Olathe was founded by Dr. John T. Barton in the spring of 1857. Olathe was incorporated in 1857. Olathe takes its name from the Shawnee word for “Beautiful” which is “Olathe” in the native Shawnee language. Its rapid growth led to it being named the county seat in October 1859.
Olathe served as a stop on the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail. Catering to travelers was the main source of income for local stores and businesses.
The City of Olathe is home to many companies, including Honeywell, Husqvarna, ALDI, Garmin, Grundfos, and Farmers Insurance Group.
Local Olathe entrepreneurs have created business opportunities in the area. With the help of local business leaders, the demand for startup ventures and the need for more goods and services has ignited the spirit of ownership in the Olathe community.
Looking to the future with confidence, the City of Olathe encourages its residents to become inventors and creators of startups in retail, music, printing, beauty, healthcare, legal, home repair services, medical support, CNA services, media, information technology (IT), restaurants, makeup, online sales, cleaning services, car repair, beauty salons, barber shops, education technology, and construction to help Olathe’s local business community to grow.