Leavenworth County argues that it is the best-kept secret in metropolitan Kansas City, and they may be right.

With rolling hills reminiscent of the Missouri Ozarks and surprisingly easy access to the metro area, Leavenworth County is not surprisingly one of the most rapidly growing counties in the region.

According to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, Leavenworth saw a 15 percent increase in single-family building permits during 2005 compared to 2004, from 504 to 582. Multi-family permits were steady at 98, an increase of only one from 2004.

The city of Leavenworth saw similar growth, with 144 single-family permits compared to 127 in 2004. Overall, the city’s residential growth was steady, although a record of 18 multi-family units recorded in 2004 skewed the picture somewhat.

Lansing was even more dynamic, with 102 single-family permits in 2005 compared to only 55 in 2004, an eye-opening 85 percent increase.

Basehor and Tonganoxie were also among the hottest sectors in the single-family residential market. Located adjacent to rapidly growing western Wyandotte County, and connected via the four-lane Highway 24/40 route, these two communities continued their run as two of Kansas’ state growth leaders.

In Basehor, 93 single family building permits represented a staggering 37 percent increase. Nearly a dozen multi-family projects were also under way.

In Tonganoxie, the city issued 128 building permits during 2005, compared to 86 in 2004. Like most Leavenworth County homes, the new developments targeted a relatively affordable price range, from $150,000-$200,000. Rural Leavenworth County also continued to grow, although the 150 permits in 2005 were behind the 175 in 2004.

Leavenworth County as a whole saw average home prices increase by only six percent, according to the Kansas City Association of Realtors. This moderate jump contrasted sharp-ly to areas such as Cass County, which saw a 17 percent increase in home costs.

Price, access and even scenery are not the only factors behind Leavenworth’s expanding rooftops. Because of the diverse, even cosmopolitan impact of Fort Leavenworth’s ad-vanced military college, the city hosts a surprising range of restaurants, arts programs and other amenities.