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City of Kansas City
Seal
Nickname: Heart of America[1]
Location in Wyandotte, County in the state of Kansas.
Coordinates: 39°6′24″N 94°40′35″W / 39.10667, -94.67639
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Wyandotte
Unified Government	1997
Government
- Mayor/CEO
Area
- Total	127.8 sq mi (331.0 km²)
- Land	124.3 sq mi (321.8 km²)
- Water	3.5 sq mi (9.2 km²)
Elevation	740 ft (266 m)
Population [2][3]
- Total	146,866
- Density	1,149/sq mi (456.3/km²)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	913
FIPS code	20-36000GR2
GNIS feature ID	0478635GR3
Website: http://www.wycokck.org/

Kansas City is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Wyandotte County (WyCo); it is part of the "Unified Government"^[4] which also includes the cities of Bonner Springs and Edwardsville. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 146,867. Situated at the junction of the Missouri and Kansas rivers (Kaw Point),^[5] the city is opposite Kansas City, Missouri, which anchors the metropolitan area, and is included in the bi-state Kansas City Metropolitan Area, it being the satellite city of the anchor city.

Contents 1 Abbreviations and nicknames 2 History 3 Geography 3.1 Climate 3.2 Weather 3.3 Cityscape 3.3.1 Local places 3.3.2 Parks and parkways 4 Demographics 5 Economy 5.1 GM Fairfax plant 5.2 Village West development 6 Law and government 7 Crime 8 Neighboring areas 8.1 Cities 8.2 Counties 9 Transportation 9.1 Major highways 9.1.1 Notable roads 10 Culture 10.1 Media 10.1.1 Broadcast media 10.1.2 Film community 10.1.3 Newspapers 10.2 Sites of interest 11 Educational institutions 11.1 Post-secondary 11.2 School systems 11.3 Secondary education 12 Sister Cities 13 See also 14 Notes 15 References 15.1 Public 15.2 Entertainment 15.3 Other

Kansas City, Kansas, is often abbreviated as "KCK", or just "KC" {although this often refers to the entire metro area). It is also nicknamed the Heart of America^[1] because it is within 250 miles (400 km) of both the geographic and population centers of the United States. Another nickname is the "Dotte" which pertains to Wyandotte County.

Main article: History of Kansas City

Kansas City, Kansas dates back to the middle of the 1800s. Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) formed in 1868 and incorporated in October of 1872. In 1997, voters approved a Unified Government for the county and city.

The Kansas City Metropolitan Area, straddling the border between Missouri and Kansas at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers, was a good place to build several settlements. When the area was opened to Euro-American settlement, the area became the first battlefield in the conflict over slavery and southern secession that led to 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.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 127.8 sq mi ( 331.0 km²). 124.3 sq mi (321.8 km²) of it is land and 3.5 sq mi (9.2 km²) of it is water.

Source: U.S. National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, North Carolina.

Notes: Temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit. Dew point is a humidity measure in degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow or sleet in inches. Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average high 41 43 54 66 75 84 90 88 80 69 54 42 Average low 21 25 34 46 56 66 71 69 61 49 36 26 Warmest 75 81 91 95 103 108 112 113 109 98 83 74 Coldest −20 −21 −10 12 27 42 51 43 31 17 1 −23 Average dew point 18 23 29 41 53 62 66 64 56 44 32 24 Average precipitation 1.3 1.3 2.5 3.3 4.5 4.8 3.7 3.9 4.3 3.0 1.9 1.5

Kansas City is situated in "Tornado Alley," a broad region where cold air from the Rocky Mountains and Canada collides with warm air from the Gulf of Mexico, leading to the formation of powerful storms. The region is also prone to ice storms, such as the 2002 ice storm during which hundreds of thousands lost power for days and (in some cases) weeks.^[6] The MoKan area was subject to flooding, including the Great Flood of 1993 and the Great Flood of 1951.

See also: List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks, List of tornadoes striking downtown areas, and 1980 United States heat wave

Kansas City, Kansas, is organized into a system of neighborhoods, some with histories as independent cities or the sites of major events.

