C h a n g e  o f  A d d r e s s USPS Online Address Change     C o u n t y Clay County Jackson County Platte County     A r e a   C o d e 816 913 (in outlying areas)   G e o g r a p h y Kansas City is located on the west-central Missouri border at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers. The city occupies an area of approximately 350 square miles in Jackson, Clay and Platte counties. The terrain is rolling to hilly, with an average elevation of 800 feet above sea level. There are many lakes within easy driving distance of the city. The Kansas City Metropolitan Area includes Kansas City and Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri, and Kansas City and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. A two-mile long viaduct connects Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. There are more than 100 incorporated communities in the seven-county area. This fact sheet, however, covers only Kansas City, Missouri, and the portions of Jackson, Clay and Platte counties included within the city limits.   C l i m a t e Modified continental. Average temperatures range from 24°F to 89°F. Average annual precipitation totals 39 inches of rainfall and 18 inches of snowfall. Prevailing winds average 10.1 miles per hour. P o p u l a t i o n City: 435,145 County: 844,510 G o v e r n m e n t Board of Supervisors City - Council/Manager County Seats Clay County - Liberty Jackson County - Independence Platte County - Platte City Information about city and county government policies and procedures can be obtained from: Kansas City - City Hall - 414 East 12th Street, Kansas City 64106, 274-2000 The three county courthouses are: Clay County Offices - Courthouse Square, Liberty 64068, 792-7733 Jackson County Courthouse - 415 East 12th Street, Kansas City 64106, 881-3000 Platte County Courthouse - Platte City 64079, 858-2232 VOTING Clay County Election Board - 100 West Mississippi, Liberty 64068, 415-8683 Election Board of Jackson County - 1828 Walnut, Kansas City 64108, 842-4820 Platte County Voter Registration Office - 858-2232   T a x e s Property tax rates may fluctuate yearly and vary according to location of residence. For information contact the Kansas City Real Estate Property Tax Department (274-1471) or the appropriate county assessor's office: Clay County (792-7664), Jackson County (881-3530) and Platte County (858-2232).   L i c e n s e s State auto and driver licenses may be obtained from: Missouri Department of Revenue Kansas City - 615 East 13th Street 64106, 889-2461 Raytown - 6138 Raytown Trafficway 64133, 358-7700 Independence - 16643 East 23rd Street 64055, 325-5830 Local Auto Tags Every resident of Kansas City who owns a motor vehicle must display a current city sticker. For information, contact the City Revenue Division; phone 274-2091 for information. Pets Kansas City ordinances require that dogs and cats be licensed and have rabies shots. Licenses may be obtained from the Dog and Cat Licenses Division of the Finance Department in the City Hall; phone 274-2091 for information. E c o n o m y   &   E m p l o y m e n t The local economy is primarily based on manufacturing, agriculture, dairying, transportation, printing and publishing, and government and educational employment. For current information about employment opportunities in the area, contact Missouri Division of Employment Security 1411 Main Street, Kansas City 64105, 889-3000 15301 East 23rd Street, Independence 64055, 325-5890 310 N.W. Englewood Road, Gladstone 64113, 453-4900 6801 East Longview Road, Grandview 64134, 325-1000   H o u s i n g Because the availability and cost of homes and apartments change constantly, it is advisable to check the classified columns of the local newspapers, particularly the Sunday editions, for current information. Or, contact the following for assistance and/or names of realtors: Greater Kansas City Board of Realtors - 6700 Corporate Drive, Independence 64120, 242-4200 Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce - 911 Main Street, Kansas City 64105, 221-2424 U t i l i t i e s Water - Kansas City Water Department - City Hall, 414 East 12th Street, Kansas City 64106, 274-1400 Gas - Missouri Gas Energy, 756-5252 Electric - Kansas City Power & Light Co., 471-5275 Phone - Southwestern Bell Telephone, 800-464-7928 Cable - Jones Intercable, 795-1100 or Time Warner Cable, 358-8833 Refuse - Kansas City Public Works Department, Refuse Collection Division, 274-1811   E d u c a t i o n Elementary and secondary public school information may be obtained from: Kansas City Missouri Public School District - 1211 McGee Street, Kansas City 64106 418-7000 Colleges/Universities Public - University of Missouri-Kansas City, Central Missouri State University, and Maple Woods, Penn Valley and Pioneer Community Colleges. Private - Kansas City Art Institute, Cleveland Chiropractic College, Calvary Bible College and several other religious schools, Devry Institute of Technology and Avila, National, William Jewell, Park and Rockhurst colleges. There are also several colleges and universities located in the Kansas City, Kansas area. B a n k s The community has more than 21 banks, two savings and loan institutions, 25 credit unions and two trust companies. In order to transfer credit information, ask your present banker for assistance. New checking accounts may take ten working days to open. Grocery stores will not cash out-of-town checks. New residents may need traveler's checks, cash and/or credit cards.   