Q: One Johnson County community is named after an Indian princess, the wife of Blackhoof, a Shawnee Indian chief. Another Johnson County community takes its name from the Shawnee Indian word for beautiful. What are the names of these two Kansas City suburbs?
A: Lenexa and Olathe
The Johnson County community of Lenexa is named after an Indian princess. The woman’s name was actually "Na-Nex-Se Blackhoof." She was the widow of Chief Thomas Blackhoof, a Shawnee Indian Chief. Lenexa is a derivation of the name Na-Nex-Se. The nearby Kansas City suburb of Olathe is taken from the Shawnee Indian word for beautiful. So, if you drive through suburban Johnson County, you just might encounter a beautiful Indian princess. Well… sort of, anyway.
Fun factoid: In the 1930s, Lenexa became famous for its superior quality spinach. To honor this heritage, the town hosts an annual Spinach Festival. This year's Spinach Fest will be held Saturday, September 9.