Kansas City

Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri, is a bi-state metropolis on the western edge of Missouri and the eastern edge of Kansas, at the junction of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. Kansas City is renowned for its beautiful parks, fountains (200, more than any city but Rome) , public art projects, for its boulevards and for some of the best barbacue of the world. Kansas city is also famous for its music, particularly jazz and swing, it holds various jazz and blues festivals and is home to a jazz museum.

Among its educational institutions are the University of Missouri–Kansas City, Park College, Avila College, Kansas City Art Institute, Rockhurst College, a college of osteopathy and surgery, a music conservatory, and theological schools.

Established as a trading post in 1821, when Francois Choteau came from St. Louis to take advantage of the growing fur trade with the Kansa, Osage, Wyandotte, and other tribes.

In the mid-1800s, settlers, missionaries, and traders began their overland journeys here or from nearby Independence and Westport, as the starting point for gold prospectors and settlers heading westward.

Kansas City played a major role in American history as a gateway for pioneers heading west along the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe trails. The coming of the Missouri-Pacific Railroad in 1865 and the spanning of the Missouri River by the Hannibal Bridge in 1869 also contributed to the city's growth. It also prospered as a center for the nation's cattle business.

The community became the town of Kansas and was incorporated as a city in 1850 and renamed Kansas City in 1889. Several Civil War battles were fought here, and the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S Truman, began his political career here.

Jazz musicians Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington played in the nightclubs of the 18th and Vine District, Walt Disney first sketched Mickey Mouse in a Kansas City garage, and Joyce Hall (cofounder of Hallmark Cards) made his first greeting card here.

Kansas City is situated in the middle of the country, far from an ocean or body water, this makes a climate with moderate precipitation and extremes of hot and cold. Summers in Kansas City can be hot and humid. Spring and Fall are pleasant. April through August are the wettest months. Winters vary from mild days to moderately cold with average daytime temperatures in the low 30s, and the low 20s at night. High temperatures average in the mid-80s, lows in the mid-60s.

Nelson Atkins Museum of Art: Known as one of the nation´s top general art museums, established in 1933, this museum features a world class Asian art exhibit, modern sculpture, and both American and European paintings.

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Design: Has a variety of contemporary art scene.

Westport: A renovated historical district, that includes Kelly´s Westport Inn, the city´s oldest building.

18th and Vine District: Historic District of Kansas City filled with museums, restaurants, and a performing arts center.

Kansas City Jazz Museum: This museum evokes the living spirit of jazz and its greatest performers.

Country Club Plaza: A 20-block area known for its Spanish and Moorish architecture. You will find specialty shops, restaurants, statues, fountains. It´s one of the first U.S shopping malls, finished in 1922.

Worlds of Fun: Amusement park that features rides, shows, and attractions.

Union Station: Contains a science museum and other attractions.

Arabia Steamboat Museum: Is a steamboat, that sank in the Missouri River in 1856. It has exhibitions dedicated to the frontier life.

Hallmark Visitor Center: Visit the headquarters of the company and see everything behind the world´s most popular greeting card.

City Market: It is a market, popular for the farmers market on Saturdays.

Kansas is a vibrant cultural city and provides numerous cultural attractions that you can visit. Here is a list of the different cultural opportunities Kansas City has to offer.

Kansas City Lyric Opera: Is one of the nation´s premier regional opera companies, with 89 different productions for its credit.

Kansas City Symphony: Today, the KCS is a major force in the cultural life of Kansas City and the region. With the mission to "advance and advocate the art of classical music for the enrichment of the community," the Kansas City Symphony has experienced impressive artistic growth under the leadership of its music directors.
The Kansas City Symphony serves a metropolitan population of 1.8 million people. During its forty-two week season, the Symphony performs a wide variety of subscription, educational, touring, and outreach concerts.

Missouri Repertory Theatre: Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the premier professional resident theatre company of the Kansas City metropolitan area, is now in its 42nd year.

State Ballet of Missouri: Founded in 1957, Kansas City Ballet is a 25 member professional ballet company.. It performs three mixed repertory seasons per year as well as the Nutcracker. The company also reaches over 20,000 Kansas City students and adults each year through its outreach programs.

Starlight Theatre in Swope Park: Was founded in 1950 it is located on 14 acres in Swope Park, is the city's home for summer entertainment.

Because of its size and regional placement Kansas City includes six Fortune 1000 corporations as well as numerous major companies and non corporate employers. Kansas City metropolitan area, was once known primarily for agriculture and manufacturing. Know it has expanded its economic base to include strong growth in areas of:

Telecommunications

Banking

Finance

Service industry

Frozen food storage

Hard winter-wheat marketing

Wheat flour production

Auto and truck assembly

Health care

A transportation hub since the 1800s, the area has a national and regional prominence as a distribution and manufacturing center. Kansas City ranks nationally as first in greeting-card publishing, Hallmark Cards, is located here.

Powell Gardens
It is situated east of Kansas on 915 acres of land. It a botanical garden that was formed in 1988. Inside you can find many fountains, wonderful gardens, and walk through the trails. Educational programs are available all year.

Penn Valley Park
This park emerged our of a rough neighborhood, to what is now known as Penn Valley Park. With an area of 176 acre, it includes several memorials, a lake, and the Liberty Memorial Museum. Here you can experience great views of Kansas City.

Swope Park
This park was donated to Kansas City in 1896 by Colonel Thomas Swope. Today this park is a recreational and entertainment area with numerous parks, athletic fields, group pavillions, and picnic areas. It is also home to the Kansas City Zoo, Blue River Golf courses, the Swope Memorial, the Starlight Theater and the Lakeside Nature Center.

2000 census population (rank): 441,545 (36); % change: 1.5; Male: 213,141 (48.3%); Female: 228,404 (51.7%); White: 267,931 (60.7%); Black: 137,879 (31.2%); American Indian and Alaska Native: 2,122 (0.5%); Asian: 8,182 (1.9%); Other race: 14,158 (3.2%); Two or more races: 10,780 (2.4%); Hispanic/Latino: 30,604 (6.9%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.6%; 65 and over: 11.7%; Median age: 34.0.

2004 population estimate (rank) : 444,387

Land area: 314 sq mi. (813 sq km);

Alt. : Highest, 1,014 ft.; lowest, 722 ft.

Avg. daily temp. : Jan., 25.7° F; July, 78.5° F

Tom Watson: golfer

Virgil Thompson: composer

Casey Stengel: baseball player

Ted Shawn: dancer and choreographer

Jean Harlow: actress

Jeanne Eagles: actress

Robert Russell Bennett: composer

Noah and Wallace Beery: actors

Burt Bacharach: composer

Edward Asner: actor

Robert Altman: director