DEMOGRAPHICS / ECONOMY
Kansas City Advantages
As a natural hub for transportation, Kansas City is one of the 50 best cities in the world for global business and ranks among the top ten cities nationally as the best supporter of small business. Boasting one of the nation's most affordable housing markets and an outstanding quality of life, its centralized geographic location makes it ideal for corporate headquarters and distribution operations. Kansas City is the second largest rail hub in the nation with an efficient international airport served by regional and national carriers.
National accolades continue to stream in for Greater Kansas City. In Entrepreneur magazine’s 12th annual "Hottest Cities Report," Kansas City was named the number one place to start and grow a business in the Midwest. Kansas City was named a 5-star Business Opportunity Metro by Expansion Management magazine, and CNN Money magazine ranked Greater Kansas City among the Top 100 Best Places to Live. Overland Park and Olathe in Kansas and Lee's Summit in Missouri ranked in the top 50. Most recently, Kansas City, Missouri, joined the ranks of the top 10 All American Cities.
Largest Private Employers
AT&T
American Century Investments
Bank of America
Bayer Corp.
BG Service Solutions
Black & Veatch
Burns & McDonald Engineering
Children's Mercy Hospital
CitiCorp Credit Services
DST Systems Inc.
Farmland Industries Inc.
Ford Motor Co.
Fortis Benefits Insurance
Harrah's Casino Hotels
Hallmark Cards Inc.
Health Midwest
Honeywell International
Kansas City Power & Light
Saint Luke's/Shawnee Mission Health System
Sprint Corp.
State Street
Truman Medical Center
UMB Financial Corp.
DEMOGRAPHICS / AT A GLANCE
Kansas
Population
2,744,687
Total Area
82,282 square miles
Land Area
81,823 square miles
Water Area
459 square miles
Topography
Eastern hilly Osage plains; central region level prairie and hills; western high plains
Highest Point
Mount Sunflower at 4,039 feet
Lowest Point
Verdigris River at 680 feet
Agriculture
Cattle, wheat, sorghum, soybeans, hogs, corn
Industry
Transportation equipment, food processing, printing/publishing, chemical products, machinery, apparel, petroleum, mining
Border States
Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma
Capital City
Topeka
Largest Cities
Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Topeka, Olathe. Lawrence, Shawnee, Salina, Manhattan, Hutchinson
Area Codes
316, 620, 785, 913
Statehood
January 29, 1861
State Bird
Western Meadowlark
State Flower
Sunflower
State Song
Home on the Range
State Tree
Cottonwood
State Nickname
Sunflower State
State Motto
To the stars through difficulties
Missouri
Population
5,800,310
Total Area
69,709 square miles
Land Area
68,898 square miles
Water Area
811 square miles
Topography
Rolling hills, fertile plains and prairie north of Missouri River; hilly with narrow valleys south of the river; southeastern alluvial plain, western low elevations
Highest Point
Taum Sauk Mountain at 1,772 feet
Lowest Point
St. Francis River at 230 feet
Agriculture
Cattle, soybeans, hogs, dairy products, corn, poultry and eggs
Industry
Transportation equipment, food processing, chemical products, electric equipment, fabricated metal products
Border States
Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Capital City
Jefferson City
Largest Cities
Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Independence, Columbia, Saint Joseph, Lee's Summit, Saint Charles, Saint Peters, Florissant
Area Codes
314, 417, 573, 636, 660, 816
Statehood
August 10, 1821
State Bird
Bluebird
State Flower
Hawthorn
State Song
Missouri Waltz
State Tree
Flowering Dogwood
State Nickname
Show Me State
State Motto
The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law
DEMOGRAPHICS / QUICKLINKS
Overland Park Economic Development Council
ACCRA Cost of Living Index
Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City
Kansas Association of Counties
Kansas Department of Commerce & Housing
Kansas, Inc.
Missouri Department of Economic Development
Missouri Economic Development Council
Missouri Municipal League
Shawnee Economic Development Council
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
US Census Bureau