Ruskin Heights, Kansas City facts for kids

Ruskin Heights is a neighborhood located in the southeast part of Kansas City, Missouri. It is part of Jackson County. This area was developed in the early 1950s. It was built as a new suburb on what used to be farmland, after World War II.

In 2020, Ruskin Heights had a population of 23,874 people. This makes it one of the most populated neighborhoods in Kansas City. The neighborhood covers about 0.794 square miles (2.06 km²) of land. It is mostly flat, but some parts are a bit higher up. The ZIP Code for Ruskin Heights is 64134.

Exploring Ruskin Heights' Past

The 1957 Tornado

In May 1957, a very powerful tornado hit Ruskin Heights. This tornado caused a lot of damage to businesses and homes. It was rated an F5 on the Fujita scale, which is the highest rating for a tornado. This means it had incredibly strong winds. The tornado was the biggest one during the May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak sequence. It is often called the "Ruskin Heights tornado." After the tornado, the community worked hard to rebuild the area.

Growing and Changing

During the 1970s, Kansas City's African-American population grew. Because of this, Ruskin Heights became more diverse. The first African-American families moved into the neighborhood during this time.

Today, Ruskin Heights is an active community. It has many businesses, churches, and schools. These places serve a diverse group of people. Many homes are well-kept, thanks to caring residents and a local homes association.

How Ruskin Heights Works Today

The Economy in the 1990s

In the 1990s, the economy of Ruskin Heights faced some challenges. This was partly due to changes in the population. Around this time, a shopping center called Bannister Mall also started to have difficulties.

Later, the financial crisis of 2007–2008 also affected Ruskin Heights. This event caused more economic challenges for the area.

Who Lives in Ruskin Heights?

Different Backgrounds

The 2020 U.S. Census collected information about the people living in Ruskin Heights. Here is a look at the different racial groups:

• Black or African American: 63.5%
• White or Non-Hispanic White: 24.1%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 8.0%
• Other race: 2.4%
• Mixed (two or more races): 2.1%
• Asian: 0.0%

Male and Female Residents (2020)

In 2020, the population of Ruskin Heights was made up of:

• Male residents: 48.02%
• Female residents: 51.98%

Data for other gender identities was not available for 2020.

Jobs in Ruskin Heights

People in Ruskin Heights work in many different types of jobs:

• White-collar workers (jobs often done in an office): 70.8%
• Blue-collar workers (jobs often involving manual labor): 29.2%
• Self-employed (working for themselves): 6.18%
• Working for private companies: 70.95%
• Governmental workers (working for the government): 15%
• Working for non-profit companies: 7.88%