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99-606: Shawnee Mission / ʃ ɔː n i ˈ m ɪ ʃ ən / is a region of northern Johnson County, Kansas , part of the Kansas City metropolitan area in the United States. Since August 1, 1960, the United States Postal Service has used the name to denote a large postal coverage area ( ZIP Codes 662xx) at the northeastern tip of Johnson County. It contains numerous towns, and the name was created to structure management of

198-562: A Confederate officer in Missouri in 1864. Hickok had not been paid for some time, and was hired as a scout by General John B. Sanborn by early 1865. In June, Hickok mustered out and went to Springfield, where he gambled. The 1883 History of Greene County, Missouri described him as "by nature a ruffian ... a drunken, swaggering fellow, who delighted when 'on a spree' to frighten nervous men and timid women." While in Springfield, Hickok and

297-525: A 30% food sales requirement. The county voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas abortion referendum , an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 68% to 32%, outpacing its support of Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election . Johnson County is entirely located within Kansas's 3rd congressional district , which has been represented by Democrat Sharice Davids since 2019. The two U.S. Senators from Kansas are Republicans Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran . Johnson County

396-438: A Democrat in an election for either of Kansas's Senate seats. Johnson County is home to 25 Kansas state representatives and 9 Kansas state senators . 13 out of 25 of Johnson County's representatives are Republicans, as are 6 of the county's 9 senators. Numerous Republicans from the area identify as moderates , compared to some of the more ideological hard-liners from other parts of the state. Differences between moderates and

495-406: A Democrat. Hickok and Lanihan, however, remained sheriff and deputy, respectively. Hickok accused a J.V. Macintosh of irregularities and misconduct during the election. On December 9, Hickok and Lanihan both served legal papers on Macintosh, and local newspapers acknowledged that Hickok had guardianship of Hays City. In September 1869, his first month as sheriff, Hickok killed two men. The first

594-399: A character as I ever met for some cause Wild Bill incurred Coe's hatred and he vowed to secure the death of the marshal. Not having the courage to do it himself, he one day filled about 200 cowboys with whiskey intending to get them into trouble with Wild Bill, hoping that they would get to shooting and in the melee shoot the marshal. But Coe "reckoned without his host". Wild Bill had learned of

693-551: A fugitive from justice, working as a stagecoach driver and later as a lawman in the frontier territories of Kansas and Nebraska . He fought and spied for the Union Army during the American Civil War and gained publicity after the war as a scout, marksman , actor, and professional gambler. He was involved in several notable shootouts during the course of his life. In 1876, Hickok was shot and killed while playing poker in

792-401: A grid network through most of the county, with a road every mile. The grid has facilitated rapid growth and easy access. Interstate 435 runs through much of the county, and serves as a developmental "border" in the northbound–southbound portion. The westbound–eastbound part of I-435 divides the county into a northern and southern section. The northern section is older, while the southern portion

891-467: A household in the county was $ 73,733, and the median income for a family was $ 90,380. Males had a median income of $ 61,346 versus $ 43,785 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 37,882. About 3.6% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over. As of the census of 2000, there were 451,086 people, 174,570 households, and 121,675 families residing in

990-410: A local gambler named Davis Tutt had several disagreements over unpaid gambling debts and their common affection for the same women. Hickok lost a gold watch to Tutt in a poker game. The watch had great sentimental value to Hickok, so he asked Tutt not to wear it in public. They initially agreed not to fight over the watch, but when Hickok saw Tutt wearing it, he warned him to stay away. On July 21, 1865,

1089-599: A military escort from Fort Hays. He was assigned Buffalo Bill Cody, a sergeant, and five privates. They arrived in Topeka on April 2. Hickok remained in Hays through August 1868, when he brought 200 Cheyenne Indians to Hays to be viewed by " excursionists ". On September 1, 1868, Hickok was in Lincoln County, Kansas , where he was hired as a scout by the 10th Cavalry Regiment , a segregated African-American unit. On September 4, Hickok

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1188-415: A picture of a bull with a large erect penis on the side of their establishment as an advertisement. Citizens of the town complained to Hickok, who requested that Thompson and Coe remove the image. They refused, so Hickok altered it himself. Infuriated, Thompson tried to incite John Wesley Hardin to kill Hickok by exclaiming to Hardin that "He's a damn Yankee. Picks on rebels, especially Texans, to kill." Hardin

