Blue Springs, Missouri, United States

🇺🇸 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.

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 centre 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 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 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.

Economy: Top employers According to the town's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city include: 1 Blue Springs School District ; 2 Hy-Vee ; 3 St. Mary's Hospital of Blue Springs; 4 Faurecia Interiors Systems Inc; 5 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ; 6 Fike Corporation; 7 City of Blue Springs; 8 Price Chopper ; 9 Target ; 10 St. Mary's Villages .

Government The City of Blue Springs has a Mayor-Council-Administrator form of government as set forth in the Home Rule City Charter. The City Council is the governing body of the city, elected by the public. The City Administrator is appointed by the City Council and is responsible for the implementation of policies and decisions made by the mayor and city council. The elected governing body is composed of a mayor and six councilpersons.

The City of Blue Springs has a Municipal Police Department. There are two Fire Districts providing fire and ambulance services to resident's Blue Springs. • Blue Springs Law Enforcement duties are performed by the Blue Springs Police Department. B.S.P.D. was formed by the City of Blue Springs in 1966 and started with just three employees. Today (BSPD) has grown to 138 employees, 101 sworn law enforcement personnel and 38 civilian support personnel. (BSPD) is located at 1100 SW Smith Street. • Fire and ambulance service for most of Blue Springs is performed by Central Jackson County Fire Protection District(CJCFPD). CJC was formed in 1961 and is an Accredited Fire Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. It is 1 of only 4 agencies in the state of Missouri to be accredited. CJCFPD has 5 fire stations that serve the community. CJCFPD Headquarters is located at 805 NE Jefferson St. • Fire and ambulance service for the very southern portion of Blue Springs, roughly south of Liggett Road, is served by Southern Jackson County Fire Protection District (SJCFPD) which has history from 1954. SJCFPD has 3 fire station to serve the community's of Blue Springs and Lake Lotawana. • The Blue Springs School District Department of Public Safety (BSSD DPS) has 14 commissioned officers and an administrative assistant which serves as the departments dispatcher, records keeper, and public face of the department to the customers. The commissioned officers service the schools as School Resource Officers (SRO), providing public safety classes to students and staff members, and conduct residency/truancy investigations. BSSD DPS is located at the Paul Consiglio Education Center at 1501 NW Jefferson Street in Blue Springs.

Mid-Continent Public Library operates two library branches in Blue Springs.

Transport • The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, KCATA provides public bus services to Blue Springs. • Interstate 70 - Major east–west interstate highway, connecting Blue Springs to Kansas City, Columbia, and St. Louis • 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. • 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 • Chicago & Alton Hotel Museum • Chicago & Alton Depot Museum • Missouri Town 1855 • Fort Osage National Historic Landmark • Dillingham-Lewis House Museum • Lone Jack Civil War Museum.

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.