Unless otherwise noted, the following explanations of the origins of the streets of Strawberry Hill are from “Historical Report on the Streets and Avenues of Kansas City, Kansas” by Donald K. Jones. This source was discovered and made available to the Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Association thanks to the research and work of Magda Born and other kind volunteers at the main branch of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library. For more information please reach out to the KCKPL to access these sources.

Minnesota Avenue

Named for the US state of Minnesota, a former homeland of the Wyandotte nation.


Armstrong Avenue

Thought to have been named for Solas Armstrong. In the old city of Wyandott it was called Armstrong Street rather than Avenue.


Ann Avenue

From The Streets and Avenues of Kansas City, Kansas by Donald K. Jones:

“Formerly Ann Street.  The origin of this name we have been unable to locate, although it is fairly certain it was named for some member of a family of Wyandot Indians.”

It is possible that the street was named for Ann F. Splitlog, AKA “Ann F. Splitthelogs,” daughter of Matthias Splitlog who is attested on an 1870 roll of the Wyandotte Tribe, however this is only one possibility.


Formerly Barnett Street.  It is thought to have possibly been named after Cyrus Barnett, a businessman of old Wyandott.

Barnett Avenue


Named after a Chief of the Wyandot.  Formerly it was known as Drought Avenue from 5th to 6th, probably named for E. S. W. Drought, an early day businessman and also the head of the "Drought Rifles," an early day militia group.  Tauromee also was known as Young Street from 6th to 7th and Tauromee Street from 7th Street, west to the west city limits at 18th St.

Tauromee Avenue


The Wyandot had arrived here from Upper Sandusky, Ohio.  Previous names of Sandusky were the following: Tauromee from 4th to Thompson; Emerson from 5th to 6th Street; Sandusky on west through the balance of the city.

Sandusky Avenue


Probably named for Elizabeth Rodekopf.  She and her husband donated several lots on the north side of Elizabeth, just east of 7th Street, thus allowing the city to cut Tauromee Avenue through to 7th Street, which is the job in Tauromee just east of 7th.

Elizabeth Avenue


Source unknown, however about a block south of Orville, between 6th and 7th Streets, there is an Orr Addition.  Some old maps, we are told, show Orville spelled as Orrville so there may be some connection to the developer of this area.  Previous names were Preston Avenue, Thompson to 5th Street; Orville Street, 5th to 7th Streets; Summunduwot, 7th to 12th Streets, who we have been told was a Chief of the Wyandot who was killed before their arrival in this area; and finally Orville from 14th to the west city limits at 18th Street.

Orville Avenue


Probably named for Mathias Splitlog, a Wyandott Indian.  Former names were First Street, east of the Kaw River in old Kansas City, Kansas; Splitlog Avenue 5th to west of 7th Street and St. Louis Avenue from east of 8th Street to 10th Street.

Splitlog Avenue


Named after the Wyandot's former home in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.  Previous names: Second Street east of the Kaw River in old Kansas City, Kansas; Orr Avenue, Orchard Street to 7th Street and Ohio Street on west to 22nd Street, which was west of the city limits at that time.

Ohio Avenue


Named for Hiram Northrup, a white man who was married to a Wyandott Indian.  He was one of, if not the largest developer in the old city of Wyandott and he was also a banker, his bank being on the southwest corner of 5th and Minnesota Avenue.  Previous names were Northrup Avenue, 5th Street to 7th Street; Bank Street, 7th Street, west one half block and Sherman Avenue from 9th to 10th Streets.

Northrup Avenue


Named for Dr. A. P. Tenney, early doctor in Wyandott.  Previous names were Tenney Avenue, 5th to 7th Street; Sherman Avenue, 7th Street to approximately Early Street; Michigan Avenue from Early to 10th Street and Alameda Avenue, 10th to 11th Street.

Tenny Avenue


Named for S. N. Simpson's portion of old Wyandott City.  Previous names were Third Street, east of the Kaw River in old Kansas City, Kansas, Grandview Avenue, Orchard to Broadview; Parnell Avenue, Mill to 11th Street and Bunker Avenue, named for William E. Bunker, early day developer, 12th Street to 18th Street.  Also it was named Riverview Avenue west of the city limits at 18th to 22nd Street.

