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Kansas City, KS


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Kansas City, Kansas

Introduction to Kansas City, Kansas

Kansas City is the third largest city in the state of Kansas and is situated at the junction of the Missouri and Kansas (Kaw) rivers. The Kaw River is an important landmark in Kansas City. It flows some 170 miles eastward to join the Missouri River at Kaw Point in Kansas City. Its name is derived from the Kanza (Kaw) people who once inhabited the area. And so the state of Kansas in turn drew its name from the river.

Kansas City, Kansas is located across the river from Kansas City Missouri, and so the two cities, sharing a name, also share a lot of diverse attractions.

Kansas City was formed in 1868 and incorporated in 1872. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 146,866. It is an area rich in history; Lewis and Clark stopped near here in 1804 during their first expedition. In 1843, the Wyandot Indians settled in the area that is now Kansas City. The city is a diverse one, with different cultures. In the 1870s, many African Americans, known as Exodusters, settled here as well.

The state’s and city's history and identity is closely tied to its agricultural roots. Farming has been critical to Kansas economy and its culture. Known as the "Wheat State" and "Breadbasket of the World", Kansas is also known for its large volume of corn, hay, and oat crops.

Points of Interest

Kansas City has grown from a small stop on the journey west to a busy metropolitan area known for its delicious barbecue and great jazz. Visiting the award winning zoo is a popular activity as well as the Jazz Museum and the Baseball museum next door. The Kansas city T-Bones is the local baseball team and attracts visitors and families. The T-Bones are a member of the Northern League that first began operations in 1902, and was restructured in 1993. The Kansas Speedway is a top attraction in the area. In 2007, the Speedway will host the NASCAR Cup Series and the Indy Series Race. Country music is also a big part of life in Kansas City. The Wyandotte County fair attracts 100,000 people every year and boasts such stars as Garth Brooks, who has returned many times. In addition, there is the huge Verizon Amphitheatre which hosts music concerts and the Woodlands, which provides live greyhound and horse racing.

Nearby attractions in Kansas City, Missouri include a riverboat casino, the Worlds of Fun and Worlds of Ocean amusement parks, which are very popular with families and vacationers. There are several museums to visit, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, boasting one of the largest Asian collections in the region. In addition, a large aquarium provides hours of fun and in an interesting day trip for all ages. The Toy and Miniature museum hosts a collection of over 100 dollhouses and many antique dolls. Between April and December, there are constant outdoor festivals featuring legendary barbecue and great music in the Triangle: between River Market and Country Club Plaza, at 18th and Vine. There are several art festivals in the fall and a famous Rodeo that comes to town every November. Sports fans will love watching the Kansas City Royals play baseball at Kaufman stadium and football fans can enjoy seeing the Kansas City Chiefs beat their opponents at Arrowhead Stadium. And Kansas City is said to have more fountains than any city except Rome, and more boulevards than any city except Paris.

High Points

Kansas City strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Kansas):

CategoryTrophy
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)
Top 1%trophyKansas City Racial Diversity
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)
Top 2%trophyKansas City Public Transportation Use
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. Peers)
Top 10%Kansas City Affordability of Property Taxes
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)
Top 13%Kansas City Affordability of Rents

Comparative Profile of Kansas City, KS

Comparing Kansas City to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Kansas (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Racial Diversity910
Children Under 5 Years Old89
Senior Citizens72
Male Share of the Population67
Female Share of the Population54
Age of the Population52
Well-Paid Single Men36
Well-Paid Single Women26

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Average Household Size78
Portion of People Married51

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
People Above Poverty41
People in Middle Class or Better42
Median Family Income34
College Educated Adults12

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Short Commute Times84
Public Transportation Use310
Working at Home33
Walking and Biking to Work17

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Affordability of Property Taxes105
Affordability of Rents93
People Living Alone55
Seasonal and Vacation Housing55
Housing Recently Built36
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals210

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime61
Low Property Crime11

Detailed pages on related topics: Kansas City collegesKansas City travelKansas City mortgages and property.

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Additional Details

Kansas City CollegesKansas City Colleges
Kansas City colleges and trade schools.
Kansas City Hotels & TravelKansas City Hotels & Travel
Kansas City hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Kansas City MortgageKansas City Mortgage
Kansas City property, mortgage, and real estate.

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