Live in Missouri or in Kansas? What community?

[mjb62676]

Originally Posted by bls5555

I will disagree wholeheartedly on that. There is nothing on the missouri side quite like Olathe , Lenexa and Overland Park.

As for the OP, are you still looking? I just bought a house in KC MO on 1 acre and it is in the Park Hill school district so it is in a great area. I got it for less than 200,000 so if you look around you should be able to find what you are looking for in a desirable location.

I'll give you Olathe. It's pretty much suburbia hell imo.

But, I still feel the resentment miserians have for anything ks is silly.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by mjb62676

I'll give you Olathe. It's pretty much suburbia hell imo.

But, I still feel the resentment miserians have for anything ks is silly.

I don't know that Missourians resent Kansas that much... besides, it's not any sillier than Kansans' thinking that Missouri is full of a bunch of hicks. People in Johnson County are friendly enough, and they seem to be nice to you regardless of where you live. If you live in Missouri, however, they look down on your choice of places to live, not necessarily you as a person.
At the end of the day, I rest comfortably knowing that my $135,000 house only set me back $87,000 because I chose to live in Missouri instead (I'll admit I was tempted by JOCO when I first moved here). No foreclosure for me.

[katie45]

Wow! The Hatfields and McCoys are still alive and well in KS and MO!

It's amazing the diversity of opinions as to who should live on which side of the state line.

I live in Johnson County, KS and here is what I have "heard" 2nd hand: those living south of 103rd Street in Overland Park are the upper crust of JOCO. Now is that stupidity or what? Anyone who would make such an immature and ludicrious comment truly is a snob and no one I care to associate with. I know snobs who live north of 103rd...so the address is not the catalyst.

I will say that traffic is more crowded in the southern part of Overland Park and even in sections of east Olathe. The smaller communities in JOCO do seem to be more relaxed, but still not your real "small town" atmosphere.

Just don't get these mental war games as to who is better than whom based on which side of the state line they reside.

[txsparx]

I may be a newcomer here but I've done more than my fair share of exploring - from Parkville to the West Bottoms to Raytown to OP and everywhere in between.
I'm in total agreement with Plains10 (moderator) on this one.

[jwillson0098]

Originally Posted by Glynnes

I hope I have clicked the correct thing to respond to the question about settling in Johnson County, Kansas.

I realize that the question was asked and answered long ago.

I wanted to make a written comment anyhow.

I have lived in Olathe, Kansas nearly 20 years now. I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, most of my family lives in Lee's Summit and points south and east of there. Some are in Overland Park, Kansas.

When my husband got out of the military I chose to move to Johnson county for a specific reason.

I wanted opportunity.

I decided to be the poorest family in Johnson County rather than middle class in an Army town.

Overland Park is a magnet for wealth. Johnson County is a national center for entrepreneurship. Small businesses line the streets.

There is a general feeling of financial optimism in the community.

Unemployment is always lower than the country as a whole.

Our Johnson County Community College is among the top ranking in the nation. The Center for Business there will help you develop your idea for a business into a reality. Two year and certificate programs prepare students to work in the community by interacting with the business community and making students ready to work. This school is accredited by a business association that usually only accredits four-year schools. Transfer programs tie into four-year university programs and prepare students to transfer without losing credit.

Johnson County residents over the age of 55 can take credit classes free, so an older person who needs to re-train for a new career or upgrade skills can do so for only the price of books.

Taxes may have once been higher. Taxes in surrounding communities have raised in recent years.

We have police, we have firefighters, we never have to wonder if someone will come to save or help us. We like to pay our police and firefighters. They are important to us.

And we believe neighborhood schools for children. It is part of our vision of family life. Elementary schools are small and close to home.

We have sidewalks, curbs on the streets and street lights without wrangling with the city. Snow is plowed off the streets. Neighbors have to cut their weeds.

Olathe is built "funny". It is 100 years old and shows its history of development in at least 2 archaic house numbering systems. I don't think a pizza delivery could find me by the address.

When I moved here from the military town, there were few businesses. The tax base came from homeowners. There are plenty of tiny post-war homes here. Now we have a big growing business community which has attracted upscale home and other development.

And, oh, there are plenty of poor people here, I am one of them, or was. I was a little old lady with nothing. Really nothing. I am sure not rich now but I have accomplished more, as a disabled veteran's widow, than I ever could have anywhere else. I did not need assistance because there is so much opportunity here.

What I want to tell you....who ever reads this, if you want to "make it" if you want to dig in, work hard save your money, and become prosperous, educate yourself and your children, if you are looking for a chance...come where chances are. It only makes sense.

I moved to Johnson County, KS from New Jersey and it was the best thing that I ever could have done for myself and my kids a little over four years ago. I have lived in Overland Park and Olathe, my kids have attended the Olathe school district. I will never leave. Johnson County has everything going for it, prosperity, education, sports programs, low property taxes, especially compared to New Jersey. To my family the midwest is truly the land of milk and honey.