The community was named after John Roe, an immigrant from Ireland who settled on 267 acres (1.08 km2) in 1883, on part of which Roeland Park now stands. The Roe Home was built in 1891 and razed in 1958 to make room for the interchange at Roe Boulevard and Shawnee Mission Parkway.[5]
The area that would become Roeland Park was first developed in 1905 as a streetcar suburb, known as Southridge, by William Strang. Strang's Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway went through Roeland Park on its way from Rosedale to downtown Overland Park. Single-family home construction in this area accelerated during the late 1930s and 1940s as more developers subdivided land purchased from farmers.[6]
Incorporation of the city of Roeland Park occurred on July 2, 1951, led by developer Charles Vawter and his Roeland Park Homes Association. A series of annexations occurred between 1951 and 1959 leading to the present-day city boundaries.[7]
Roeland Park's original pool was built in 1958 on land donated by the Roe Estate. The new pool facility is located on the east side of the Community Center at 4843 Rosewood Drive. The Community Center address is 4850 Rosewood Drive and offers many different programs throughout the year. A fabric dome which covers the main pool is in place from September to May, allowing residents to use the main pool throughout the year.[8]
In 2023, Michael Poppa was appointed mayor, becoming the first openly gay mayor of any large city in Johnson County. Poppa succeeded previous mayor, Mike Kelly, who was elected chairman of the Johnson County board of commissioners.[9]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.62 square miles (4.20 km2), all of it land.[10]
Roeland Park City Hall (2023)Roeland Park at dusk (2023)
2020 census
The 2020 United States census[11] counted 6,871 people, 3,144 households, and 1,668 families in Roeland Park. The population density was 4,241.4 per square mile (1,639.9/km2). There were 3,309 housing units at an average density of 2,042.6 per square mile (789.7/km2). The racial makeup was 80.48% (5,530) white, 3.71% (255) black or African-American, 0.42% (29) Native American, 1.96% (135) Asian, 0.17% (12) Pacific Islander, 4.03% (277) from other races, and 9.21% (633) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 13.8% (934) of the population.
Of the 3,144 households, 24.2% had children under the age of 18; 39.6% were married couples living together; 32.1% had a female householder with no husband present. 35.4% of households consisted of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.8.
18.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 76.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 75.3 males.
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey[12] estimates show that the median household income was $73,786 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,457) and the median family income $87,727 (+/- $12,353). Males had a median income of $55,417 (+/- $10,368) versus $39,659 (+/- $10,836) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $45,406 (+/- $5,076). Approximately, 10.8% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 6,731 people, 3,065 households, and 1,732 families living in the city.[14] The population density was 4,154.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,604.2/km2). There were 3,282 housing units at an average density of 2,025.9 per square mile (782.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 3.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 3.8% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.4% of the population.
There were 3,065 households, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 34.1 years. 20% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 36% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 11.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
2000 census
As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 6,817 people, 3,007 households, and 1,798 families living in the city. The population density was 4,197.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,620.8/km2). There were 3,115 housing units at an average density of 1,918.1 per square mile (740.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.39% White, 1.97% African American, 0.45% Native American, 1.42% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.16% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.65% of the population.
There were 3,007 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 35.5% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,455, and the median income for a family was $61,750. Males had a median income of $40,504 versus $32,212 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,220. About 3.0% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Phil McGraw (1950- ), television personality and author, lived in Roeland Park during high school and married his first wife at the former Southridge Presbyterian Church[22]