1287-630: A portion of the northwest boundary of the county. The elevation generally increases from north to south as the distance from the Kansas and Missouri rivers increases. The county is drained by the watersheds of the Kansas , Blue , and Marais des Cygnes , all of which are part of the Missouri River watershed. Located in northeastern Kansas, the county receives plentiful rainfall. The county contains numerous small streams, including Kill Creek, Mill Creek, Turkey Creek, Indian Creek, Brush Creek, Tomahawk Creek,

1386-501: A saloon in Deadwood , Dakota Territory (present-day South Dakota ) by Jack McCall , an unsuccessful gambler. The hand of cards that he supposedly held at the time of his death has become known as the dead man's hand : two pairs; black aces and eights. Hickok remains a popular figure of frontier history. Many historic sites and monuments commemorate his life, and he has been depicted numerous times in literature, film, and television. He

1485-406: A seat opened up at the table, a drunk man named Jack McCall sat down to play. McCall lost heavily. Hickok encouraged McCall to quit the game until he could cover his losses and offered to give him money for breakfast. Although McCall accepted the money, he was apparently insulted. The next day, Hickok was playing poker again. He usually sat with his back to a wall so he could see the entrance, but

1584-514: A shot through the head. Hickok said he had "tried to restore order". At the coroner's inquest into Strawhun's death, despite "very contradictory" evidence from witnesses, the jury found the shooting justifiable. On July 17, 1870, Hickok was attacked by two troopers from the 7th U.S. Cavalry , Jeremiah Lonergan and John Kyle (sometimes spelled Kile), in a saloon. Lonergan pinned Hickok to the ground, and Kyle put his gun to Hickok's ear. When Kyle's weapon misfired, Hickok shot Lonergan, wounding him in

1683-500: Is Olathe . As of the 2020 census , the population was 609,863, the most populous county in Kansas. The county was named after Thomas Johnson , a Methodist missionary who was one of the state's first settlers. Largely suburban, the county contains a number of suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri , including Overland Park , a principal city of and second most populous city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area . This

1782-446: Is chiefly portrayed as a protagonist , although historical accounts of his actions are often controversial, and much of his career is known to have been exaggerated both by himself and by contemporary mythmakers. While Hickok claimed to have shot numerous gunmen in his lifetime, he killed only six or seven, all between 1861 and 1871 according to Joseph G. Rosa , Hickok's biographer and the foremost authority on him. James Butler Hickok

1881-416: Is drunk." Mulvey wheeled his horse around to face those who might shoot him from behind, and before he realized he had been fooled, Hickok shot him through the temple. The second man killed by Hickok was Samuel Strawhun, a cowboy, who was causing a disturbance in a saloon at 1:00 am on September 27, when Hickok and Lanihan went to the scene. Strawhun "made remarks against Hickok", and Hickok killed him with

1980-402: Is known to have killed more than 27 men. In his 1895 autobiography, published after his death, Hardin claimed to have been befriended by Hickok, the newly elected town marshal, after he had disarmed the marshal using the road agent's spin , but Hardin was known to exaggerate. In any case, Hardin appeared to have thought highly of Hickok. Hickok later said he did not know that "Wesley Clemmons"

2079-522: Is of a significant size. Wild Bill Hickok James Butler Hickok (May 27, 1837 – August 2, 1876), better known as " Wild Bill " Hickok , was a folk hero of the American Old West known for his life on the frontier as a soldier, scout , lawman, cattle rustler, gunslinger, gambler, showman, and actor, and for his involvement in many famous gunfights . He earned a great deal of notoriety in his own time, much of it bolstered by

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2178-617: Is the fastest-growing area in Johnson County, containing a massive volume of new homes. The Johnson County numbered street grid generally begins at 47th Street, the Wyandotte County line (the lowest numbered street is 40th Street in Bonner Springs), and is a continuation of the adjacent Kansas City, Missouri , street grid. The grid continues to 215th Street, and into Miami County (with somewhat different named roads) to 407th Street at

2277-474: The Kansas City metropolitan area . The county has the highest median household income at $ 81,121 in 2017 and the highest per-capita income in Kansas, with the 19th highest median household income in 2000 and the 46th highest per-capita income in 2005. In 2010, Money magazine, in its list of the '100 Best Cities in the United States' in which to live, ranked Overland Park 7th (ranked 6th in 2006 and 9th in 2008) and Shawnee 17th (ranked 39th in 2008). In 2008

2376-859: The Kansas River just before its confluence with the Missouri River at Kaw Point . Brush Creek flows east-northeastward through Prairie Village and Mission Hills , entering Kansas City, Missouri, within the median of Ward Parkway and passing the Country Club Plaza before emptying into the Blue River east of the Country Club Plaza and north of Swope Park . Indian Creek begins in the southern portion of Olathe and Tomahawk Creek begins in south Overland Park. Each flows northeastward meeting in Leawood , where