P l a c e s   o f   W o r s h i p The community has five synagogues and more than 1,000 churches of various denominations. Information concerning them may be obtained from: Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph - 300 East 36th Street, Kansas City 64111, 756-1850 Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City - 5801 West 115th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211, (913) 327-8100 Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce - 911 Main Street, Kansas City 64105, 221-2424   N e w s p a p e r s The local daily newspaper is the Kansas City Star (mornings and Sundays). For home delivery service, contact: Kansas City Star - 1729 Grand Avenue, Kansas City 64108, 234-7827   L i b r a r y Kansas City Main Public Library - 311 East 12th Street, Kansas City 64106, 701-3400 Mid-Continent Public Library - Administrative Office, 15616 East Highway 24, Independence 64050, 836-5200 In addition to the Kansas City Main Library, there are ten branch libraries, and Linda Hall, a private library. The Mid-continent Public Library which serves Jackson, Platte and Clay counties has 29 branches.   M e d i c a l   C a r e Kansas City is an important Mid West medical center, with several medical, dental and nursing schools. There are also numerous public, private, general and specialized hospitals and many clinics, medical centers nursing homes and extended care facilities in the area. Among the hospitals are the Research Medical Center, Children's Mercy, North Kansas City, Saint Joseph, St. Luke's, St. Mary's and Trinity Lutheran. For assistance in selecting a family doctor or dentist, contact the referral services of: Clay-Platte County Medical Society - 3036 Gillham Road, Kansas City 64108, 531-8432 Greater Kansas City Dental Society - 5907 Raytown Trafficway, Kansas City 64133, 737-5353 For Medicare information, contact: Social Security Administration 800-772-1213 1624 East 63rd Street, Kansas City 64110 6910 North Holmes, Gladstone 64118 3675 South Nolan Road, Independence 64057   O r g a n i z a t i o n s A listing of local organizations can usually be obtained from the local chamber of commerce, the phone book or your local chapter can usually refer you to the local organization in your new city. C u l t u r e Cultural assets include the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, The Lyric Opera, State Ballet of Missouri, American Heartland Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Missouri Repertory Theatre and the Starlight Theatre. Among the city's attractions are the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City Museum of History and Science, Harry S. Truman Exhibitions and The Wornall House Museum. R e c r e a t i o n For information about municipal recreational programs and facilities, contact: YMCA of Greater Kansas City - 3100 Broadway Street, Kansas City 64111, 561-9622 Parks & Recreation Department - 5605 East 63rd, Kansas City 64130, 871-5600 YWCA Kansas City Missouri, Inc. - 1021 Pennsylvania, Kansas City 64106, 842-4505 Spectator sports include professional football (Chiefs) and baseball (Royals) and intercollegiate athletic events.   S h o p p i n g Major shopping areas, in addition to the downtown shopping district, include Antioch Shopping Center, Bannister Mall, The Blue Ridge Mall, Country Club Plaza, Independence Center, Indian Springs Shopping Center, Metcalf South Mall, Metro North Shopping Center, Town Pavilion and Ward Parkway. Major Retail Outlets - Abercrombie & Fitch, Dillard's, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Half Price Store, Halls, Jones Store Company, K-Mart, Marshalls, Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sam's, Sears, Service Merchandise, TG&Y, T.J. Maxx and Wal-Mart. Chain Grocers - Buy-Rite, Food 4 Less, Hen House Supermarkets, IGA, Hy-Vee Food & Drug, King Super Store, New Wave Food Mart, Piggly Wiggly, Price Chopper, Sun Fresh Markets and Thriftway.   T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Urban and suburban transportation services are furnished by The Metro operated by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. Phone 221-0660 for routes, fares and schedules. Taxicabs and rental cars are also available. Interstate passenger service is provided by Amtrak (421-3622 or 800-872-7245) and Greyhound Bus Lines (221-2835 or 800-231-2222). Kansas City International Airport services a number of commercial airlines. The area also has a number of smaller airports.   C h a m b e r  o f  C o m m e r c e Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce - 911 Main Street, Kansas City 64105, 221-2424, or visit their web site: www.kcchamber.com