Riverview Avenue


Named for J. I. Reynolds who was the developer of the Grandview Addition.  It was the first addition actually separated from the old core city of Wyandotte.  It runs from 14th to 18th Street, north and south of Central Avenue.  Also the old flat iron building that was in the triangle at 14th and  Central, was known as the Reynolds block when it was built in the latter 1800s.  Previous names were Fourth Street east of the Kaw Riber; Riverview Avenue, 4th Broadview; Livingston, Mill to 10th Street; and finally Reynolds Avenue from 10th west to 22nd Street.

Reynolds Avenue


Named for S. N. Simpson, the developer of the Riverview area.  The portion from Central and Pyle and Central to Broadview was called Orchard Street.  The portion from Central and Pyle back to the northeast was called Wabash.  Also there was a short section of Wabash that continued on around to the southwest which today is part of Central Avenue that ran to approximately Coy Street where Ridge goes up the hill.

Simpson Avenue


We have no information as to the name source.  Originally it was called Spring Place from Tremont Street to 7th Street with the balance to the west called Locust Street.  Both Calvin and Lyon Avenue were plotted between 11th and 12th Streets, but today this is part of Bethany Park.

Calvin Avenue


This street is the dividing line for north and south numbers, although a very poor one due to its roaming around.  It originally was called Sixth Street east of the Kaw River; Bridge Street from the west side of the river to 5th Street.  This was just simply a ground level street running to the bridge over the Kaw which was known as the 6th Street Bridge in old Kansas City, Kansas and the Riverview Bridge on the west side.  Prior to Central Avenue being cut clear through the portion from 7th, east to what is now Tremont (old Prospect).

Central Avenue


(This street was demolished and removed in 1957 with the advent of I-70.)

The only portion south of Minnesota and north of Armourdale is the stretch from Minnesota south to the lower deck of the Lewis and Clark Viaduct.

Third Street


This street ran south from Minnesota to Fowler Street. Now it only runs to Sandusky since the 1950s when the Turnpike was built, now known as I-70.

Fourth Street


From Barnett to Orville, originally called Dugarro, we have been unable to locate the origin of either name. Between Fourth and Fifth Streets.

Thompson Street


This street bore the same name from its northern Minnesota Avenue to its southern intersection with Seventh Street until the advent of I-70 in the 1950s, with the exception of the portion from approximately Pacific Avenue to Seventh Street, which was called Missouri Avenue in old Armstrong.

Fifth Street


Following the advent of I-70, this section of road was unnamed. Parishioners of Holy Family Church petitioned the city to name the short neighborhood street Mejak Lane in honor of Monsignor Heliodor Mejak, the longtime priest of their parish.

Mejak Lane


Named for Splitlog’s Orchard which was between Fifth Street and Orchard Street. Previously it was called Old Sixth Street.

Orchard Street


Originally this street only ran to what is now Splitlog and Orchard before following Orchard Street to Fifth and Reynolds. Also what is now Sixth Street, from Central Avenue to Lowell Avenue, was previously called Prospect Street.

Sixth Street


This street is divided by Reynolds Avenue. The northern portion, from Reynolds to Tenny Avenue, bears its original name. The southern portion, from Reynolds to Lowell, was previously known as Sixth Street.

Tremont Street (also spelled Treemont Street) was known as Prospect, Prospect then continuing on east and up to what was Lowell Avenue, but is now called Sixth Street. Then there was the portion of Wabash mentioned above (See Simpson Ave). Eventually the street was cut through these areas and called for its full length “Riverview Boulevard,” clear west to 22nd Street and beyond.

[Sources: Donald K. Jones; Google Maps]

Tremont Street


Also known as Seventh Street Trafficway, the name of this street inconsistently varies on property addresses between “North Seventh Street” and “Seventh Street Trafficway” depending on the stretch, the type of property, and even depending on which side of the street a given property lies. A stretch of this street Minnesota and Tauromee Avenues is dubbed “Marinovich Way” in honor of Carol Marinovich, a former mayor famous for unifying the Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County governments. After crossing I-35 to the south, this street becomes Rainbow Boulevard.

[Sources: Wyandotte Daily; Donald K. Jones; Google Maps]

Seventh Street