2475-599: The Shawnee tribe was founded in 1830 by the Methodist church, in what became Wyandotte County, Kansas . The mission was moved to what became Johnson County in 1839. Shawnee Mission subsequently became a local, informal designation for the region surrounding the actual mission, especially before the development, expansion, and conjoint boundarying of the various towns in northeast Johnson County. The Shawnee Mission School District and Blue Valley School District encompass most of

2574-520: The Utah War . Hickok used his late father's name, William Hickok, from 1858, and the name William Haycock during the American Civil War . Most newspapers referred to him as William Haycock until 1869. He was arrested while using the name Haycock in 1865. He afterward resumed using his given name, James Hickok. Military records after 1865 list him as Hickok, but he was also known as Haycock. In an 1867 article about his shootout with Davis Tutt , his surname

2673-468: The Weekly Missouri Democrat , reported Hickok to be "an inveterate hater of Indian People", perhaps to enhance his reputation as a scout and American fighter. But separating fact from fiction is difficult considering his recruitment of Indians to cross the nation to appear in his own Wild West show. Witnesses confirm that while working as a scout at Fort Harker, Kansas , on May 11, 1867, Hickok

2772-535: The Blue River, Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek. Kill Creek begins in the southwest portion of the county and flows northward into the Kansas River at De Soto . Mill Creek begins in the central portion of the county in Olathe, flowing northward it empties into the Kansas River at Shawnee . Turkey Creek and Brush Creek each begin in northeast Johnson County. Turkey Creek flows northeastward into Wyandotte County and joins

2871-625: The Miami-Linn county line, with most suburban development ending around 167th Street. Named streets in the grid run from State Line Road (1900 West) to County Line Road (40699 West) at the Douglas County line. A portion of the grid extends north from Westwood into the Rosedale area in Kansas City, Kansas. Another principal highway running through the area is Interstate 35 , which runs diagonally through

2970-452: The Missouri River. Bull Creek and Little Bull Creek begin in rural southwestern Johnson County and flow southward where they enter Hillsdale Lake before continuing into Miami County , eventually joining the Marais des Cygnes at Paola . The county consists primarily of prairie grassland with corridors of forested areas along streams and rivers. Johnson County (county code JO ) is included in

3069-704: The Plains exhibition "because the lights affected his eyes, so he had to give it up". Charles Snyder, the Lucien Howe Librarian of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School , said "Granular conjunctivitis , ophthalmia , trachoma —call it what you will—was common on the Western Frontier. Jesse James suffered from it." In 1876, Hickok sought treatment from an eye specialist in Kansas City, Missouri . No definitive diagnosis has survived, but speculation ranges from secondary syphilis to glaucoma . Although he

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3168-486: The Plains . Since the event was outdoors, he could not compel people to pay, and the venture was a financial failure. The show featured six buffalo, a bear, and a monkey, and one show ended in disaster when a buffalo refused to act, prompting Hickok to fire a bullet into the sky. This angered the buffalo and panicked audience members, causing the animals to break free of their wire fencing and chase audience members, some of whom were trampled. The incident helped contribute to

3267-426: The age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09. In the county the population was spread out, with 27.10% under

3366-467: The age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 61,455, and the median income for a family was $ 72,987. Males had a median income of $ 49,790 versus $ 32,145 for females. The per capita income for

3465-426: The area. Shawnee Mission is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area . As of 2015, the estimated combined population of Shawnee Mission's constituent cities is 402,662 (up from 325,147 in 2000). That is greater than the largest city in Kansas, Wichita . Johnson County, Kansas Johnson County is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas , along the border of the state of Missouri . Its county seat

3564-401: The bear and fired a shot into its head, but the bullet ricocheted off its skull, infuriating it. The bear attacked, crushing Hickok with its body. Hickok managed to fire another shot, wounding the bear's paw. The bear then grabbed his arm in its mouth, but Hickok was able to grab his knife and slash its throat, killing it. Hickok was severely injured, with a crushed chest, shoulder, and arm. He

3663-542: The brigade, met his friend Buffalo Bill Cody, who was serving as a scout. In late 1863, Hickok worked for the provost marshal of southwest Missouri as a member of the Springfield detective police. His work included identifying and counting the number of troops in uniform who were drinking while on duty, verifying hotel liquor licenses, and tracking down individuals who owed money to the cash-strapped Union Army. Buffalo Bill claimed that he encountered Hickok disguised as

