Kansas City’s History

Kansas City, Kansas is the third largest city but most affluent one in the state of Kansas. This city is adjacent to and satellite town to Kansas City Missouri. The recent history of the city started in the middle of 1800s. Abbreviated as KCK, Kansas City Kansas was formed in 1868 and after four years later the city was incorporated in October 1872.

In 1997, voters approved a Unified Government for the county and city. Adjoining area between Kansas and Missouri became the Metropolitan Area became good place to settled as the two rivers namely Kansas and Missouri provided the means of transportation and agriculture. The same area also became the first battle field in the American Civil war. The first city election was held October 22, 1872, by order of Judge Hiram Stevens of the Tenth Judicial District, and resulted in the election of Mayor James Boyle. The mayors of the city after its organization have been James Boyle, C. A. Eidemiller, A. S. Orbison, Eli Teed and Samuel McConnell. John Sheehan was appointed Marshal in 1875, by Mayor Eli Teed. He was also Chief of Police, having a force of five men. In June, 1880, the Governor of Kansas proclaimed the city of Kansas City a city of the second class with the Mayor Samuel McConnell present. James E. Porter was Mayor in 1910. Country music legend Patsy Cline performed her last concert in Kansas City on March 3, 1963, two days before her death.

Tenskwatawa established a village in Turner in 1826 and later moved to Whitefeather Spring in Argentine. In 1887, John Braecklein constructed a Victorian home for John and Margaret Scroggs in the Strawberry Hills. It is a fine example of Queen Anne Style architecture. Argentine Carnegie Library; the only Carnegie library in the Kansas metropolitan area was started in 1917. In 1920 US Census the City had a population of over 100,000 residents making it amongst the top 100 cities in the United States. As of census of 2000 there were over 146,866 people in over 55,500 households. Over 55% of the population was white where as African American constituted over 30% and the rest constituted Native Americans, Asian, Pacific Islander and other races. The city the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

Economy of the City

Historically the area economy had been based primarily upon agriculture but it soon became manufacturing and serviced based economy. Both the geographic and population centers of the United States lie within 250 miles of Kansas City, making the metropolitan area a natural hub for transportation, warehousing, manufacturing, and distribution. The Kansas City area economy is a diverse one. The trade, transportation, and utilities category is the region’s largest employer; government is second, followed by professional and business services, then educational and health services. Major manufacturing employers are Hallmark Cards (founded in Kansas City in 1910); Harmon Industries, Inc. (founded in Kansas City in 1946), manufacturers of railroad signal and communication equipment, traffic control systems, rail/highway grade crossing hardware and allied components; and American Italian Pasta, the largest producer of pasta in North America. While major portion of the industries of the city is in the Kansas City which is part of Missouri but the city is the home of GM Fairfax plant which makes Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu. Kansas City is the head quarter of many other Fortune companies including SprintPCS, DST Systems Inc, H&R Block, Great Plains Energy, Aquila, Inc, AMC Entertainment and Interstate Bakeries Corporation but they fall on the Missouri side. But the vast population of the city works in both side of the Kansas City. The city’s economy is being spurred by the presence of several nonprofit organizations. The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City is one such not-for profit organization helping in the growth.

The city is well connected by several transportation including International Airport, several highways (I-70, I35, K-5, K-7 etc.) and railroads.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,011, and the median income for a family was $39,491. Males had a median income of $30,992 versus $24,543 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,737. About 13.0% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those at age 65 or over.

Attractions

Worlds of Fun

It is a theme park opened in summer and is a great family fun. With over 200 acres of rides and attractions it is favorite family entertainment destinations.

American Heartland Theater

This is a live theatre committed to providing the local residents with the best of theatre at par with New York and Chicago. It is small, intimate and a great place to see a show.

Lyric Opera of Kansas

It is nation’s premium regional opera company and is celebrating 51st season having performed 97 different shows. Lyric Opera produces an eclectic repertoire, and offers one production of an American or contemporary opera most seasons.

Harry Truman Library and Museum

As the name suggest it is a library and museum dedicated to President Harry S. Truman. The library offers an introductory film on the life of President Truman and two floors of exhibit on him.

Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

It is a world class encyclopedic museum and there is no admission fee. It displays 13 Henry Moore sculpture and works of Alexander Calder, George Segal, Isamu Noguchi and other modern Masters.