| Independence, Missouri |
Article Index for Independence |
Website Links For Independence |
Information AboutIndependence, Missouri |
|
GEOGRAPHY Independence is located at 39°4'47" North, 94°24'24" West (39.079805, -94.406551). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 203.2 Km&2 (78.4 Mi&2 ). 202.9 km&2 (78.3 mi&2) of it is land and 0.3 km&2 (0.1 mi&2) of it is water. The total area is 0.17% water. DEMOGRAPHICS As of the Census of 2000, there were 113,288 people, 47,390 households, and 30,566 families residing in the city. The Population Density was 558.4/km&2 (1,446.3/mi&2). There were 50,213 housing units at an average density of 247.5/km&2 (641.1/mi&2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.87% White , 2.59% African American , 0.70% Asian , 0.64% Native American , 0.46% Pacific Islander , 1.43% from Other Races , and 2.31% from two or more races. 3.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 47,390 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were Married Couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93. In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $38,012, and the median income for a family was $45,876. Males had a median income of $34,138 versus $25,948 for females. The Per Capita Income for the city was $19,384. 8.6% of the population and 6.4% of families were below the Poverty Line . 11.8% of those under the age of 18 and 6.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. SCHOOLS Five school districts have areas within the city: Independence, Kansas City (Missouri), Fort Osage, Blue Springs, and Raytown. Four public high schools are located within the city limits: Van Horn (Kansas City District), Truman (Independence), William Chrisman (Independence) and Fort Osage (Fort Osage). The city also is home to Blue River Community College. HISTORY Independence was founded on March 29 , 1827 and quickly became an important Frontier town. Independence was the farthest point westward on the Missouri River where Steamboats or other cargo boats could travel due to the convergence of the Kansas River with the Missouri River approximately six miles west of Independence, near the current Kansas - Missouri border. In 1831 , members of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormons) began moving to the Jackson County, Missouri, area. Shortly thereafter, Joseph Smith, Jr. , the Mormon prophet, declared a Spot Just West Of Courthouse Square to be the place for a prophesied temple of the New Jerusalem in expectation of the Second Coming Of Christ . Tension grew with local Missourians until finally the Mormons were expelled from the area. After splintering, many of the LDS churches gradually returned to the city, often making Independence their headquarters, including the Community Of Christ and the Church Of Christ (Temple Lot) . In the mid-1800s an act of Congress defined Independence as the start of the Oregon Trail . President Harry S Truman grew up in Independence and in 1922 was elected judge of the County Court of Jackson County, Missouri — an administrative, not judicial, position. Although he was defeated for reelection in 1924 , he won back the office in 1926 and was reelected in 1930 . Truman performed his duties in this office diligently, and won personal acclaim for several popular public works projects, including an extensive series of fine roads for the growing use of the automobiles, building of a new County Court building in Independence, and a series of 12 Madonna Of The Trail monuments to pioneer women dedicated across the country in 1928 and 1929 . He later returned to the city after two terms as President. His wife, First Lady Bess Truman , was born and raised in Independence. FESTIVALS Santa-Cali-gon Days is an annual festival held in Independence since , the California Trail and the Oregon Trail . SISTER CITY Independence is a Sister City of Higashimurayama , Japan EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|