De Soto, Kansas

De Soto /dəˈsoʊtoʊ/ is a city in Johnson and Leavenworth counties in the U.S. state of Kansas.[1] It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Most of the city, 11.13 square miles (28.8 km2), is in Johnson County. In 2010, 5,720 people lived there.[2]

De Soto, Kansas
City
Location within Johnson County and Kansas
Location within Johnson County and Kansas
KDOT map of Johnson County (legend)
KDOT map of Johnson County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°58′45″N 94°58′7″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountiesJohnson, Leavenworth
TownshipsLexington, Sherman
Founded1828
Platted1857
Incorporated1897
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • MayorRick Walker
Area
[2]
 • Total11.20 sq mi (29.00 km2)
 • Land11.07 sq mi (28.67 km2)
 • Water0.13 sq mi (0.33 km2)
Elevation
[1]
860 ft (260 m)
Population
 (2010)[3]
 • Total5,720
 • Estimate 
(2017)[4]
6,107
 • Density510/sq mi (200/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
66018, 66019
Area code913
FIPS code20-17850 [1][5]
GNIS ID479178 [1][6]
Websitedesotoks.us

History

De Soto was platted in spring 1857. It was named after sixteenth-century Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto.[7]

Geography

De Soto is in northwestern Johnson County and southern Leavenworth County at 38°58′45″N 94°58′7″W (38.9791709, -94.9685783).[1] It is along Kansas River.[8] The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 11.20 square miles (29.00 km2). Of that, 11.07 square miles (28.67 km2) are land and 0.13 square miles (0.33 km2), or 1.15%, are water.[2]

People
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
186035—
1870102191.4%
188014138.2%
189022358.2%
19002261.3%
19102406.2%
1920231−3.7%
193031938.1%
194045442.3%
19503,422653.7%
19602,543−25.7%
19702,217−12.8%
19802,061−7.0%
19902,35114.1%
20004,56194.0%
20105,72025.4%
2017 (est.)6,107[4]6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

The 2010 census says that there were 5,720 people, 2,007 households, and 1,523 families living in De Soto.[3]

Economy

Two local companies, Great American Bank and Custom Foods, Inc., and one national company, Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs, are headquartered in De Soto. Huhtamaki Americas, Inc. and Engineered Air, two international companies, chose De Soto for their North American headquarters. Merck Animal Health, one of the world's biggest manufacturers of animal health supplies, chose De Soto for one of its U.S. manufacturing facilities.

Biggest employers

as of January 2017, the largest employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 De Soto USD #232 1,655
2 Huhtamaki 640
3 Engineered Air 270
4 Merck Animal Health 180
5 Rehrig Pacific 110
6 Custom Foods Inc 108
7 Goodcent's Deli Fresh Subs Headquarters 95
8 Hillside Village 86
9 Harps Food Stores 31

Government

The De Soto government is made of a mayor and five council members. It has a president that is chosen by the council.

Mayor

  • Rick Walker (term expires 2022)

City Council President

  • Lori Murdock (term expires 2020)

City Council

  • Danny Lane (term expires 2020)
  • Kevin Ritter (term expires 2021)
  • Kevin Honomichl (term expires 2022)
  • Rob Daniels (term expires 2022)

Education

The city of De Soto is served by the De Soto school district.

  • De Soto School District

Other local education institutions near De Soto include:

Library

The Johnson County Library System maintains the De Soto Downtown Library.

Media

Newspapers

The De Soto Explorer was started in 1998, and it was De Soto's main news source for 14 years. It closed in 2012. In the fall of 2015, Discovering De Soto magazine released its first preview edition.[9] In 2017, the De Soto City Council funded issues of Discovering De Soto. This was done in order to distribute the magazine by mail and around local businesses. In 2018, the De Soto City Council funded issues of Discovering De Soto for the year.[10]

The Kansas City Star and the Lawrence Journal-World both cover and deliver to De Soto.

Television

All Kansas City stations broadcast in De Soto.

Radio

All Topeka and Kansas City stations broadcast in De Soto.

Transportation

Road

Several highways go to De Soto:

  • K-10 runs through most portions of southern De Soto. Two exits have a direct connection to De Soto.
    • Exit – Edgerton Road
    • Exit – Lexington Avenue, formerly K-285 (Decommissioned in 1999)
    • Exit – Kill Creek Road
  • K-32 runs about 5 miles (8 km) north of De Soto. Two junctions have a direct connection to De Soto.
    • Junction – 189th Street CR-26(Leavenworth County)
    • Junction – 158th Street CR-2(Leavenworth County)
  • S. Wyandotte Road / 158th Street CR-2(Leavenworth County)
  • CR-3(Leavenworth County)
  • CR-26(Leavenworth County)
  • CR-32(Leavenworth County)

Rail

In 1857, the Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe Railway built a railroad through northern parts of town. It was built parallel to the river. De Soto's train depot was built along a siding around 1860.[11]

Famous people

Notable people who were born in and/or have lived in De Soto include:

References
  1. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) details for De Soto, Kansas; United States Geological Survey (USGS); October 13, 1978.
  2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): De Soto city, Kansas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  3. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  4. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017 (PEPANNRES): Incorporated Places: Kansas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  5. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 516. ISBN 9780722249055.
  8. "City of De Soto Official Zoning Map" (PDF). City of De Soto. May 30, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 22, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  9. Discovering Desoto online magazine.
  10. "Google Drive: Sign-in".
  11. "Topeka – Lawrence – Kansas City (Corridor H)". Archived from the original on 2017-07-21. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  12. "Johnson County to remember a Kansas Congressional Medal of Honor recipient on Veterans Day". Johnson County, Kansas. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  13. "KHS Distinguished Life Members". Kansas Herpetological Society. Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  14. "Lee, Frank Hood (1873-1952)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2016-04-01.

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