**Historical Information**:
– Independence was founded on March 29, 1827.
– Lewis and Clark stopped near the city in 1804.
– Tension with the Latter Day Saint movement in 1833.
– Key frontier town with Civil War battles in 1862 and 1864.
– Hometown of President Harry S. Truman.
– Starting point for the California, Oregon, and Santa Fe Trails.
**Geography and Infrastructure**:
– Located on the south bank of the Missouri River.
– Total area of 78.25 square miles with 77.57 square miles of land.
– Average snowfall of 13.2 inches.
– Highways include Interstate 70, U.S. Route 24, and Route 291.
– Centerpoint Medical Center serves the community.
– Amtrak Station and KCATA provide transportation services.
– IPL is the local electric power plant with various power sources.
**Population and Demographics**:
– Total population of 123,011 in 2020.
– Population density of 1,577.75/sqmi.
– ZIP codes range from 64050 to 64057.
– Racial makeup: 72.61% white, 8.68% black, 9.3% Hispanic or Latino.
– Population growth over the years.
– Part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
**Government and Civic Services**:
– Mayor: Rory Rowland.
– City Manager: Zachary C. Walker.
– Independence is the county seat of Jackson County.
– Home-rule charter and FIPS code 29-35000.
– Independence City Council governs the city.
– Municipal Court and various school districts in the city.
**Culture, Attractions, and Education**:
– Truman Presidential Library, Temple Lot, and Madonna of the Trail monuments.
– Blue River Community College and Graceland University.
– National Frontier Trails Museum and other libraries.
– Santa-Cali-Gon Days and Independence Heritage Festival.
– Sports teams, museums, and sister city relationship with Higashimurayama, Japan.
Independence is the 5th most populous city in Missouri and the county seat of Jackson County. Independence is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the largest suburb on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metropolitan area. In 2020, it had a total population of 123,011.
Independence, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 Jackson County Courthouse in Independence | |
 Location of Independence in Missouri | |
| Coordinates: 39°04′42″N 94°25′10″W / 39.07833°N 94.41944°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Jackson |
| Founded | March 29, 1827 |
| Named for | The Declaration of Independence |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rory Rowland |
| • City Manager | Zachary C. Walker |
| Area | |
| • Total | 78.42 sq mi (203.10 km2) |
| • Land | 77.97 sq mi (201.93 km2) |
| • Water | 0.45 sq mi (1.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 863 ft (263 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 123,011 |
| • Density | 1,577.75/sq mi (609.17/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 64050–64057 |
| Area code | 816 |
| FIPS code | 29-35000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395422 |
| Website | City of Independence |
Independence is known as the "Queen City of the Trails" because it was a point of departure for the California, Oregon, and Santa Fe Trails. It is the hometown of U.S. President Harry S. Truman, with the Truman Presidential Library and Museum, and the gravesites of Truman and First Lady Bess Truman. The city is sacred to the Latter Day Saint movement, as the home of Joseph Smith's 1831 Temple Lot, and the headquarters of several Mormon denominations.