Olathe is the fastest growing and fifth most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas, and it is the second most populous city and county seat of Johnson County. As a suburb of Kansas City, it is the fifth largest city included in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. It is bordered by the cities of Lenexa to the north and Overland Park to the east.

Olathe had an estimated population of 108,390 in the year 2004 and is likely approaching 115,000 in 2006. It is not only one of the fastest growing cities in the state, but indeed one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. A recent article in the magazine Midwest Living named Olathe to be the second most livable city with a population larger than 100,000 in the Midwest. Olathe has the 19th highest per-capita income among US cities with a population greater than 100,000.