Kansas City History, Missouri

Continuing To Grow

 Since the Civil War Kansas City is considered to be the largest city in the state of Missouri. It consists of the Platte, Class and Jackson counties and encompasses an area of 318 square miles.

 The city was founded as the “Town of Kansas” in 1838 at the meeting point of two rivers namely the Kansas and Missouri rivers. Kansas was the location of many battles during the time of Civil War and the present form of the city was incorporated in 1850. 

The city of Kansas was officially incorporated on 28 March 1853. Étienne de Veniard was the first documented European, who visited the Kansas City while Sieur de Bourgmont was the first to explore the Missouri river. In 1763, the Spanish took over the area after the Treaty of Paris although they were unable to play a major role in the area. The activities of the Spanish were limited to taxing and licensing the traffic present on River Missouri.

 It was the French, who continued their trading of fur under the license of the Spanish. John McCoy established the West Port in 1833 along the Santa Fe Trail, which was located three miles from the river. McCoy again established the Westport Landing in 1834 at the bend of the River Missouri.

The Westport Landing served as a landing point for the all important West Port. A group of investors named the Kansas Town Company soon settled in the area and started their business.

The city of Kansas was founded  on February 22, 1853 with its newly elected mayor. Initially the city had a population of 2,500 and an area of 0.70 square miles. The city of Kansas experienced a rapid growth after the Civil War. The construction of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Bridge over River Missouri helped in the growth of Kansas.

The bridge was initially designed by Octave Chanute and it resulted in the population explosion after 1869. The sudden rise in population prompted the name change of the city in 1889. The limits of the city also extended south and west.  

On December 2, 1897, Westport became a part of the city of Kansas. The city also became the 22nd largest city in 1900 with a population of 163,752. The Union Station was relocated in 1914 to the current location, while the Liberty Memorial was opened in 1923. These two structures became the two moat identifiable landmarks of Kansas. Although history of Kansas is very much elaborate, still this content can give you a basic knowledge about what you want to know of the city.

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