Lee's Summit, Missouri
Lee's Summit is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is a suburb in the Kansas City metropolitan area. It resides in Jackson county (predominantly) as well as Cass county.[8][9] As of the 2020 census, its population was 101,108, making it the 6th most populous city in both Missouri and the Kansas City metropolitan area.[7]
Lee's Summit, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Lee's Summit | |
 Flag | |
 Location of Lee's Summit in Jackson County and the state of Missouri | |
  Lee's Summit Location in Missouri  Lee's Summit Lee's Summit (the United States)  Lee's Summit Lee's Summit (North America) | |
| Coordinates: 38°55′02″N 94°22′54″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| Counties | Jackson, Cass |
| Incorporated | October 28, 1865[1] |
| Named for | Dr. Pleasant Lea[1] or Robert E. Lee |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | William A. Baird[2] |
| • City manager | Mark Dunning[3] |
| • City Council | Members[4]
|
| Area | |
| • Total | 65.91 sq mi (170.71 km2) |
| • Land | 63.90 sq mi (165.49 km2) |
| • Water | 2.02 sq mi (5.22 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,024 ft (312 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 101,108 |
| • Rank | 6th in Missouri
314th in the United States |
| • Density | 1,582.41/sq mi (610.97/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 64015, 64063, 64064, 64081, 64082, 64083, 64086 |
| Area code | 816 |
| FIPS codes | 29095, 29037 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395669[6] |
| Website | cityofls.net |
History
The "Town of Strother" (not to be confused with a town of the same name in Monroe County) was founded by William B. Howard in October 1865. He named it for his wife, Maria D. Strother, the daughter of William D. Strother formerly of Bardstown, Kentucky. Howard came to Jackson County in 1842 from Kentucky, married Maria in 1844, and by 1850 he and Maria had 833 acres (3.37 km2) and a homestead 5 miles (8 km) north of town. Howard was arrested for being a Confederate in October 1862, near the beginning of the Civil War, and after being paroled he took his family back to Kentucky for the duration of the war. After the war ended he returned and, knowing that the Missouri Pacific Railroad was surveying a route in the area, platted the town with 70 acres (280,000 m2) in the fall of 1865 as the town of Strother.[1][10][11]
In November 1868, the town's name was changed to the "Town of Lee's Summit", most likely to honor early settler Dr. Pleasant John Graves Lea,[12] who had moved to Jackson County in 1849 from Bradley County, Tennessee.[10] Lea was listed as the postmaster of nearby Big Cedar in the 1855 United States Official Postal Guide.[13][14] Dr. Lea was killed in August 1862 by Kansas Jayhawkers (or Redlegs).[15][16]
When the surveyors for the Missouri Pacific Railroad came through, the local people and the railroad wanted to name the town in Dr. Lea's honor. He had a farm on the highest point and near the path of the tracks, and his murder had taken place near the site of the proposed depot. So they chose the name of "Lea's Summit", the "summit" portion to reflect its highest elevation on the Missouri Pacific Railroad between St. Louis and Kansas City.[12] But they misspelled the name "Lees Summit" (with two "e's"; "Lee" instead of "Lea"; and leaving out the apostrophe) on a boxcar that was serving as a station and donated by the Missouri Pacific, then a sign next to the tracks, and finally in the printed time schedule for the railroad.[1][10] It may be that this misspelling stuck and the name has remained "Lee's Summit" ever since.
Another theory is that the town was named after famed Civil War General Robert E. Lee after Southerners began moving north into Missouri after the war due to the timing of General Lee's death compared to Dr. Lea's death.[12] This is attributed to a quote in the Louisville Journal, January 3, 1866.[17]
Since the name was already being circulated and published with two "e's", the town petitioned the state legislature and incorporated its name in 1868 as: "Town of Lee's Summit".[12]
The spelling is unusual because apostrophes are typically not included in place names due to potential confusion regarding whether the place is owned by the namesake person. Most possessive place names lack an apostrophe, such as Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
The growth of the town can be studied through historic Sanborn maps, which document building types and uses in the city during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.[18]
In 1913, R. A. Long, the owner of a lumber company, began building his estate, named Longview Farm, on the western edge of the city and into part of Kansas City.[1] When complete, it had a mansion, five barns and 42 buildings in the 1,700 acres (6.9 km2). Harrison Metheny, grandfather of jazz legend Pat Metheny, was an electrician during the construction of Longview Farm. The farm also had a church, Longview Chapel Christian Church, which was completed in 1915. It soon became internationally known as a showplace farm. Today, one of the horse barns is home to Longview Farm Elementary. The church and mansion are on the National Register of Historic Places. Other parts of the farm have been turned into Longview Lake, Longview Community College, and a development called New Longview.[1][12] Lee's Summit is also home to Missouri Town 1855 and Lee's Summit Historical Cemetery.
