Lenexa

Founded: 1869, Population (2000): 40,238, Elevation: 860 ft.

Lenexa is located in Johnson County off I-35 at Exit 225A near Shawnee Mission Lake. Lenexa is part of the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas metro area. The railroad company, St. Louis & San Francisco R. R., bought the town site and had it platted in 1869.

Lenexa has over 30 parks to offer its citizens and the metropolitan area. Several parks, including Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, offer extensive amenities, such as a swimming pools, picnic areas, bike/hike or jogging walking trails, volleyball courts and reservable shelters.

The Great Lenexa Barbeque Battle started in 1982 with twelve contestants and twelve judges. On April 27, 1984, Governor John Carlin, declared the contest the official Kansas State Championship. The contest has grown to its current size of 165 contestants and 240 judges. The contest is always held on the fourth Saturday of June each year.