A Brief History of Prairie Village, Kansas

Take a look at the history of one of the nation’s most awesome towns. Read on to learn about Prairie Village, Kansas, and its evolution from its pioneering days through the early years of the 20th century to today.

Located just outside of Kansas City, Prairie Village, Kansas, is one of the largest cities in Johnson County, KS. Though it has been continually inhabited since at least 1858, Prairie Village didn’t see much growth until the 1950s, when new development started to spring up in the area.

In this article, we’ll give you an overview of the history of Prairie Village, Kansas.

What is Prairie Village?

Prairie Village is a small town in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. It is located between State Line on the east and Overland Park to the west, and south of Mission Hills and north of Leawood.

Before it was a town, it was farmland. Early settlers in what is now Johnson County first used its prairie as pastureland for cattle and horses. But after years of clearing brush and building fences, they found that they needed more land to keep their animals fed. In 1858 James Thomas Porter purchased 160 acres to establish a new farm. 

The name eventually morphed into Prairie Village, which was incorporated in 1951. Today, there are about 23,000 residents living within its borders; 40 percent are under the age of 19.

Early Farm Life in Prairie Village

Prairie Village, Kansas’s history dates back to the late 1800s. The city was originally part of a large tract of land owned by William Alexander Rice. The town became known as Riceville and then Prairie Village as time passed.

In 1857, a group of businessmen formed the Prairie Village Company and purchased more than 1,000 acres of land. 

The first school district in Prairie Village was established in 1882. It operated out of one building until 1889 when it moved into its building on Main Street. The building still stands today as part of Prairie Village’s historic district.

Becoming a City

In 1882, there were still a handful of Shawnee Indian settlements in what would become Johnson County. At that time, a small village known as Prairie Center or Prairieville had sprung up at one of these settlements.

The Prairie School’s initial structure was completed in 1882, and a new one was built in 1912. Before 1990, this land was a local treasure.

In the 1940s, J.C. Nichols, a well-known developer, had plans to convert the farms into small houses for troops returning after the war.  This proved to be a good idea. He is very well known still to this day!

The Lewises, Henry Coppocks, and Thomas Porters sold their lands to Nichols. As a result of World War II, Nicholas faced many challenges like a shortage of estate builders while working for the city’s development, but he never lost his hope. 

After a long run of hard work, in 1951, he became successful in officially recognizing Prairie Village as a city.

Markets and Real Estate Business in Prairie Village, Kanas

 The history of Prairie Village, Kansas, is a long and interesting one. Before Kansas was even a state, many settlers had moved here due to the opportunities it offered.

Before long, John was writing down ideas for how he wanted to run his own business. He quickly discovered that most Estate Sale Companies in Kansas City focused on selling land and houses in Kansas City.

He decided to create an entirely new type of company that catered specifically to people who were going through rough times—wanting to auction their houses and land. Today you can find various Estate Sale Companies in Kansas City, Auction companies in Kansas City, and Auction Houses in Kansas City throughout Missouri and Kansas. The pioneers of this industry are to thank! Kansas City has a very strong auction company presence.

The Prairie Village neighborhood is home to many people who work in the Kansas City area. The housing market in Prairie Village is unique because several sites have a lot of homes for sale. This area is a highly sought after place to live. Prices are representative of this. 

There are also a lot of areas near Kansas City where you can find homes for sale that are in good condition – but not as high on the list  of desirability as some of the other neighborhoods.

Prairie Village has several different markets and real estate businesses. They are there because it is one of the most desirable places to live in Kansas City. We at BusyBeever.com serve this area a ton when people are moving or selling their estate. 

With all of these different types of businesses and markets, you can find anything including: apartments, condos, houses, townhouses, commercial buildings, and more!

Because of these reasons, people are investing in Auction companies in Prairie village. There are so many houses being sold that even auctioneers in Kansas play a vital role in real estate markets.

Centre of Commerce

The Kansas City area has long been known as a center for commerce, and it continues to be an important part of the economy of the State. The city is located on both sides of the Missouri River, with access to several Interstate Highways that lead to other cities in the region and beyond.

Kansas City has also become known for its large number of estate sales held throughout the year. These sales are typically ran by local companies that have been hired to handle them.

 Today there are dozens of estate sale companies throughout Kanas city and auction companies in Louisburg, catering to everything from auctions and estate sales to wholesale liquidations. There are even companies available nationwide that can help you sell anything online!

Bottom Line

Kansas is an underrated state when it comes to the auction business, but there are a few standout cities that are doing exceptionally well.

 One of those cities that we would recommend in this area would be Prairie Village. Only 23,000 people live in the city, but there are a ton of auctions and estate sales happening in this area regularly. There is a bunch of very nice items at these sales usually as well. 

 The town is just south of Kansas City, and some of its biggest attractions would have to be the shopping centers, auctions, estate sales, and more!

We hope you enjoyed this brief history of Prairie Village, Kansas, and that you found the information in this article helpful. Please feel free to contact us with any comments or questions.