Prairie Village, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City located in Johnson County, has a population of 21,447. The town was developed by J. C. Nichols who is the developer of the Country Club Plaza located just a few miles away and was initially intended to provide a community for military personnel returning from the Second World War. It was incorporated in 1951 and was named the best planned community in America in 1949 by the National Association of Home Builders. The award winning Shawnee Mission School District serves the educational needs of the Prairie Village residents.
Prairie Village was first recognized as a city in 1951. J.C Nichols, who constructed the plaza and then decided to turn the rolling hills of the area into a well-planned community of beautiful homes and shopping centers. Prairie Village is only a few miles from the plaza so there is much to do and see. In 2005, the city was named one of the top five for best suburban cities by the Kansas City Star. There are over 20,000 inhabitants of this city, so if you are a small-town person, this might not be the best city for you.