Wyandotte County, Kansas

Wyandotte County Education, Geography, and History

Wyandotte County (county code WY) is a county located in the state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 157,505, making it the fourth-most populous county in Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Kansas City, with which it shares a unified government.

Wyandotte County lies immediately west of Kansas City, Missouri and is included in the Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Wyandotte County Name

Named after the Indian tribe of that name.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Wyandotte County History

Wyandotte County, located in the extreme eastern part of the state, was formed from the southeastern part of Leavenworth county by an act of the legislature of Jan. 29, 1859, with the following boundaries: "Commencing at a point in the middle of the channel of the Missouri river, where the north line of the Delaware reserve intersects the same, running thence west, on said reserve line, to the line between ranges 22 and 23; thence south on said range line, to the south boundary of Leavenworth county; thence easterly, on said boundary, to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river; thence northwesterly, with said main channel, to the place of beginning; also that portion of Johnson county, lying north of the township line between townships 11 and 12, east of range 23."

Wyandotte is the smallest county in the state, having an area of only 153 square miles. It is triangular in shape, being bounded on the north by Leavenworth county and the Missouri river; on the east by the Missouri river; on the south by Johnson county, and on the west by Leavenworth county. It was named in memory of the Wyandotte Indians.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 156 square miles (400 km²), of which 152 square miles (390 km²) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km²) (2.9%) is water. It is the smallest county by area in Kansas

The general surface of the country is undulating, marked by high bluffs along the Kansas and Missouri rivers, in the early territorial days, the eastern portion of the county was heavily timbered with cottonwood, hickory, oak, walnut and other varieties of trees native to Kansas. The main water course is the Missouri river, and the next stream of importance is the Kansas river, which forms a part of the southern boundary, and then flowing northeast empties into the Missouri river at Kansas City. It separates the two southeastern townships from the remainder of the county. Springs are found in all portions of the county and well water can be obtained at an average depth of 35 feet. Limestone, sandstone, fire clay and cement rock are found in considerable quantities. Coal has been reached at a depth of 300 feet and is mined for commercial purposes. The soil is a rich sandy loam, especially well adapted to fruit raising.

Neighboring Counties:

• Platte County, Missouri (north)
• Clay County, Missouri (northeast)
• Jackson County, Missouri (east)
• Johnson County (south)
• Leavenworth County (west)

Education

Colleges and universities

Public

Kansas City Kansas Community College
University of Kansas Medical Center

Private

Donnelly College

School Districts

Turner USD 202
Piper USD 203
Bonner Springs USD 204
Kansas City USD 500

Private schools

Primary

Resurrection Grade School (formerly St. Peter's Cathedral Grade School)
St. Patrick's Grade School
Christ the King Grade School

Secondary

Bishop Ward High School

Other schools

Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB)

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