3762-476: The county announced that it is creating a new task force with shared jurisdiction between neighboring Miami and Franklin counties to combat crime. In April 2024, Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden claimed that he "had a search warrant in hand" when local election officials "decided in a hurry to destroy" ballots from 2019, 2020 and 2021, despite Kansas state law ordering the regular destruction of old ballots, and

3861-437: The county are higher than in other counties throughout Kansas. Note: Some cities have multiple tax rates because they are divided among multiple school districts. The above rates are what exist for the majority of residents in the city. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office runs the jails at Olathe and New Century, and patrols the unincorporated parts of Johnson County as well as the cities of Edgerton and DeSoto . In 2019,

3960-543: The county by an 8% margin. Biden's share of the vote was also the most ever won by a Democrat in Johnson County. In 2024 , Kamala Harris became the first Democrat to lose a presidential election despite carrying Johnson County since 1896 . The county's leftward trend is also reflected in the state's recent U.S. Senate elections in 2020 and 2022 , where the Democratic candidates won the county despite losing statewide; prior to those elections, Johnson County had never gone to

4059-468: The county by two votes in his 42-state landslide of 1932 . However, in 2016, Johnson County voted for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump by less than a three-point margin, as the GOP's shift towards right-wing populism was considered a poor fit for the county's many moderate voters. In 2020 , Joe Biden became the first Democrat to win Johnson County since Woodrow Wilson 104 years earlier, winning

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4158-479: The county was $ 30,919. 3.40% of the population and 2.10% of families were below the poverty line . Out of the total population, 3.30% of those under the age of 18 and 3.60% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Johnson County was a prohibition, or "dry" , county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink, with

4257-484: The county, entering it near Downtown Kansas City , and continuing through Olathe and Gardner. Outside the county, it eventually leads to Duluth, Minnesota in the north and the US–Mexico border in the south. U.S. 69 also serves Johnson County, entering from Wyandotte County at the south end of Interstate 635 . Much of U.S. 69 within the county is freeway; this freeway eventually heads south and connects to Fort Scott and

4356-426: The county. Johnson County was established in 1855 as one of the first counties in the newly organized Kansas Territory ; it was named for proslavery American missionary Thomas Johnson . The renowned gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok settled for a time in the county, becoming constable of Monticello Township in 1858. Johnson County was the site of many battles between abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates during

4455-502: The county. The population density was 365/km (950/sq mi). There were 181,612 housing units at an average density of 147/km (380/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 91.11% White , 2.61% Black or African American , 0.33% Native American , 2.83% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 1.55% from other races , and 1.54% from two or more races. 3.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 174,570 households, out of which 36.00% had children under

4554-469: The crow have a pistol? Was he shooting back? I will be." On October 5, 1871, Hickok was standing off a crowd during a street brawl when Coe fired two shots. Hickok ordered him to be arrested for firing a pistol within the city limits. Coe claimed that he was shooting at a stray dog, and then suddenly turned his gun on Hickok, who fired first and killed Coe. In another account of the Coe shootout: Theophilus Little,

4653-498: The early 20th century, when housing subdivisions were developed in the northeastern portion of the county adjacent to Kansas City, Missouri . Developer J. C. Nichols spurred the boom in 1914 when he built the Mission Hills Country Club to lure upscale residents who previously had been reluctant to move from Missouri to Kansas. Suburban development continued at a steady pace until the close of World War II . Following

4752-464: The group returned to the fort "without nary a dead Indian, [never] even seeing a live one". In December 1867, newspapers reported that Hickok had come to stay in Hays City, Kansas . He became a deputy U.S. marshal, and on March 28, 1868, he picked up 11 Union Army deserters who had been charged with stealing government property. Hickok was assigned to bring the men to Topeka for trial, and he requested

4851-428: The inner city, resulting in increased migration to the county for new housing and what were considered higher quality public schools, generally an indicator of higher economic status. From the mid-1980s, the pace of growth increased significantly, with the county adding 100,000 residents each decade between the 1990 census and 2010 census. The 1952 Johnson County Courthouse was closed in 2020, then demolished in 2021. It

4950-677: The killing, and offered her $ 35 [$ 1,187 in 2023 dollars] in restitution, all the money he had with him at the time. After the Civil War broke out in April 1861, Hickok became a teamster for the Union Army in Sedalia, Missouri . By the end of 1861, he was a wagon master , but in September 1862, he was discharged for unknown reasons. He then joined General James Henry Lane 's Kansas Brigade, and while serving with

