In real estate, developers acquire land, then plat a subdivision. For Overland Park, Kansas, that is how it all began. As a platted subdivision.

This platted Kansas subdivision – the one which evolved into today’s Overland Park – came to be through entrepreneurship espoused by a Johnson County entrepreneur. This entrepreneur, William B. Strang, Jr., his contributions to the Kansas City region coming through his establishment of a local rail service which connected Kansas City to Olathe, Kansas. Leading to the formation of Overland Park.

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William B. Strang, Jr. founded the Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway. Strang founded his railroad in 1906. Two years prior to Henry Ford’s Model T entering into production.

When Strang founded his Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway, there were no cars on Kansas City roads. One could not drive in to Kansas City, Missouri from Johnson County, Kansas. And in 1906, train travel in Kansas City was a luxury. A luxury with longer distance routes. A train to St. Louis. A train to Chicago. When Strang founded his Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway there was no specific train route which took passengers from Kansas City, Missouri to Johnson County. No railroad was offering this local service. Yet Strang believed this could be an economically viable route. Hence, the origin of the Strang Line.

Headquarters for Strang’s Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway could be found in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. At the corner of 7th and Walnut. In the Railway Exchange Building.

With Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Strang proceeded to build several depots in Johnson County, Kansas. The largest of Strang’s depots was the one he built at what is today the corner of 80th Street and Santa Fe Drive. In Overland Park.

William B. Strang, Jr. was a 20th Century railroad entrepreneur. He was also a real estate developer. A speculator. Strang built spec homes. The sale price for one of Strang’s spec homes – as well as demand for spec homes built by Strang – was driven by an idea: you can own your own new home in Johnson County.

To this point, Strang’s rail service enabled city dwellers in Kansas City, Missouri to gain access to the Johnson County suburbs. And, so too, to new homes built in Johnson County by William B. Strang, Jr. New homes being built where today we find Overland Park.

William B. Strang, Jr.’s Olathe-to-KCMO Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway contributed to the success Strang attained as a real estate developer. In that Stang’s Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway increased access to new suburban Kansas homes Strang was then building. In turn, driving up demand for Strang’s homes. The result? Higher sale prices for Strang’s homes.

William B. Strang, Jr. arrived in what would go on to become Overland Park in the earliest days of the 20th Century. He arrived in Johnson County 1905. Upon his arrival, Strang proceeded to acquire land on which the downtown for today’s Overland Park now sits. Strang’s initial Johnson County land acquisition – the land acquisition which led to an Overland Park – totaled 600 acres.

A 600-acre acquisition…

A real estate developer…

The coupling of an idea: new homes/increased access to new homes…

A railroad entrepreneur…

The makings of Overland Park…

As a city, Overland Park was incorporated 55 years after William B. Strang, Jr. set foot in Johnson County. Overland Park was incorporated in 1960. Yet, by 1960, the railroad which laid the groundwork for the formation of Overland Park was no longer. The last Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway train car pulled into Olathe in 1940…20 years prior to the incorporation of Overland Park.

Those 600 acres William B. Strang, Jr. purchased in Johnson County in 1905… Those subdivisions to the southwest of Kansas City, Missouri, those out in the Johnson County suburbs… One of those subdivisions was named “Overland Park.”

Overland Park… Originally, one of William B. Strang, Jr’s subdivisions. The undertaking of one Johnson County real estate developer who became a railroad entrepreneur.

A railroad entrepreneur whose subdivisions ignited the construction of new homes to the southwest of Kansas City. New homes which increased in value as a result of new access – by rail, circa the Missouri and Kansas Interurban Railway – to these new homes which were being built. Several of which were being built by William B. Strang, Jr. The train entrepreneur who was also the real estate developer.

William B. Strang, Jr. Real estate developer. Railroad entrepreneur. Founder of Overland Park.