Kansas City, KS

Kansas City, Kansas, or KCK, is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and also the seat of Wyandotte County. It is nicknamed the Heart of America, due to its being within 250 miles of the geographic center of the United States. The population of Kansas City is approximately 142,000.

Because it lies on the border of Missouri and Kansas, where the Kansas and Missouri rivers come together, the land was an ideal location to build settlements in the late 19th century, and it is still a great area to do business today.

Kansas City blossomed from its original roots as a brief stop for settlers on their way out west to a place that today is known for country music and great barbecue. Residents enjoy a variety of recreational and cultural activities, from music festivals to car racing.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Kansas City has 71 designated neighborhoods, including some that were once independent cities and later consolidated with Kansas City.

• Downtown Kansas City appeals to those who love having amenities such as shopping and restaurants within walking distance, in an urban setting designed for the upwardly mobile. High-rise apartment complexes and area establishments with an artsy, funky flair add to the pleasures of city living.
• For those who enjoy the convenience and bustle of a big city but prefer a quieter lifestyle and beautiful parks, the surrounding suburbs are a good choice. Among the most expensive are Piper and Wolcott.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

• Kansas City's residents are a mixture of both white-collar and blue-collar workers, with manufacturing, health care, and retail being the top three industries.
• The largest employers are the University of Kansas Medical Center, General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant, and local government offices.

BEST BETS

• John Brown Statue: This was the first monument constructed to honor the martyred abolitionist. It was built in 1910 on the campus of Western University, the first all-black university west of the Mississippi River.
• Quindaro Ruins Underground Railroad: Quindaro was once a boomtown and later became a stop on the Underground Railroad. There are currently archeological digs going on at the ruins, and the artifacts are on display at the Wyandotte County Museum.
• Recently, Wyandotte County and Kansas City together created Village West, a retail and entertainment development located on 400 acres of land at the intersection of I-435 and I-70. Village West has become the state's most popular tourist attraction and has brought a great deal of economic growth to the area, with shopping, hotels, restaurants, and a water park resort.It's also the site of CommunityAmerica Ballpark, home of the T-Bones minor-league baseball team.

Other historical sites and museums in Kansas City include:

• Roc Collection, which features a historical record of African American history
• Strawberry Hill Mansion and Cultural Society
• Wyandotte County Historical Society and Museum
• Rosedale Memorial Arch, which pays tribute to the soldiers of World War I
• Grinter Place State Historic Site
• Memorial Hall
• White Church Christian Church, the oldest church in Kansas

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Anthology of Argentine Mural is the work of six artists who spent about 10 months creating a 220-foot-long, 30-foot-high mural that tells the story of the Argentine District of Kansas City, home to Kansas City's leading silver smelter.
• Sandstone Amphitheater was originally opened in 1984 as an open-air entertainment venue. It has 6,700 seats.

EVENTS

Kansas Street Blues Festival features live music, food, and fun for one weekend each June.

Mid-Western Nationals takes place every August in Kansas City at the Kansas Speedway and features more than 3,000 hotrods, custom and classic cars, street machines, muscle cars, and trucks. There are also street challenge autocross races.

Other festivals that take place each year in Kansas City include:

• Hickman Mills Three Trail Day (May)
• Great American BBQ (May)
• Downtown art festival (June)
• Kansas City Irish Fest (September)
• Music Blues and Jazz Festival (September)

EDUCATION

• In 1844 the Wyandotte Nation opened the first free school in Wyandotte, called The First School, or National School. The school was open to both Native American and white students.
• Donnelly College is a small, independent Catholic college established in 1949 by the Archdiocese of Kansas City. Donnelly offers associate's degree programs in a number of fields and offers distance learning, weekend classes, and credits for life experience.
• Kansas City Kansas Community College has a student body of about 5,400, with 13 buildings, a performing arts center, an intercultural center, and many clubs and organizations.

LOCAL MEDIA

Kansas City's media has launched the careers of notable national broadcasters Walter Cronkite, Rush Limbaugh, and Mancow Miller. Its major television networks are:

• WDAF-TV 4 (FOX)
• KCTV 5 (CBS)
• KMBC-TV 9 (ABC)
• KCPT 19 (PBS)
• KCWE 29 (The CW)
• KSHB-TV 41 (NBC)