5049-454: The knee, and shot Kyle twice, killing him. Hickok again lost his re-election bid to his deputy. On April 15, 1871, Hickok became marshal of Abilene, Kansas . He replaced Tom "Bear River" Smith , who had been killed while serving an arrest warrant on November 2, 1870. Outlaw John Wesley Hardin arrived in Abilene at the end of a cattle drive in early 1871. Hardin was a well-known gunfighter, and

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5148-483: The left wrist. Hickok may have told his friend Charlie Utter and others who were traveling with them that he thought he would be killed while in Deadwood. Hickok was playing five-card stud or five-card draw when he was shot. He was holding two pairs: black aces and black eights (although there is some dispute as to the suit of one of the aces, diamond vs. spade) as his "up cards", which has since become widely known as

5247-498: The local officials having informed Hayden in November 2023 that they would move to destroy the old ballots, which Hayden had asked to be preserved during his investigation of an election software firm. The local prosecutors' office said that it was "unaware of any search warrant being submitted to a judge for review". In May 2024, when Hayden was questioned on which judge approved his search warrant, Hayden responded: "there's no judge"; when

5346-506: The many outlandish and often fabricated tales he told about himself. Some contemporaneous reports of his exploits are known to be fictitious, but they remain the basis of much of his fame and reputation. Hickok was born and raised on a farm in northern Illinois at a time when lawlessness and vigilante activity were rampant because of the influence of the " Banditti of the Prairie ". Drawn to this criminal lifestyle, he headed west at age 18 as

5445-508: The mayor of Abilene and owner of the town's lumber yard, recorded his time in Abilene by writing in a notebook, which was ultimately given to the Abilene Historical Society. Writing in 1911, he detailed his admiration for Hickok and included a paragraph on the shooting that differs considerably from the reported account: "Phil" Coe was from Texas, ran the "Bull's Head" a saloon and gambling den, sold whiskey and men's souls. As vile

5544-456: The more hard-line members can most commonly be seen on social issues, the most infamous being the numerous debates about the state's school finance formula in 2004 and 2014–2018. The county government is administered by an elected, seven-member Board of County Commissioners, with six elected from single-member districts and one at-large . Governance of the county is divided into six districts. The county government has full jurisdiction of

5643-412: The name of my wife—Agnes—and with wishes even for my enemies I will make the plunge and try to swim to the other shore." Martha Jane Cannary, known popularly as Calamity Jane , claimed in her autobiography that she was married to Hickok and had divorced him so he could be free to marry Agnes Lake, but no records that support her account have been found. The two possibly met for the first time after Jane

5742-490: The only seat available when he joined the game was a chair facing away from the door. He twice asked another man at the table, Charles Rich, to change seats with him, but Rich refused. McCall then entered the saloon, walked up behind Hickok, drew his Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army .45-caliber revolver and shouted, "Take that!" as he shot Hickok in the back of the head at point-blank range. Hickok died instantly. The bullet emerged through his right cheek and struck Massie in

5841-573: The other. Hickok moved to Leavenworth in the Kansas Territory , where he joined Jim Lane 's Free State Army (also known as the Jayhawkers ), an antislavery vigilante group active in the new territory during the Bleeding Kansas era. While there he met 12-year-old William Cody (later known as "Buffalo Bill"), who, despite his youth, served as a scout just two years later for the U.S. Army during

5940-509: The overall failure of the show. In 1873, Buffalo Bill Cody and Texas Jack Omohundro invited Hickok to join their troupe after their earlier success. Hickok did not enjoy acting, and often hid behind scenery. In one show, he shot the spotlight when it focused on him. He was released from the group after a few months. From 1871 until his death in 1876, Hickok had vision problems. A former cavalryman, J.W. "Doc" Howard, who had known Hickok, stated that Hickok had left Buffalo Bill's Scouts of

6039-466: The period of Bleeding Kansas , prior to the residents voting on whether slavery would be allowed in the territory. In 1862 during the American Civil War, Confederate guerrillas from nearby Missouri, led by William Quantrill , raided the Johnson County communities of Olathe and Spring Hill. They killed half a dozen men and destroyed numerous homes and businesses. The county was largely rural until

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6138-436: The population. 30.6% identified as of German , 16.8% Irish , 13.6% English and 5.7% American ancestry. There were 210,278 households , out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who

