Fairfax Hills Historic District
a.k.a. Parkwood Estates
Bounded by Esplanade Ave., Brown Ave. and 12th St., inc. both side of Parkwood Blvd., Coronado Rd. and Hilltop Rd., Kansas City, KSThe Fairfax Hills Historic District is a 33-acre landscaped site adjacent to the Fairfax industrial district. Using federal financing incentives, private developers built Fairfax Hills to help alleviate the housing shortage that accompanied the influx of defense workers to Kansas City during World War II. Landscape architects Hare and Hare applied their considerable skills in subdivision design to the property, creating a layout of roads, buildings, and open spaces that responded to the rolling topography and reflected the precepts of development recommended by the FHA. Architect George Metz adapted a standard apartment unit plan into four distinct multi-family building types. Each building type has a unique appearance that reflects an amalgamation of traditional Colonial Revival architectural treatments and the stripped-down Modern Movement design the FHA preferred for public housing projects during this period.
Local significance of the district:
Politics/government; Industry; Community Planning And Development; Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The famous novel "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote is based on a true story that took place in Holcomb, Kansas in 1959.
About Wyandotte County
Wyandotte County Timeline
Wyandotte County, Kansas, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Kansas, Osage, and Wyandot (or Wyandotte) tribes. These tribes lived off the land and established communities along the Missouri and Kansas Rivers.
In the early 19th century, European settlers began to move into the area. In 1843, the Wyandot tribe sold a portion of their land to the U.S. government, which became known as the Wyandotte Reservation. This land eventually became the site of the city of Kansas City, Kansas. The settlement grew rapidly as a hub for trade and transportation, due to its location on the Missouri River, and became an important center for the abolitionist movement in the 1850s.
During the Civil War, Wyandotte County played a significant role in the border conflict between Kansas and Missouri. The area was a hotbed of pro-Union sentiment, and it served as an important supply base for Union forces. The county also saw several skirmishes and battles, including the Battle of Byram's Ford in 1864.
After the Civil War, Wyandotte County continued to grow and prosper. The opening of the Kansas City Stockyards in the late 19th century solidified the county's reputation as a center for agriculture and industry. Over the years, the county has experienced periods of economic growth and decline, but its strong sense of community and unique heritage have remained constant, making it a vibrant and diverse county in the present day.
In the early 19th century, European settlers began to move into the area. In 1843, the Wyandot tribe sold a portion of their land to the U.S. government, which became known as the Wyandotte Reservation. This land eventually became the site of the city of Kansas City, Kansas. The settlement grew rapidly as a hub for trade and transportation, due to its location on the Missouri River, and became an important center for the abolitionist movement in the 1850s.
During the Civil War, Wyandotte County played a significant role in the border conflict between Kansas and Missouri. The area was a hotbed of pro-Union sentiment, and it served as an important supply base for Union forces. The county also saw several skirmishes and battles, including the Battle of Byram's Ford in 1864.
After the Civil War, Wyandotte County continued to grow and prosper. The opening of the Kansas City Stockyards in the late 19th century solidified the county's reputation as a center for agriculture and industry. Over the years, the county has experienced periods of economic growth and decline, but its strong sense of community and unique heritage have remained constant, making it a vibrant and diverse county in the present day.
Wyandotte County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Wyandotte County, Kansas.
- 1724 - The Wyandot (or Wyandotte) people, a Native American tribe, settle along the Kansas River in present-day Wyandotte County.
- 1804 - The Lewis and Clark Expedition passes through the area, noting the presence of the Wyandot tribe.
- 1825 - The Wyandot tribe signs a treaty with the U.S. government, ceding their lands in Ohio and Michigan to move to present-day Kansas.
- 1843 - The Wyandot tribe establishes a church mission and school in what is now Kansas City, Kansas.
- 1859 - Wyandotte County is officially established by the Kansas Territorial Legislature.
- 1861 - Kansas becomes a state, with Wyandotte County as one of its original 33 counties.
- 1864 - The Battle of Mockbee Farm, a small skirmish during the American Civil War, takes place in Wyandotte County.
- 1866 - The first train arrives in Kansas City, Kansas, boosting the city's growth and development.
- 1872 - The Kansas City Stockyards, one of the largest livestock markets in the country, is established in Kansas City, Kansas.
- 1923 - The Kansas City Monarchs, a prominent Negro league baseball team, is founded in Kansas City, Kansas.
- 1950s - Industrial and economic growth in Wyandotte County leads to the development of the Fairfax Industrial District.
- 1983 - The Kansas Speedway, a NASCAR race track, is opened in Kansas City, Kansas.