Kansas City

關於Kansas City

Kansas City, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by both population and area. It is located on the Missouri River at its confluence with the Kansas River, within Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass counties. It is the 37th-most populous city in the United States and sixth-most populous city in the Midwest, with a population of 508,090 at the 2020 census. The Kansas City metropolitan area, which straddles the Missouri–Kansas state line, is the 31st-most populous metropolitan area in the nation, at 2.25 million residents.

Kansas City was founded in the 1830s as a port on the Missouri and Kansas rivers. On June 1, 1850, the town of Kansas was incorporated; soon afterwards, a region designated as the Kansas Territory was established. Confusion between the city and the territory of Kansas ensued, so the name Kansas City was assigned to distinguish the city from the territory. The city's growth was closely tied to westward expansion, as railroads and the Kansas City Stockyards established it as a major transportation and livestock center.

Situated along Missouri's western border with Kansas, Kansas City encompasses 319.03 square miles (826.3 km2), making it the 25th-largest U.S. city by area. It is one of the two county seats of Jackson County, alongside Independence. The city is known for landmarks and districts including the River Market, 18th and Vine, and Country Club Plaza. It is internationally recognized for Kansas City jazz, its extensive system of fountains, the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals sports franchises, and regional cuisine including Kansas City–style barbecue and strip steak.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA. Photography via Wikimedia Commons.