6237-593: The post offices located therein. Effectively, these towns' post offices are subsidiaries of the Shawnee Mission Main Post Office in Mission, Kansas . Properly, a mailing address may indicate the delivery "place" as either Shawnee Mission, or the actual town name, and be treated the same. The following towns are included in the postal area known as Shawnee Mission: Parts of southern Overland Park are not part of Shawnee Mission, as they were later annexed from

6336-447: The previous 18 months. Hickok may have been acting sheriff before he was elected; a newspaper reported that he arrested offenders on August 18, and the commander of Fort Hays wrote a letter to the assistant adjutant general on August 21 in which he praised Hickok for his work in apprehending deserters. The regular county election was held on November 2, 1869. Hickok ran as an Independent; but lost to his deputy, Peter Lanihan, who ran as

6435-565: The property is a part. As of 2024: The current sales tax rate in Johnson County is 7.975%, higher than the 6.5% rate in Wyandotte (where Kansas City , Kansas is located). The sales tax rates of each of the surrounding counties are nearly the same as the rate in Johnson County. Individual cities have additional sales taxes. Property taxes are a conglomeration of state, county, city, and school district taxes. Property tax rates are generally lower in Johnson County because property values in

6534-441: The questioner replied: "A judge has to sign a search warrant to be valid", Hayden responded: "I didn’t say it was valid". According to the 2010 Census Bureau, the education attainment of the population 25 years and over: 95.6% high school graduate or higher, 51.1% bachelor's degree or higher, and 17.9% graduate or professional degree. The Johnson County Library has 13 branches. School districts include: Johnson County has

6633-419: The remainder of his life. Hickok was relieved of his duties as marshal less than two months after the accidental shooting, this incident being only one of a series of questionable shootings and claims of misconduct during his career. In 1872, Hickok recruited six Native Americans and three cowboys to accompany him to Niagara Falls , where he put on an outdoor demonstration called The Daring Buffalo Chase of

6732-518: The rest of southeast Kansas. Johnson County is home to three general aviation airports: The closest airport with airline service is Kansas City International Airport in Platte County, Missouri Johnson County Transit is the public transit operator. List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Johnson County. ‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. Johnson County

6831-419: The rest of these bullets?" Not a word was uttered. After shooting Coe, Hickok caught a glimpse of someone running toward him and quickly fired two more shots in reaction, accidentally shooting and killing Abilene Special Deputy Marshal Mike Williams, who was coming to his aid. This was the last time Hickok was ever involved in a gunfight; the accidental death of Deputy Williams was an event that haunted Hickok for

6930-583: The same magazine also ranked Olathe 11th. As of the 2010 census , there were 544,179 people, 210,278 households, and 143,509 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,150 inhabitants per square mile (440/km ). There were 226,571 housing units at an average density of 381 per square mile (147/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 86.0% White , 4.2% Asian , 4.3% Black or African American , 0.4% Native American , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 1.55% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.2% of

7029-437: The scheme and cornered Coe, had his two pistols drawn on Coe. Just as he pulled the trigger, one of the policemen rushed around the corner between Coe and the pistols and both balls entered his body, killing him instantly. In an instant, he pulled the triggers again sending two bullets into Coe's abdomen (Coe lived a day or two) and whirling with his two guns drawn on the drunken crowd of cowboys, "and now do any of you fellows want

7128-455: The station manager. McCanles reportedly threatened Wellman, and either Wellman or Hickok, who was hiding behind a curtain, killed McCanles. Two men with McCanles (James Wood and James Gordon) were also killed. Hickok, Wellman, and another employee, J.W. Brink, were tried for killing McCanles, but were found to have acted in self-defense. McCanles may have been the first man Hickok killed. Hickok subsequently visited McCanles' widow, apologized for

7227-517: The stream retains the name of Indian Creek, just before crossing the state line and entering the Blue River in Kansas City, Missouri. The Blue River begins in rural southern Johnson County and flows north-northeastward through the southeastern portion of the county and crossing the state line just east of the intersection of 151st Street and Kenneth Road in southern Overland Park . The Blue River flows through southern and eastern Kansas City before joining

7326-590: The town marshal to pay the performance fee. She and the circus departed the next day, but Lake and Hickok continued to correspond. On March 5, 1876, Hickok married Lake in Cheyenne , Wyoming Territory . Hickok left his new bride a few months later, joining Charlie Utter 's wagon train to seek his fortune in the gold fields of South Dakota . Shortly before his death, Hickok wrote a letter to his new wife, which read in part, "Agnes Darling, if such should be we never meet again, while firing my last shot, I will gently breathe