Main article: List of neighborhoods in Kansas City

Main article: List of Wyandotte County parks and parkways

• City Park
• Wyandotte County Park
• Wyandotte County Lake Park

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	3,200		—
1890	38,316		1097.4%
1900	51,418		34.2%
1910	82,331		60.1%
1920	101,177		22.9%
1930	121,857		20.4%
1940	121,458		-0.3%
1950	129,553		6.7%
1960	121,901		-5.9%
1970	168,213		38.0%
1980	161,087		-4.2%
1990	149,767		-7.0%
2000	146,866		-1.9%

As of the census of 2000, there were 146,866 people, 55,500 households, and 36,241 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,181.9 people per square mile (456.3/km²). There were 61,446 housing units at an average density of 494.5/sq mi (190.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.7% White, 30.12% African American, 0.75% Native American, 1.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 8.61% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.78% of the population.

There were 55,500 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.25.

In 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.

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 age 65 or over.

KCK is the home to the GM Fairfax plant, which manufactures the Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, and Saturn Aura.

Main article: Village West

Village West, located at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 435 (11 miles from Downtown KCK), is a development that has significantly fueled growth in KCK and Wyandotte County. Anchored by the Kansas Speedway, its attractions and retailers include The Legends At Village West, Cabela's, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Great Wolf Lodge, and CommunityAmerica Ballpark, home to the Kansas City T-Bones of the Northern League.

Schlitterbahn Vacation Village, a 370-acre resort and waterpark, is scheduled to open across I-435 from Village West in 2009. There are also plans to open a destination resort casino nearby. Also within the area are The Woodlands racetrack, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, the Sunflower Hills Golf Course, and two parks.

Kansas City, Kansas has a consolidated city-county government in which the city and county have been merged into one jurisdiction. As such, it is simultaneously a city, which is a municipal corporation; and a county, which is an administrative division of a state.

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department was founded in 1898. In 1914, it had one of the first motorcycle units in the nation. By 1918, it was taking of photographs and fingerprints of all felons it arrested.

Of the statistics available in 2000 based on data collected by the FBI as part of its Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which represent from arrests made by State and local law enforcement agencies as reported to the FBI, there were a total of 696 incidents.^[7]

Other cities in WyCo include:

• Bonner Springs
• Edwardsville

Kansas City, Kansas, neighboring counties includes the following Kansas Counties:

• Johnson County, Kansas
• Leavenworth County, Kansas

Kansas City, Kansas, neighboring counties includes the following Missouri Counties:

• Clay County, Missouri
• Jackson County, Missouri
• Platte County, Missouri

Main articles: Kansas City Metropolitan Area#Transportation and Kansas City Metro Transportation

Kansas City owes its existence to its location as a crossroads. It was at the confluence of the Missouri River and Kansas River and the launching pointing for travelers on the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California trails. Missouri and Kansas were the first states to start building interstates with Interstate 70. An ever increasing number of interstate loops has encouraged suburban sprawl.

• Interstate 35: To Des Moines, Iowa, to the North and Wichita, Kansas, to the South.
• Interstate 70: To St. Louis, Missouri, to the East and Topeka, Kansas/Denver, Colorado, to the West.
• Interstate 435: A Bi-State Loop through the Missouri and Kansas suburbs.
• Interstate 635: Connects the Kansas suburbs with Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City International Airport.
• Interstate 670: A southern bypass of I-70 and Southern portion of the downtown loop. Signed as East I-70 when exiting from I-35 while traveling north.
• US 24-40: Combination of the US 24 and US 40 highways that pass through Kansas City.
• K-5: A minor freeway bypassing the north of Kansas City, Kansas, connecting the GM Fairfax plant with I-635. K-5 continues as Leavenworth Road west to I-435 then on to Leavenworth, Kansas.
• K-7: A freeway linking Leavenworth County, Kansas, Wyandotte County, Kansas, and Johnson County, Kansas.
• K-32 A highway that links Leavenworth County, Kansas, Wyandotte County, and ((Douglas County/Douglas County)), Kansas.

