Johnson County is a county in Missouri, United States, about 55 miles southeast of Kansas City.
It had a population of 54,013 at the 2020 census, an estimated 56,670 by 2025, and covers 829
square miles (2,150 km2) centred near 38°45′N 93°49′W.
Warrensburg is the county seat and largest city; its postal code is 64093. The county holds 3
cities and 4 villages, plus Whiteman Air Force Base and about two dozen unincorporated
communities. Johnson County runs on Central Time. Its FIPS code is 29101.
Towns & Villages in Johnson County
Johnson County has 7 incorporated places — 3 cities and 4 villages — along with
Whiteman Air Force Base and a long list of unincorporated hamlets and rural crossroads, most
dating to the county’s 19th-century railroad and post-office era. CDP stands for census
designated place; Unincorp. covers places with no formal boundary or local government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrensburg | City · seat | 19,337 | 64093 |
| Knob Noster | City | 2,782 | 65336 |
| Holden | City | 2,210 | 64040 |
| Leeton | Village | 532 | 64761 |
| Chilhowee | Village | 291 | 64733 |
| Kingsville | Village | 245 | 64061 |
| Centerview | Village | 189 | 64019 |
| Whiteman AFB | CDP | — | — |
| Bowmansville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burtville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Columbus | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cornelia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Denton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dunksburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fayetteville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fulkerson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greendoor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Henrietta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hoffman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Magnolia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Medford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Montserrat | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Olive | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Owsley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pittsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Post Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Quick City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Robbins | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rose Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sutherland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Valley City | Unincorp. | — | — |
Two names on the old list were duplicates of the same place: Bowen and Bowmansville refer to
the same rural crossroads in the county’s northeast, and this page lists it once, under
Bowmansville, its more commonly used name. La Tour and Latour, both listed on the county’s
former page, are the same spelling variant and are not repeated here.
ZIP Codes
- 64093 — Warrensburg (the county’s most populous ZIP, covers most of the county’s east)
- 65336 — Knob Noster (also serves mail for Whiteman Air Force Base)
- 64040 — Holden
- 64761 — Leeton
- 64733 — Chilhowee
- 64061 — Kingsville
- 64019 — Centerview
Most of the county’s unincorporated hamlets — Bowmansville, Burtville, Columbus,
Cornelia, Denton, Dunksburg, Fayetteville, Fulkerson, Greendoor, Henrietta, Hoffman, Magnolia,
Medford, Montserrat, Mount Olive, Owsley, Pittsville, Post Oak, Quick City, Robbins, Rose Hill,
Sutherland and Valley City — have no ZIP code of their own; their post offices closed
decades ago and mail is delivered under a nearby incorporated town’s code.
Geography
Johnson County sits on rolling prairie and low timbered hills in west-central Missouri, on the
edge of the Osage Plains. Of its 833 square miles, 829 are land and 3.9 are water, about 0.5
percent — the county has no large natural lake, and its surface water is mostly small
reservoirs and creek drainage. Holden City Lake, a 385-acre reservoir west of Holden, is the
county’s largest impoundment and a documented stop for more than 225 bird species.
Lafayette County lies to the north, Pettis County to the east, Henry County to the south, and
Cass and Jackson counties to the west and northwest. Lafayette County, Pettis County, Henry County, Cass County and Jackson County all
border Johnson County directly.
Demographics
Johnson County had a population of 54,013 at the 2020 census, and the latest estimate puts the
county near 56,670 residents. Warrensburg and Knob Noster are the two largest communities,
together holding more than a third of the county’s population. Median household income runs
below Missouri’s statewide 2023 ACS figure of $68,545, reflecting the county’s mix of a state
university town, an Air Force base and surrounding farmland. Population density works out to
roughly 65 people per square mile of land, moderate for a rural Missouri county with a resident
university.
Economy & Local Life
The University of Central Missouri, in Warrensburg, is the county’s largest single employer
and drives much of the local economy through student spending, faculty jobs and campus
construction. Whiteman Air Force Base, just south of Knob Noster, is the second major anchor: it
hosts the 509th Bomb Wing and all 19 of the Air Force’s operational B-2 Spirit stealth bombers,
and its military and civilian payroll supports Knob Noster’s schools, housing and retail.
Agriculture — row crops and cattle on the county’s rolling prairie — remains a
significant source of income outside the two anchor institutions. The county’s biggest annual
event is the University of Central Missouri’s homecoming weekend each October, which draws
alumni and visitors back to Warrensburg.
History
The Missouri General Assembly formed Johnson County on December 13, 1834, out of Lafayette
County, and named it for Richard Mentor Johnson, the sitting U.S. vice president. Warrensburg,
founded in 1835 by John and Martin D. Warren, became the county seat.
Warrensburg is home to the grave and 1958 statue of Old Drum, a dog whose 1870 death in a
neighbor’s dispute produced a court case that gave rise to the phrase “man’s best friend,”
coined by attorney George Graham Vest in his closing argument. Sedalia Glider Base, established
in the county in 1942 for World War II glider training, was renamed Whiteman Air Force Base in
1955 to honor 2nd Lieutenant George A. Whiteman, killed defending Pearl Harbor. During the Cold
War the base held 150 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles before its conversion to a
bomber base.
Getting There
No interstate crosses Johnson County; US 50 runs east–west through Warrensburg and Knob
Noster, and Missouri routes 13 and 23 provide the main north–south connections.
- Kansas City — about 55 miles northwest
- Sedalia — about 20 miles east
- Clinton — about 25 miles south
- Lee’s Summit — about 40 miles northwest
Kansas City International Airport, roughly 65 miles northwest of Warrensburg, is the nearest
major commercial airport. Whiteman Air Force Base operates its own military airfield, not open
to civilian traffic. Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner stops at the Warrensburg station on East
Young Avenue, connecting to Kansas City and St. Louis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Johnson County located?
It sits in west-central Missouri on the Osage Plains, about 55 miles southeast of Kansas City,
bordered by Lafayette, Pettis, Henry, Cass and Jackson counties.
What is the population of Johnson County?
54,013 at the 2020 census, with a 2025 estimate near 56,670.
How big is Johnson County?
833 square miles (2,160 km2), of which 829 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Johnson County?
Warrensburg, founded in 1835, is the county seat and largest city.
How many towns are in Johnson County?
Three cities — Warrensburg, Knob Noster and Holden — and four villages: Leeton,
Chilhowee, Kingsville and Centerview, plus Whiteman Air Force Base and about two dozen
unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes does Johnson County use?
64093 for Warrensburg, 65336 for Knob Noster (also covers Whiteman AFB), 64040 for Holden, 64761
for Leeton, 64733 for Chilhowee, 64061 for Kingsville and 64019 for Centerview.
What is Johnson County known for?
Whiteman Air Force Base, home to all 19 of the Air Force’s B-2 stealth bombers, and the
University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.