7425-640: The town of Stillwell which was already covered by ZIP Code 66085. Additionally, delivery to the eastern edge of Overland Park was assigned to the Post Office in Prairie Village, with ZIP Code 66208, and the Prairie Village post office was not managed under the Shawnee Mission designation until 2012. The name Shawnee Mission derives from the Shawnee Methodist Mission . That historical mission to

7524-407: The two men faced off in Springfield's town square, standing sideways before drawing and firing their weapons. Their quick-draw duel was recorded as the first of its kind. Tutt's shot missed, but Hickok's struck Tutt through the heart from about 75 yards (69 m) away. Tutt called out, "Boys, I'm killed", before he collapsed and died. Two days later, Hickok was arrested for murder. The charge

7623-407: The unincorporated areas of the county and limited jurisdiction of those areas of the county within incorporated places. For instance, decisions regarding the regulation of land use, development and zoning in unincorporated areas of the county are the responsibility of the county government, whereas such decisions for areas within incorporated places are the jurisdiction of the incorporated city of which

7722-507: The verdict. Several weeks later, an interview Hickok gave to Colonel George Ward Nichols , a journalist who subsequently became known as the creator of the Hickok legend, was published in Harper's New Monthly Magazine . Under the name "Wild Bill Hitchcock" [ sic ], the article recounted the "hundreds" of men whom Hickok had personally killed and other exaggerated exploits. The article

7821-479: The war, the pace of development exploded, triggered by the return of veterans in need of housing, construction of highways that facilitated commuting from suburbs, and the pent-up demand for new housing. The US Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ruled that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. Integration of public schools in Kansas City, Missouri, resulted in many white families leaving

7920-411: Was 15. Hickok was a good shot from a young age, and was recognized locally as an outstanding marksman with a pistol. Photographs of Hickok appear to depict dark hair, but all contemporaneous descriptions affirm that he had red hair . In 1855, at age 18, James Hickok fled Illinois following a fight with Charles Hudson, during which both fell into a canal; each thought, mistakenly, that he had killed

8019-427: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. 48.8% of the population were males and 51.2% of the population were females. The median income for

8118-410: Was Bill Mulvey, who was galloping through town on a rampage, drunk, shooting out mirrors and whisky bottles behind bars. Citizens warned Mulvey to behave, because Hickok was sheriff. Mulvey angrily declared that he had come to town to kill Hickok. When he saw Hickok, he leveled his cocked rifle at him. Hickok waved his hand past Mulvey at some supposed onlookers and yelled, "Don't shoot him in the back; he

8217-613: Was Hardin's alias, nor that he was a wanted outlaw. He told Clemmons (Hardin) to stay out of trouble in Abilene and asked him to hand over his guns, and Hardin complied. Hardin alleged that when his cousin, Mannen Clements, was jailed for the killing of two cowhands (Joe and Dolph Shadden) in July 1871, Hickok—at Hardin's request—arranged for his escape. In August 1871, Hickok sought to arrest Hardin for killing Charles Couger in an Abilene hotel "for snoring too loud". Hardin left Kansas before Hickok could arrest him. A newspaper reported, "A man

8316-410: Was attacked by a large group of Indians, who fled after he shot and killed two. In July, Hickok told a newspaper reporter that he had led several soldiers in pursuit of Indians who had killed four men near the fort on July 2. He reported returning with five prisoners after killing 10. Witnesses confirm that the story was true to the extent the party had set out to find whoever had killed the four men, but

8415-598: Was bedridden for four months before being sent to Rock Creek Station in the Nebraska Territory to work as a stable hand while he recovered. There, the freight company had built a stagecoach stop along the Oregon Trail near Fairbury, Nebraska , on land purchased from David McCanles. On July 12, 1861, David McCanles went to the Rock Creek Station office to demand an overdue property payment from Horace Wellman,

8514-534: Was born May 27, 1837, in Homer, Illinois, (present-day Troy Grove, Illinois ) to William Alonzo Hickok (1801–1852), a farmer and abolitionist , and his wife, Pamelia Hickok (née Butler, 1804–1878). Hickok was of English ancestry. James was the fourth of six children. His father was said to have used the family house, now demolished, as a station on the Underground Railroad . William Hickok died in 1852, when James

8613-502: Was controversial wherever Hickok was known, and several frontier newspapers wrote rebuttals. In September 1865, Hickok came in second in the election for city marshal of Springfield. Leaving Springfield, he was recommended for the position of deputy federal marshal at Fort Riley , Kansas. This was during the Indian Wars , in which Hickok sometimes served as a scout for General George A. Custer 's 7th Cavalry . Henry M. Stanley , of

