| Gardner, Kansas | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Image Map1: | Map of Johnson County, Kansas, U.S..png |
| Map Caption1: | KDOT map of Johnson County (legend) |
| Coordinates: | 38.8114°N -94.9281°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kansas |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Johnson |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1857 |
| Established Title1: | Platted |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Established Date2: | 1887 |
| Named For: | Henry Gardner |
| Government Type: | Mayor–Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Todd Winters |
| Leader Title1: | City Administrator |
| Leader Name1: | Jim Pruetting |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 10.31 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 10.28 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.04 |
| Area Total Km2: | 26.72 |
| Area Land Km2: | 26.61 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.10 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Elevation Ft: | 1063 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 23287 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Est: | 23942 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CST |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 66030-66031 [2] |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 913 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 20-25425 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 485580 |
Gardner is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 23,287.[3] [4] It is located within the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Gardner was founded where the Santa Fe Trail and the Oregon/California Trails divided. The Santa Fe Trail sent travelers southwest through Santa Fe and Albuquerque toward Los Angeles and San Diego. The Oregon/California Trails bore west for a few miles before turning north toward the Kansas River valley, followed the Big Blue River into present-day Nebraska, followed the Platte River west, and ultimately split in present-day Wyoming, Idaho or Utah.[5]
Gardner was founded as a Free-Stater settlement in 1857. Settled primarily by emigrants from Massachusetts, it was named for Henry Gardner,[6] then governor of Massachusetts. Four years after its establishment, it became the first community in Johnson County—and perhaps the first in the state—to experience an attack by Confederate forces.[7]
The first post office in Gardner was established in 1858.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.21sqmi, of which 10.16sqmi is land and 0.05sqmi is water.[9] The most notable body of water in Gardner is Gardner Lake on the north side of town off of S Gardner Road and 151st Street. Gardner is also the genesis point of Kill Creek which runs north joining with the Kansas River in De Soto.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Gardner has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[10]
The 2020 United States census counted 23,287 people, 8,005 households, and 5,938 families in Gardner.[11] The population density was 1,996.8 per square mile (771.0/km). There were 8,294 housing units at an average density of 711.2 per square mile (274.6/km).[12] [13] The racial makeup was 79.22% (18,449) white or European American (76.52% non-Hispanic white), 3.89% (907) black or African-American, 0.56% (130) Native American or Alaska Native, 1.78% (415) Asian, 0.14% (32) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 3.58% (834) from other races, and 10.82% (2,520) from two or more races.[14] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 10.21% (2,378) of the population.[15]
Of the 8,005 households, 47.7% had children under the age of 18; 56.1% were married couples living together; 21.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 20.4% of households consisted of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.0 and the average family size was 3.3.[16] The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 20.9% of the population.[17]
32.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 104.9 males.
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $78,193 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,899) and the median family income was $86,859 (+/- $4,392).[18] Males had a median income of $49,402 (+/- $4,503) versus $30,995 (+/- $3,086) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $39,662 (+/- $2,267).[19] Approximately, 4.3% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under the age of 18 and 6.9% of those ages 65 or over.[20] [21]
As of the census[22] of 2010, there were 19,123 people, 6,644 households, and 4,938 families living in the city.[23] The population density was 1889.6PD/sqmi. There were 7,300 housing units at an average density of 721.3/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 89.7% White, 3.0% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.2% of the population.
There were 6,644 households, of which 49.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.31.
The median age in the city was 30 years. 33.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 37.7% were from 25 to 44; 17.1% were from 45 to 64; and 5.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.
As of the census[24] of 2000, there were 9,396 people, 3,307 households, and 2,460 families living in the city. The population density was 1898.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 3,533 housing units at an average density of 713.8sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 94.13% White, 1.21% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% of the population. 26.8% were of German, 18.2% American, 11.5% Irish and 5.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 3,307 households, out of which 47.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 38.4% from 25 to 44, 13.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $50,807, and the median income for a family was $54,554. Males had a median income of $37,438 versus $27,553 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,434. About 5.3% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
BNSF Railway built a refueling plant and office in Edgerton which is 3 miles from western Gardner. It opened in May 2013 and employs about 200. [25]
According to the city's 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[26] the largest employers in the city are:
| Employer |
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unified School District No. 231 | 800 | |
| 2 | Walmart | 250 | |
| 3 | Meadowbrook Rehabilitation Hospital | 174 | |
| 4 | Epic Landscape Productions | 172 | |
| 5 | Coleman | 167 | |
| 6 | City of Gardner | 135 | |
| 7 | TradeNet Publishing | 130 | |
| 8 | Price Chopper | 130 | |
| 9 | Medical Lodge of Gardner | 102 | |
| 10 | D.O.T. Label, Inc (ITW) | 87 |
The mayor of Gardner is Todd Winters, who was sworn in on December 6, 2021. The city council is made up of five (5) at-large members, each of whom serve rotating 4-year terms.[27]
Gardner is part of the USD 231 school district. Located in Gardner are six out of the seven elementary schools (Edgerton Elementary is the only school in the district not located in Gardner). These include Gardner Elementary, Sunflower Elementary, Madison Elementary, Nike Elementary, Grand Star Elementary, and Moonlight Elementary. The district also has three middle schools, Wheatridge, Trail Ridge, and Pioneer Ridge, and one high school (Gardner-Edgerton High School) all located in Gardner.
The Johnson County Library maintains a branch in Gardner.[28]
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Gardner include: