Raytown, Missouri

Raytown is a city in Jackson County, Missouri, United States, and is a suburb of Kansas City. The population was at 29,526 in 2010 census. The mayor of Raytown is Michael McDonough and the mayor pro tem is Ryan Myers. It is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

"Raytown" redirects here. For the community in Georgia, see Raytown, Georgia. For the main location of the TV sitcom Mama's Family, see Raytown (Mama's Family).
Raytown, Missouri
City
City of Raytown
Aerial view of Raytown
Location of Raytown in Jackson County and Missouri
Coordinates: 38°59′42″N 94°27′56″W
CountryUnited States
StateMissouri
CountyJackson
Area
 • Total9.97 sq mi (25.83 km2)
 • Land9.93 sq mi (25.72 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)
Elevation
1,014 ft (309 m)
Population
 • Total29,526
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
28,991
 • Density2,919.54/sq mi (1,127.29/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
64129, 64133, 64138
Area code(s)816
FIPS code29-60788[4]
GNIS feature ID0735817[5]
WebsiteThe City of Raytown web site

History

The area where Raytown now lies was developed throughout the 19th century and early 20th century as pioneers moved westward along the Three Trails in search of available fertile lands and water. It was added to the state of Missouri at a cost of $800 by a treaty signed in 1826. Jackson County, named after President Andrew Jackson, was formed in 1827. A large area of the county, Township 49, was accidentally not offered for sale when the other townships were, and so was called "The Lost Township". People moved into the township and squatted until the township was surveyed and the land sold in 1843.

The pioneers and travelers moving westward down the Three Trails discovered an area of high, wooded ridges, in the Raytown area, that reminded them of their former homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The land was named Blue Ridge, with the bordering bodies of waters called the Big Blue and the Little Blue rivers.

The Rice-Tremonti Home, which still stands in Raytown today, was built on the Santa Fe Trail in 1844 by Archibald Rice and his family.[6]

In 1860, residents of Jackson County petitioned the county for a better road to connect southern Jackson County with Independence in northern Jackson County. The result was Raytown Road, which led north from High Grove Road, crossed the Little Blue River at the "rockford" (now inundated by Longview Lake) and joined the Santa Fe Trail at William Ray's blacksmith shop. Many portions of the original Raytown Road still are used today.

William Ray established a blacksmith shop on the Santa Fe Trail in Jackson County in about 1848. The settlement around the blacksmith shop was known first as "Ray's Town" and later as "Raytown" in 1854.[7][8] (Now Fox's Drugs)

There is now a historical marker in Raytown at the corner of 63rd Street and Raytown Road showing the location of William Ray's shop.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.97 square miles (25.82 km2), of which 9.93 square miles (25.72 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
196017,083—
197033,63296.9%
198031,831−5.4%
199030,601−3.9%
200030,388−0.7%
201029,526−2.8%
2019 (est.)28,991[3]−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census
Raytown street map with annex dates

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 29,526 people, 12,104 households, and 7,701 families living in the city. The population density was 2,973.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,148.0/km2). There were 13,276 housing units at an average density of 1,337.0 per square mile (516.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 67.7% White, 25.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.1% of the population.

There were 12,104 households, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.4% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 30,388 people, 12,855 households, and 8,304 families living in the city. The population density was 3,065.9 people per square mile (1,183.9/km2). There were 13,309 housing units at an average density of 1,342.8 per square mile (518.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.2% White, 11.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 12,855 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,949, and the median income for a family was $50,952. Males had a median income of $33,828 versus $26,745 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,634. About 3.1% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Top employers

According to the town's 2014 Chamber of Commerce report,[10] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Raytown Quality Schools 1,300
2 Wal-Mart 400
3 Hy-Vee Food & Drug Store 350
4 USA 800 309
5 KCP&L 300
6 Stratford Development Corporation 235
7 KC Chiefs Football Club 192
8 Southeast Enterprises, Inc. 190
9 City of Raytown 153
10 Kansas City Zoo 151
11 H & H Color Lab 150
12 Cosentino's Food Stores 150
13 Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. 150
14 Two Rivers Behavioral Health System 149
15 Shamrock Cabinet & Fixtures Corp 100

Education

The Raytown C-2 School District operates public schools, including Raytown High School and Raytown South High School.[11]

Raytown has a public library, a branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library.[12]

In the 1980s television series Mama's Family, the show took place in the fictional location of Raytown, although the U.S. state where Raytown is located is never mentioned. Some theorized that it was located in the South or Midwest.[13]

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. Rice-Tremonti Home
  7. History of Raytown
  8. Raytown Chamber of Commerce – History
  9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  10. "Major Area Employers" (PDF). Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  11. "Raytown C-2 School District". Great Schools. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  12. "Locations". Mid-Continent Public Library. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  13. Wenzel, John (2013). "Why So Serious, Vicki Lawrence? The Denver Post Newspaper, Oct 2, 2013". Denver, CO: Digital First Media, MediaNews Group, Journal Register Company.
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