8712-543: Was elected one of the first four constables of Monticello Township . In 1859, he joined the Russell, Majors and Waddell freight company , the parent company of the Pony Express . In 1860, Hickok was badly injured by a bear, while driving a freight team from Independence, Missouri , to Santa Fe, New Mexico . According to Hickok's account, he found the road blocked by a cinnamon bear and its two cubs. Dismounting, he approached

8811-474: Was in town under his assumed name Wesley Clemmons, but was better known to the townspeople by the alias "Little Arkansas". He seemed to have respect for Hickok's abilities and replied, "If Bill needs killing, why don't you kill him yourself?" Hoping to intimidate Hickok, Coe allegedly stated that he could "kill a crow on the wing". Hickok's retort is one of the West's most famous sayings (though possibly apocryphal): "Did

8910-412: Was just 39, his marksmanship and health were apparently in decline, and he had been arrested several times for vagrancy , despite earning a good income from gambling and displays of showmanship only a few years earlier. Hickok met Agnes Thatcher Lake, at the time 45 years old, on July 31, 1871. Lake, a widow and the proprietor of Lake's Hippo-Olympiad circus, arrived in Abilene and went to the office of

9009-439: Was killed in his bed at a hotel in Abilene, Monday night, by a desperado called ' Arkansas ' . The murderer escaped. This was his sixth murder." Hickok and Phil Coe , a saloon owner and acquaintance of Hardin's, had a dispute that resulted in a shootout. The Bull's Head Saloon in Abilene had been established by gambler Ben Thompson and Coe, his partner, businessman, and fellow gambler. The two entrepreneurs had painted

9108-499: Was later reduced to manslaughter. He was released on $ 2,000 bail and stood trial on August 3, 1865. At the end of the trial, Judge Sempronius H. Boyd told the jury they could not find that Hickok acted in self-defense if he could have reasonably avoided the fight. However, if they felt the threat of danger was real and imminent, he instructed that they could apply the unwritten law of the "fair fight" and acquit. The jury voted to clear Hickok, resulting in public backlash and criticism of

9207-556: Was long considered a Republican stronghold. From 1920 through 2016 , it voted for the GOP in every presidential election. This included the 1964 election , in which Barry Goldwater carried the county by nine points even as he lost Kansas statewide; the last time the Republicans have failed to carry the state. Earlier, it was one of the few counties where Franklin Roosevelt was shut out in all four of his campaigns, though FDR only lost

9306-652: Was misspelled as Hitchcock. While in Nebraska, Hickok was derisively referred to by one man as "Duck Bill" for his long nose and protruding lips. He was also known before 1861 among Jayhawkers as "Shanghai Bill" because of his height and slim build. He grew a moustache following the McCanles incident, and in 1861 began calling himself "Wild Bill". In 1857, Hickok claimed a 160-acre (65 ha) tract in Johnson County , Kansas, near present-day Lenexa . On March 22, 1858, he

9405-411: Was originally divided into nine townships , two of which have since been eliminated by the annexation of all their territory into independent municipalities. All of the cities are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it

9504-629: Was part of the large territory of the Osage people , who occupied lands up to present-day Saint Louis, Missouri . After the Indian Removal , the United States government reserved much of this area as Indian territory for a reservation for the Shawnee people , who were relocated from east of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwest. The Santa Fe Trail and Oregon–California Trail , which pass through nearby Independence, Missouri , also passed through

9603-492: Was released from the guardhouse in Fort Laramie and joined the wagon train in which Hickok was traveling. The wagon train arrived in Deadwood in July 1876. Jane confirmed this account in an 1896 newspaper interview, although she claimed she had been hospitalized with illness rather than in the guardhouse. On August 1, 1876, Hickok was playing poker at Nuttal & Mann's Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood , Dakota Territory . When

9702-531: Was replaced by a seven-story courthouse in 2021 after over two years of construction. This new courthouse is the county's fourth building. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 480 square miles (1,200 km ), of which 473 square miles (1,230 km ) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km ) (1.4%) is water. The natural topography of the county consists of gently rolling terrain. The Kansas River forms

9801-578: Was wounded in the foot while rescuing several cattlemen in the Bijou Creek basin who had been surrounded by Indians. The 10th Regiment arrived at Fort Lyon in Colorado in October and remained there for the rest of 1868. In July 1869, Hickok returned to Hays and was elected city marshal of Hays and sheriff of Ellis County, Kansas , in a special election held on August 23, 1869. Three sheriffs had quit during

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