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Blue Springs, Missouri
Motto(s): 
City of Cooperation
Location of Blue Springs, Missouri
Location of Blue Springs, Missouri
Country United States
State Missouri
County Jackson
Incorporated 1880
Founded 1845
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(s) 816
FIPS code 29-06652
GNIS feature ID 0714434
Interstates I-70 (MO).svg
Website www.bluespringsgov.com

Blue Springs is a city in Jackson County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. Blue Springs is located 19 miles (31 km) east of Kansas City. It is the 8th largest city in the Kansas City metropolitan area and 10th largest city in the state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,604.

History

The city's history is tied to the migration of settlers seeking their fortunes out west during the age of manifest destiny. Pioneers found the area to be an ideal stopover due to the abundance of clean water from the local spring. The presence of water and a need for supplies led to the construction of a grist mill and a permanent settlement; now the site, on NW Woods Chapel Road, of Burrus Old Mill Park.

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, 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. The Chicago & Alton Hotel built in 1878 is the oldest business in the city.

The Jackson County Court granted the incorporation of Blue Springs on September 7, 1880, making it the fourth settlement in the county to be incorporated.

Geography

Blue Springs is located at 39°1′4″N 94°16′28″W / 39.01778°N 94.27444°W / 39.01778; -94.27444 (39.017778, -94.274444). 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.

Demographics

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%
2021 (est.) 59,430 13.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 58,603 people, 20,344 households, and 15,319 families in Blue Springs. The population density was 2,609.2 per square mile (1,007.4/km2). There were 21,195 housing units at an average density of 943.7 per square mile (364.4/km2). The racial makeup was 78.48% (45,989) white, 7.79% (4,567) black or African-American, 0.54% (315) Native American, 1.5% (880) Asian, 0.2% (117) Pacific Islander, 2.02% (1,184) from other races, and 9.47% (5,551) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 6.5% (3,596) of the population.

Of the 20,344 households, 35.7% had children under the age of 18; 57.2% were married couples living together; 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 20.3% consisted of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.1.

26.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 88.2 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $72,846 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,765) and the median family income was $83,058 (+/- $4,396). Males had a median income of $50,007 (+/- $2,780) versus $34,538 (+/- $2,432) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $41,436 (+/- $1,423). Approximately, 4.2% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under the age of 18 and 6.3% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census 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.

Economy

Top employers

According to the town's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Blue Springs School District 2147
2 Hy-Vee 592
3 St. Mary's Hospital of Blue Springs 532
4 Faurecia Interiors Systems Inc 500
5 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 426
6 Fike Corporation 414
7 City of Blue Springs 312
8 Price Chopper 311
9 Target 300
10 St. Mary's Villages 206

Transportation

  • The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, KCATA provides public bus services to Blue Springs.
  • I-70.svg Interstate 70 - Major east–west interstate highway, connecting Blue Springs to Kansas City, Columbia, and St. Louis
  • US 40.svg US 40 -Connects Kansas City to Independence and then enters Blue Springs at Bolin Road to the west, then east of Adams Dairy Parkway enters Grain Valley.
  • MO-7.svg Route 7 - Links U.S. 24 Hwy with Blue Springs by first traveling through Independence entering Blue Springs at Pink Hill Road and is the main north/south Highway through Blue Springs, leaving Blue Springs at Colbern Road and entering Lake Lotawana then Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville.
  • Adams Dairy Parkway is an important trafficway that runs from the north to south through Blue Springs.

Parks and recreation

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.

  • Centennial Pool Plex (Demolished; 2022)
  • Vesper Hall
  • Blue Springs Field House
    • The Blue Springs Field House won the Kansas City Business Journal's, 2016 Capstone Award. It was featured in the Athletic Business Journal as one of the nation’s most State of the Art Facilities.

Points of interest

Media

  • The Examiner, Eastern Jackson County Daily Newspaper. Also known as the Blue Springs Examiner
  • The Kansas City Star
  • The Blue Springs Magazine

Education

Blue Springs is served by three public schools districts and three private schools.

  • Blue Springs R-IV School District
  • Lee's Summit R-VII School District
  • Grain Valley R-V School District
  • Timothy Lutheran Schools, K-8, North Campus
  • St. John Lalande Catholic School, K-8
  • Plaza Heights Christian Academy, PreK-12

Climate

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)
Mean daily maximum °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)
Mean daily minimum °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)

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Blue Springs (Misuri) para niños

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