The largest of all the cities in Missouri, Kansas is a thriving cultural and economic center at the heart of the United States. It is composed of 15 counties: Platte, Clinton, Caldwell, Clay, Ray, Jackson, Lafayette, Cass, and Bates counties in Missouri and Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Franklin, Miami, and Linn counties in Kansas. It is located on the south bank of the Missouri River at the Missouri-Kansas state line. The city was originally a trading post. It developed only after the Civil War as a link in the intercontinental railroad network, which gave rise to profit-making grain, livestock, and meat-packing industries. During the twentieth century Kansas City earned a national reputation for its distinctive architecture, boulevard system, and innovations in urban redevelopment. It has been raked third “hottest city” in the United States for business expansion by the Expansion Management magazine in 2005.

The climate is modified continental, with frequent fluctuations in weather during early spring. Summer is characterized by warm days and mild nights while winers are cold with heavy snowfall towards the end of the season.

Area: 314 square miles (2000)

Elevation: 742 feet above sea level

Latitude: 39.08 N

Longitude: 94.56 W

Average Temperatures: January, 29° F; July, 78° F; annual average, 54.6° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 38.21 inches; 20 inches of snow

Population: 444,965 as on 2005

Local festivals:

• Festa Italiana - June 9-11, 2006
• Heart of America Shakespeare Festival - June 20-July 16, 2006
• Irish Fest - Sept. 1-3, 2006
• The Prairie Village Art Show in June
• Heart of America Quilt Festival  in October
• Missouri Town 1855 Festival of Arts, Crafts, and Music in October
• Kansas City Chocolate Festival on October

Attractions:

• Kansas City Zoo
• Worlds of Fun
• Casinos
• Kansas City Museum
• American Jazz Museum
• Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
• American Royal Museum
• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art