Blue Springs, MO

Blue Springs, Missouri, is located 30 minutes from downtown Kansas City, just off Interstate 70. Nearly 55,000 people have been drawn to this suburb of Kansas City, making Blue Springs the 13th-largest city in the state. It has a more rural appeal than the big-city feel of Kansas City, offering a nice sense of community, safer neighborhoods, affordable housing and some of the best schools in the nation. Blue Springs residents are proud to call this city home.

Blue Springs was founded in 1827 by settlers moving west. It became a favored stopping spot because of the cooling spring waters that filtered from Little Blue River. Due to the frequency of travelers, a grist mill was built in the area (what is now Burrus Old Mill Park). In 1878 the Chicago/Alton Railroad built a station in Blue Springs, which became the new center of the city, and on Sept. 7, 1880, the city was incorporated. The opening of Interstate 70, giving direct access to Kansas City, led to a growth of nearly 20,000 residents in just 15 years. Today, residents and businesses of Blue Springs are working to increase the annual growth of the city.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Most residents of Blue Springs commute into Kansas City for work, as it is only a 30-minute drive down I-70. For that reason, Blue Springs is designed to accommodate commuters, with wide streets and sparse sidewalks. Larger employers located in Blue Springs include the Blue Springs School District, St. Mary's Medical Center of Blue Springs, Wal-Mart, and Fike Corporation.

The city is focusing on business growth and city development. "Renew the Blue," a community-organized effort, is focusing on the growth, development and revitalization of the downtown area. Other goals include building a "vibrant, broad-based economy" and developing "a community environment second to none."

To promote residential growth, "Community of Choice" is a program that provides affordable and diverse housing choices for individuals and families so that they can realize their dreams of owning a home.

The overall goal of both projects is to bring in hundreds of new businesses and grow to a total of 75,000 residents within 12 years while retaining a strong sense of community and preserving the local history and identity of Blue Springs.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The city of Blue Springs is currently working on a number of district renovation projects. These include:

• South Development Area: Located near the highway, this area of land was added to Blue Springs in 2003. The area is currently a mix of retail and residential properties, but many new homes and businesses will be added over the coming years. Housing options will include single-family homes, apartment complexes and senior-living facilities.
• Chapman Farms: Chapman Farms is a planned community in Blue Springs consisting of a number of individual subdivisions, including Lakeside, The Orchards, The Meadows, The Gardens, Green Briar, The Shores, Chapman Woods, Chapman Ridge, Briar Valley, The Villas and The Estates. The community is surrounded by retail opportunities and features a wide variety of housing choices, from condominiums to duplexes.
• Downtown Blue Springs: Blue Springs' downtown area is undergoing major redevelopment. Some of the goals of the project include preserving the area's Historic District, making the area friendlier for pedestrians, bringing in new businesses and creating public spaces.

EDUCATION

Blue Springs public schools are nationally recognized. There are about 13,500 students enrolled in a total of 20 schools - 11 elementary, five middle schools and four high schools. There are also four private schools: Creative World Elementary, St. John La Lande Elementary School, Plaza Heights Christian Academy and Timothy Lutheran School.

The district receives a statewide rating of 10 out of 10 and is ranked as one of the top eight districts in the state. Nationally, Blue Springs schools receive a rating of 9 out of 10, higher than 86.2 percent of other districts in the nation.

Blue Springs is also home to the Rainbow Center for Communicative Disorders. This nonprofit organization was established in 1976 to provide a more intense therapy program centered on an academic environment for children with developmental disorders. In 1996, the organization expanded to provide daycare and day rehabilitation services to adults over the age of 21 with disorders.

FAMILY FUN

The great outdoors is one of the major appeals of Blue Springs. There are three golf courses, as well as plenty of lakes, hiking trails and parks.

• Burr Oak Woods Nature Center has natural wildlife habitats, five hiking trails, a 3,000-gallon aquarium and wildlife viewing rooms.
• Lake Jacomo is 970 acres of beautiful water, with a full-service marina and three boat ramps. The fishing at Lake Jacomo is bountiful, with crappie, bluegill, large-mouth bass, carp, catfish, white bass and walleye.
• Blue Spring is a natural hot spring famous for its deep blue color.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Dillingham-Lewis Museum: Built in 1906, and the only building left in the area made from native Missouri limestone, this home is furnished with period pieces and historical items and serves as the headquarters for the Blue Springs Historical Society.
• Heritage Philharmonic: This ensemble performs a variety of concerts throughout the year.

EVENTS

Residents of Blue Springs attend many events in Kansas City. There are, however, a few noteworthy annual gatherings in Blue Springs, including:

• Art Show, held in March
• Lake Fest, held at the end of June in honor of the Fourth of July
• Concert in the Park, held each July
• Barbeque Blaze-Off, held in September

LOCAL MEDIA

The local newspaper is the Blue Springs Examiner. Additionally, Blue Springs Magazine is sent to all residents free of charge three times a year, in the spring, fall and winter. The radio stations and television stations received by Blue Springs residents are located in the surrounding areas, such as Independence and Kansas City, with the exception of KCWJ, 1030 AM, which is a local Christian radio station.