s charms, affordable housing and outstanding quality of life. “Retail followed rooftops” and Lenexa became home to new shopping, dining and entertainment areas. Lenexa enjoys a modern and diverse business community within its city limits. Major employers such as Sprint PCS, Coca-Cola, Deluxe Corporation, UPS, JC Penney, Federal Express, Ford Motor, Aerial Communications and John Deere call Lenexa home. Other industry leaders in Lenexa include Smith and Loveless, Quintiles, BE Aerospace and the Pack America Corporation.
There are 28 beautiful city parks in Lenexa, which was recently named “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Shawnee Mission Park is the largest area park with more than 2,000 acres and dozens of recreational facilities, which include an outdoor theater, a marina for renting sailboats and paddleboats, concessions, swimming, boating, fishing, tennis, baseball, and hiking and biking trails.
Lenexa and Kansas City are also home to many other nationally known attractions. The Legler Barn Museum is nestled in the 53-acre Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, which is the heart of Lenexa’s Historic Complex. The museum houses a Northern Pacific Caboose, a restored Prairie Schooner, a reproduction of a prairie sod house and a reconstructed 1864 Stone Barn, among other things. Nearby in the Kansas City metro area, quality destinations include the American Royal, Boulevard Brewing Company, Liberty Memorial, Union Station, the Arabia Steamboat Museum, Worlds of Fun and the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Residents are just minutes from a Kansas City Chief football game, the Kansas City Zoo, the Country Club Plaza, Union Station and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
With great respect for the past and a clear vision for the future, the growing, progressive city of Lenexa is on the move in the new millennium. It is easily accessible to neighboring cities. It has nationally recognized schools, a historically low crime rate, abundant high-paying jobs and affordable housing. From the friendly Shawnees, to the immigrants who toiled in fertile fields, to today’s modern “pioneers,” Lenexa is still the perfect place to live, work and play.
Today, more than 40,000 people call Lenexa home. As Kansas City grew westward, young families, professionals and Fortune 500 companies discovered the city’s charms, affordable housing and outstanding quality of life. “Retail followed rooftops” and Lenexa became home to new shopping, dining and entertainment areas. Lenexa enjoys a modern and diverse business community within its city limits. Major employers such as Sprint PCS, Coca-Cola, Deluxe Corporation, UPS, JC Penney, Federal Express, Ford Motor, Aerial Communications and John Deere call Lenexa home. Other industry leaders in Lenexa include Smith and Loveless, Quintiles, BE Aerospace and the Pack America Corporation.
There are 28 beautiful city parks in Lenexa, which was recently named “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Shawnee Mission Park is the largest area park with more than 2,000 acres and dozens of recreational facilities, which include an outdoor theater, a marina for renting sailboats and paddleboats, concessions, swimming, boating, fishing, tennis, baseball, and hiking and biking trails.
Lenexa and Kansas City are also home to many other nationally known attractions. The Legler Barn Museum is nestled in the 53-acre Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, which is the heart of Lenexa’s Historic Complex. The museum houses a Northern Pacific Caboose, a restored Prairie Schooner, a reproduction of a prairie sod house and a reconstructed 1864 Stone Barn, among other things. Nearby in the Kansas City metro area, quality destinations include the American Royal, Boulevard Brewing Company, Liberty Memorial, Union Station, the Arabia Steamboat Museum, Worlds of Fun and the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Residents are just minutes from a Kansas City Chief football game, the Kansas City Zoo, the Country Club Plaza, Union Station and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
With great respect for the past and a clear vision for the future, the growing, progressive city of Lenexa is on the move in the new millennium. It is easily accessible to neighboring cities. It has nationally recognized schools, a historically low crime rate, abundant high-paying jobs and affordable housing. From the friendly Shawnees, to the immigrants who toiled in fertile fields, to today’s modern “pioneers,” Lenexa is still the perfect place to live, work and play.