• U.S. 169, 7th Street Trafficway run N-S paralleling I-635 and I-435
• South 18th Street Expressway
• State Avenue and Parallel Parkway
• Kansas Avenue and the Turner Diagonal

Kansas City has a variety of architecture points of interest, various historically notable landscapes and many famous and interesting buildings. Kansas City, Kansas is home to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, which covers 12,500 square miles of the Roman Catholic community in eastern Kansas.

The Kansas City Metro's audience, which includes KCK residents, is a stepping stone for many national broadcasters including Walter Cronkite, Rush Limbaugh, and Mancow Muller.

Main article: Broadcast Media in Kansas City

The Kansas City metro area's media market includes ten television channels along with 30 FM and 21 AM radio stations. KCK residents receive broadcasts from the following stations:

Main article: Film in Kansas City

Kansas City metro area has been a locale for Hollywood productions and television programming. Most notably, the 1983 television movie The Day After was filmed in Kansas City metro area and Lawrence, Kansas.

See also: The Independent Filmmakers Coalition of Kansas City

• The Wyandotte West (weekly publication for western Wyandotte Co.)

The Kansas City Memorial Hall is a 3,500-seat indoor arena located in Kansas City, Kansas. The Kansas Speedway is a speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway is a 1-1/2 mile tri-oval with 15 degree banking in the turns. The Kansas Speedway held its first race the Winston West Kansas 100 on June 2, 2001. It is used for sporting events and concerts and also has a permanent stage. In 1887, John G. Braecklein constructed a Victorian home for John and Margaret Scroggs in the area of Strawberry Hill. It is a fine example of the Queen Anne Style architecture erected in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Rosedale Arch is a replica of the Arc de Triomphe dedicated to the men of Kansas City, Kansas who served in World War I. The Wyandotte High School is a notable public building. The Wyandotte High School, located at 2501 Minnesota Avenue, was designated as a Kansas City, Kansas Historic Landmark.

Other sites of interest include:

• the 1917 Argentine Carnegie Library (the only Carnegie library existing in the metropolitan area),^[10][11]
• the Fire Station No. 9,^[12][13]
• the Granada Theater,^[14][15]
• the Hanover Heights Neighborhood Historic District,^[16]
• the Huron Cemetery],^[17]
• the Judge Louis Gates House,^[18]
• the Kansas City, Kansas Hall and Fire Headquarters,^[19]
• the Quindaro Townsite^[20],^[21][22]
• the Sauer Castle,^[23]
• the Scottish Rite Temple,^[24]
• the Shawnee Street Overpass,^[25][26]
• the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building,
• the St. Augustine Hall,
• the Theodore Shafer House,
• the Trowbridge Archeological Site,^[27]
• the Westheight Manor District,^[28]
• the White Church Christian Church,^[29]
• the Wyandotte County Courthouse and
• the land of the Muncie area.

The Grinter Place is near the Delaware Crossing (or "Military Crossing"; sometimes "the Secondine") which allowed passage from the old Indian trail when that trail met the waters of the Kaw River. In 1826, Tenskwatawa established a village in Turner and later moved to Whitefeather Spring in Argentine.

Kansas City/Wyandotte County Kansas Schools and School Districts

Kansas City has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

• Linz, Austria
• Karlovac, Croatia
• Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico
• Metz, France

• Kansas City, Missouri

• KCK Entertainment Guide

v • d • e Places in Wyandotte County, Kansas, United States
Argentine • Bonner Springs • Edwardsville • Kansas City (county seat) • Lake Quivira • Turner

	v • d • e State of Kansas Topeka (capital)
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v • d • e Kansas City Metropolitan Area's Cities and Counties
Central City	Kansas City, Missouri
Largest cities (over 100,000 in 2000)	Independence • Kansas City, Kansas • Olathe • Overland Park
Medium-sized cities (10,000 to 100,000 in 2000)	Blue Springs • Belton • Excelsior Springs • Gladstone • Grandview • Lansing • Leawood • Leavenworth • Lee's Summit • Lenexa • Liberty • Merriam • Ottawa • Prairie Village • Raymore • Raytown • Shawnee
Counties	Jackson • Clay • Cass • Platte • Lafayette • Ray • Clinton • Bates • Caldwell • Johnson • Wyandotte • Leavenworth • Miami • Franklin • Linn