Westwood

History

The land where Westwood is located was originally occupied by the Kansa and Pawnee Indians. However, beginning in the 1830s, Captain Joseph Parks, then Head Chief of the Shawnee, worked with the U.S. Government to remove the Shawnee tribes from Ohio to the newly opened reservations in northeastern Kansas. In exchange for his services, the government awarded Parks 1,290 acres of land straddling what is now Johnson and Wyandotte counties as part of an 1854 treaty with the Shawnee. In 1859, Parks died without leaving a will stating what should happen to the land. His heirs spent the next 60 years disputing how the land should be divided. The land that would eventually become Westwood was ultimately awarded to Parks' granddaughter and her husband, Catherine and John Swatzell. In 1898, the Swatzells built a stone home. That home is still located at 4958 Rainbow and is considered the beginnings of the community that would eventually become Westwood. Following World War II, the land around the Swatzells' residence began to be seriously developed as a suburb of Kansas City. Residents originally formed the Hudson Mission Homes Association as a loose group who worked to bring streets and utilities to the area. The name "Westwood" was chosen for the city because immediately to the East of Westwood there was Westwood, Missouri, which was already a thriving neighborhood. The name Westwood, moreover, already appeared in several area subdivisions and the elementary school which was already in existence was called Westwood View. The Westwood Neighborhood Association was formed in 1987 for the purpose of hosting community events. Its first president was Tom Shanks, a sixteen-year-old resident. The association's first event was Oktoberfest, held in the park located at 50th and…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The original boundaries of the city were 47th Street to the north, Rainbow Boulevard to the east, Shawnee Mission Parkway and the rear property line of the homes on 51st Terrace to the south, and Mission Road to the west. In 1960, the city also annexed Westport Annex and Westport View, extending the boundaries of the city to include 47th Place, 47th Terrace, and 48th Street from Rainbow Boulevard to State Line Road. In a 1973 vote, the city declined to consolidate with the neighboring city of Westwood Hills.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  24,926
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  20,574
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  20,150
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  19,724
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  16,744
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  15,767
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  15,479
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  15,478

Largest nearby schools

• Shawnee Mission East High
  High · Shawnee Mission · 1,697 students · 17:1 ratio
• Shawnee Mission West High
  High · Shawnee Mission · 1,640 students · 15.8:1 ratio
• Shawnee Mission Northwest High
  High · Shawnee Mission · 1,626 students · 15.9:1 ratio
• Shawnee Mission South High
  High · Shawnee Mission · 1,586 students · 15.7:1 ratio
• Shawnee Mission North High
  High · Shawnee Mission · 1,568 students · 14:1 ratio
• Blue Valley North High
  High · Overland Park · 1,414 students · 15.2:1 ratio
• Indian Hills Middle
  Middle · Shawnee Mission · 850 students · 16.3:1 ratio
• Westridge Middle
  Middle · Shawnee Mission · 811 students · 14:1 ratio