Blue Springs is a city located in the U.S. state of Missouri within Jackson County. Blue Springs is located 19 miles (31 km) east of downtown Kansas City and is the 9th largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,604 making Blue Springs the 10th largest city in the state of Missouri. Per the United States Census of estimates from July 2021 the population of Blue Springs is 59,430.
Blue Springs, Missouri | |
---|---|
City | |
Motto: City of Cooperation | |
![]() Location of Blue Springs, Missouri | |
Coordinates: 39°1′4″N 94°16′28″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Missouri |
County | Jackson |
Incorporated | 1880 |
Founded | 1845 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Carson Ross (R) |
• City Clerk | Sheryl Morgan |
• City Administrator | Mike Ekey |
• City Attorney | Jacqueline Sommer |
Area | |
• Total | 22.54 sq mi (58.37 km2) |
• Land | 22.46 sq mi (58.17 km2) |
• Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) |
Elevation | 974 ft (297 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 58,603 |
• Density | 2,609.33/sq mi (1,007.45/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
ZIP codes | 64013-64015, 64029, 64064 |
Area code | 816 |
FIPS code | 29-06652[2] |
GNIS feature ID | 0714434[3] |
Interstates | ![]() |
Website | www.bluespringsgov.com |
![]() | This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2018) |
Blue Springs’ history is tied to the migration of settlers on their westward journey. Pioneers found the area to be an ideal stopover due to the abundance of cool, clean water from a spring of the Little Blue River—hence the name Blue Springs. The presence of water and a need for pioneer supplies led to the construction of a grist mill and permanent settlement at the current site of the City's Burrus Old Mill Park on Woods Chapel Road.
An early settler, Franklin Smith, arrived in Blue Springs from Virginia in 1838 and became a leading figure in the community's development. He established the first post office in 1845,[4] naming it after the well-known springs.
The settlement continued to grow near the springs until March 1878, when the Chicago and Alton Railroad announced plans to build a station about one mile east of the original settlement. To take advantage of the commerce the railroad would bring, the town moved its center to the site of the new station and continued its development as a rural trading center.[5] The Jackson County Court granted the incorpation of Blue Springs on September 7, 1880, making the City the fourth settlement in the county to be incorporated. The Chicago & Alton Hotel built in 1878, located on Main Street west of the railroad tracks is the oldest business in the City of Blue Springs.
Historical attractions near or in Blue Springs include: Missouri Town 1855, Fort Osage National Historic Landmark, Dillingham-Lewis House Museum, Chicago & Alton Hotel Museum, and the Lone Jack Civil War Museum.
City Hall History
Until 1965, the Blue Springs City Hall was located in a very small block building under the old water tower on the northwest corner of 11th and Walnut Streets. City Hall and the water tower were torn down not long after vacating the buildings. From 1965 to 1968, the City Hall was a metal building located in the 200 block of NW 11th Street, across the street from the former Blue Springs Post Office. In 1968 the current City Hall was built at 903 W. Main Street as the Blue Springs Municipal Building. The Blue Springs Municipal Building held the Blue Springs Police Department in the lower level and city hall functions on the main level until 1988, when the Police Department moved to a new police station at 1100 SW Smith Street. The Municipal Building was remodeled in 1989 and was renamed the Blue Springs City Hall.
The June 1911 issue of Technical World magazine published an article claiming that Blue Springs "boasts of possessing the world's champion marble players," and published a picture of a competition.[citation needed] It named Dan Stanley, George Webb, George Binger and Lynn Pryor as the best.
In 2010, CNN/Money Magazine ranked Blue Springs 49th on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States.[6]
On May 24, 2012, Chris Oberholtz and Dave Jordan of KCTV5 reported that several residents had seen strange lights in the evening sky above Blue Springs.[7]
Blue Springs is located at 39°1′4″N 94°16′28″W (39.017778, -94.274444).[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.35 square miles (57.89 km2), of which 22.27 square miles (57.68 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) is water.[10]
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1880 | 129 | — | |
1890 | 506 | 292.2% | |
1900 | 468 | −7.5% | |
1910 | 561 | 19.9% | |
1920 | 551 | −1.8% | |
1930 | 706 | 28.1% | |
1940 | 788 | 11.6% | |
1950 | 1,068 | 35.5% | |
1960 | 2,555 | 139.2% | |
1970 | 6,779 | 165.3% | |
1980 | 25,936 | 282.6% | |
1990 | 40,153 | 54.8% | |
2000 | 48,080 | 19.7% | |
2010 | 52,575 | 9.3% | |
2020 | 58,603 | 11.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 2021 Estimate[12] |
As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 52,575 people, 19,522 households, and 14,468 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,360.8 inhabitants per square mile (911.5/km2). There were 20,643 housing units at an average density of 926.9 per square mile (357.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 6.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.0% of the population.
