Facts

Background Wyco Courthouse

Construction of the Wyandotte County Courthouse in 1925.

City Facts

  • Nicknames: Heart of America, KCK, The Dot

  • Kansas City is the 3rd largest city in the state of Kansas and the Kansas City, Metropolitan Area. Kansas City, MO is the largest city.

  • In 1997, voters unanimously approved to consolidate the city and county governments. Thus, the name Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS.

  • Form of government is Mayor/CEO.

  • The city is part of the “Unified Government”, which also includes the cities of Bonner Springs and Edwardsville.

  • Formed in 1868, the City of Kansas City, Kansas has a population of 145,786 according to the 2010 Census Bureau.

  • The July 1, 2013, population estimate for Wyandotte County is 160,384.

  • The city covers a total area of 127.8 square miles with 3.5 square miles consisting of water. Total county land area 151 square miles.

  • The metro area is the home to nearly 2 million residents covering 2 states, 9 counties, 120 cities, and 4,423 square miles.

  • Kansas City is 740 ft above sea level.

  • Kansas City’s latitude is 39 degrees 24 minutes north and its longitude is 94 degrees 40 minutes west.

  • Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas is situated at the Kaw Point, which is the junction of the Missouri and Kansas rivers.

  • Kansas City is close to two airport systems. The Kansas City International Airport and the Downtown Airport.

  • Kansas City is home to the General Motors Fairfax plant, which manufactures the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura.

  • Kansas City is very diverse and multiracial community.

  • Kansas City’s neighboring counties are Johnson and Leavenworth counties in Kansas. Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties in Missouri.

  • Kansas City is the only city in the metro area that has three bus services running through its community.

  • Kansas City owes its existence to its location as a crossroads. It was at the confluence of the Missouri River and Kansas River and the launching point for travelers on the Sante Fe, Oregon, and California trails.

  • Kansas and Missouri were the first states to start building interstates with Interstate 70. An ever-increasing number of interstate loops has encouraged suburban sprawl.

  • Major highways are Interstate 35, Interstate 70, Interstate 435, Interstate 635, Interstate 670, US-24 and US –40, K-7 and K-32

Figures & Popular People

  • Adolph F. Rupp: The Baron of Basketball: retired in 1972 as the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history with 876 victories, Halstead, KS.
  • Amelia Earhart: Female Aviator, Atchison, KS.
  • Barry Sanders: Record-breaking NFL football player with Detroit Lions and 1988 Heisman Trophy winner, Wichita, KS.
  • Charlie Parker: Renowned and most famous jazz player in history, Kansas City, KS.
  • Clyde Vernon Cessna: Clyde Vernon Cessna founded the Cessna Aircraft Company, Wichita, KS.
  • David Blanton: Invented the autopilot in 1954, Wichita, KS.
  • Dee Wallace-Stone: American Motion Picture and Television Actress.
  • Dr. James Naismith: Inventor, professor & physician at Kansas University that invented the game of basketball and its 13 original rules; known as the "Father of Basketball." University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower: Served as the 34th President of the United States (1953-1961) and Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II, Abilene, KS.
  • Earl Watson: NBA Player, Kansas City, KS.
  • Ed Dwight: First Black Astronaut trainee, Air Force Officer and Pilot, Sculptor.
  • Edward Asner: Actor, Graduate of Wyandotte High School, Kansas City, KS.
  • Eva Jessye: Female dean of black music and the first internationally recognized black female choral group director, Coffeyville, KS.
  • Gale Sayers: NFL player for the Chicago Bears; youngest inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the age of 34, Wichita, KS.
  • Gordon Parks: Writer/photographer Gordon Parks, author of The Learning Tree, and became the first black director, screenwriter and composer of a major motion picture, Fort Scott, KS.
  • Gwendolyn Brooks: First African American to win a Pulitzer Prize, Fort Scott, KS.
  • Hattie McDaniel: Actress, Wichita, KS.
  • Hugh Beaumont: An actor and television director. Beaumont is best known for his portrayal of Ward Cleaver, the husband of June Cleaver and the father of Wally and Beaver on the television series, Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963), Lawrence, KS.
  • Joe Engle: Commanded the second flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia, Chapman, KS.
  • Kevin Young: MLB Player for Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City, KS.
  • Larry Drew: NBA Player for Kansas City Kings, Detroit Pistons, NBA Assistant Coach, Kansas City, KS.
  • Lynette Woodard: First Female Harlem Globetrotter, four-time All-America basketball player at K.U. and two-time U.S. Olympian. By unanimous vote in 1996, she was named the greatest female player in Big Eight Conference history, Wichita, KS.
  • Maurice Greene: Track & Field, Olympic Gold Medalist, Kansas City, KS.
  • Ralph Houk: Baseball manager that won three consecutive American league pennants and the 1961-62 World Series championship with the New York Yankees, Lawrence, KS.
  • Ronald Evans: Astronaut that commanded Apollo 17, St. Francis, KS.
  • Russell Stover: Confectioner and business owner, Mount Ayr Township, KS.
  • Tom Watson: One of the greatest & most successful professional golfers of all time, Mission Hills, KS.
  • Vivian Vance: Stage and film actress, commonly known for role as Ethel Mertz in the sitcom "I Love Lucy" also Vivian Bagley in the "Lucy Show," Cherryvale, KS.
  • Wyatt Earp: Officer of the Law, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
  • Trai Byers: Actor.
  • Janelle Monae: R&B singer, songwriter.