There were 19,522 households, of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.09.
The median age in the city was 34.7 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.
As of the census of 2000[update],[2] there were 48,080 people, 17,286 households, and 13,362 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,642.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,020.4/km2). There were 17,733 housing units at an average density of 974.7 per square mile (376.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.18% White, 2.93% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.76% of the population.
There were 17,286 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.16. In the city the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $55,402, and the median income for a family was $61,008. Males had a median income of $41,373 versus $29,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,444. About 3.9% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
According to the town's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[14] the top employers in the city are:
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Blue Springs School District | 1,998 |
2 | St. Mary's Hospital of Blue Springs | 545 |
3 | Fike Corporation | 460 |
4 | Hy-Vee | 460 |
5 | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 355 |
6 | Price Chopper | 335 |
7 | City of Blue Springs | 289 |
8 | Home Depot | 147 |
9 | Target | 135 |
10 | Texas Roadhouse | 130 |
The City of Blue Springs has a Mayor-Council-Administrator form of government as set forth in the Home Rule City Charter. The City Council is the governing body of the City, elected by the public. The City of Blue Springs employs a workforce of more than 285 employees who serve the City and its residents under the leadership and direction of the City Administrator. The City Administrator is appointed by the City Council and is responsible for the implementation of policies and decisions made by the Mayor and City Council. The elected governing body for the City of Blue Springs is composed of a Mayor and six Councilpersons. The current elected officials (as of March 7, 2012[update]) are: Mayor Carson Ross, District 1 Councilman Dale Carter, District 1 Councilman Jerry Kaylor, District 2 Councilman Chris Lievsay, District 2 Councilman Kent Edmondson, District 3 Councilman Susan Culpepper, District 3 Councilman Ron Fowler.
Blue Springs has a Municipal Police Department. The Blue Springs School District has a department of public safety. There are two Fire Districts providing public safety services to resident's Blue Springs.
Fleming Park is home to Blue Springs Lake and Lake Jacomo. The park is operated by Jackson County. Fleming Park offers many recreational features. Fleming Park's total land area is 7,809-acre (32 km2) of which 1,690-acre (7 km2) is water.
Blue Springs also has 22 city parks which offer a vast array of recreational activities. They are:
Blue Springs City owned or ran recreational facilities are:
Blue Springs is served by three public schools districts and three private schools. Public Schools are as follows:
The private schools are as follows:
Blue Springs experiences a colder variation of a four-season humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with mild days and cold nights during the winter, and hot days and muggy nights during the summer.
Climate data for Blue Springs, MO | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 73 (23) |
80 (27) |
87 (31) |
91 (33) |
91 (33) |
103 (39) |
108 (42) |
107 (42) |
105 (41) |
95 (35) |
82 (28) |
73 (23) |
108 (42) |
Average high °F (°C) | 41 (5) |
46 (8) |
53 (12) |
63 (17) |
74 (23) |
82 (28) |
87 (31) |
86 (30) |
78 (26) |
68 (20) |
51 (11) |
44 (7) |
64 (18) |
Average low °F (°C) | 23 (−5) |
26 (−3) |
37 (3) |
45 (7) |
53 (12) |
61 (16) |
66 (19) |
64 (18) |
55 (13) |
44 (7) |
35 (2) |
26 (−3) |
45 (7) |
Record low °F (°C) | −19 (−28) |
−15 (−26) |
−5 (−21) |
11 (−12) |
28 (−2) |
35 (2) |
48 (9) |
43 (6) |
29 (−2) |
7 (−14) |
−3 (−19) |
−25 (−32) |
−25 (−32) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.30 (33) |
1.51 (38) |
2.81 (71) |
3.78 (96) |
5.06 (129) |
5.47 (139) |
4.19 (106) |
3.82 (97) |
4.89 (124) |
3.54 (90) |
2.95 (75) |
1.86 (47) |
41.18 (1,046) |
Source: [17] |
Blue Springs is served by the following utilities:
Mid-Continent Public Library operates two library branches in Blue Springs[18]
Municipalities and communities of Jackson County, Missouri, United States | ||
---|---|---|
Cities | ![]() | |
Villages | ||
Townships |
| |
CDPs | ||
Other communities |
| |
Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
|
Kansas City metropolitan area's cities and counties | ||
---|---|---|
Central city | ||
Largest cities (over 100,000 in 2000) | ||
Medium-sized cities (10,000 to 100,000 in 2000) | ||
Smaller Cities (between 5,000 and 9,900 in 2010) | ||
Counties |
General | |
---|---|
National libraries |