Geography
Lee's Summit lies near Missouri's western border with Kansas and is further north than south relative to the rest of the state. The city borders Kansas City to the west and northwest, Independence, Missouri to the north, and a number of smaller, more rural cities to the south and east.[9] It is part of the Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 65.911 square miles (170.71 km2), of which 63.895 square miles (165.49 km2) is land and 2.016 square miles (5.22 km2) is water.[5]
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 693 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,369 | 97.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,453 | 6.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,455 | 0.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,467 | 0.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,035 | 38.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,263 | 11.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,554 | 12.9% | |
| 1960 | 8,267 | 223.7% | |
| 1970 | 16,230 | 96.3% | |
| 1980 | 28,741 | 77.1% | |
| 1990 | 46,418 | 61.5% | |
| 2000 | 70,700 | 52.3% | |
| 2010 | 91,364 | 29.2% | |
| 2020 | 101,108 | 10.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[19] | |||
As of the 2020 census,[7] there were 101,108 people and 38,193 households in the city. The average number of persons per household was 2.62. The population density was 1,582.4 inhabitants per square mile (611.0/km2).
The estimated age distribution of the city was 6.0% under 5-years-old, 26.4% under 18-years-old, 58.5% between 18 and 65-years-old, and 15.1% over 65-years-old. The estimated sex distribution of the city was 51.7% female and 48.3% male. The estimated racial distribution of the city was 82.4% white, 8.6% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.8% of the population. Persons with a disability, under 65-years-old made up 5.9% of the city.
The per capita income was $44,947. The median household income of the city was $98,960. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $248,800. Persons in poverty made up an estimated 4.2% of the city.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census[20] of 2010, there were 91,364 people, 34,429 households, and 25,126 families living in the city. The population density was 1,442.2 inhabitants per square mile (556.8/km2). There were 36,679 housing units at an average density of 579.0 per square mile (223.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.1% White, 8.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9% of the population.
There were 34,429 households, of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.0% were non-families. Of all households, 22.8% were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.11.
The median age in the city was 37.2 years. 28% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 11.5% were 65 years of age or older. The sex makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 70,700 people, 26,417 households, and 19,495 families living in the city. The population density was 1,188.0 inhabitants per square mile (458.7/km2). There were 27,311 housing units at an average density of 458.9 per square mile (177.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.17% White, 3.47% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.97% of the population.
There were 26,417 households, out of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. Of all households, 22.0% were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city, 29.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.6% was from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $60,905, and the median income for a family was $70,702. Males had a median income of $49,385 versus $32,837 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,891. About 2.8% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Top employers
According to the town's Economic Development Council,[21] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee's Summit R-7 Schools | 3,116 |
| 2 | Homeland Security - USCIS | 3,000 |
| 3 | Saint Luke's East Hospital | 1,430 |
| 4 | Truman Medical Center - Lakewood | 1,200 |
| 5 | John Knox Village | 1,000 |
| 6 | GEHA Holdings Inc. | 880 |
| 7 | City of Lee's Summit | 786 |
| 8 | Lee's Summit Medical Center | 730 |
| 9 | ReDiscover | 450 |
| 10 | CVS Caremark Call Center | 450 |
| 11 | Metropolitan Community College - Longview | 406 |
| 12 | Quest Diagnostics | 350 |
| 13 | Unity Village | 325 |
| 14 | Aspen Contracting | 300 |
| 15 | Viracor-Eurofins | 290 |
| 16 | IPL Plastics | 271 |
| 17 | R&D Leverage | 265 |
City government
Lee's Summit is a charter and council-manager form of government, represented by a mayor and a city council. The city council appoints a city manager. Each of the four districts are represented by two councilmembers whose terms are staggered and expire every four years. No councilmember may serve more than two consecutive terms.[2][4]
Mayor
- William A. Baird
City manager
- Mark Dunning
City council
- District 1: Mia Prier, Hillary Shields
- District 2: John Lovell, Andrew S. Felker
- District 3: Phyllis Q. Edson, Beto Lopez
- District 4: Fred DeMoro, Faith Hodges
Education
Lee's Summit is served by parts of three public school districts: Lee's Summit R-VII School District, Blue Springs R-IV School District, Raymore-Peculiar R-II School District. Lee's Summit has four religious private schools as well: Summit Christian Academy (formerly Lee's Summit Community Christian School), Our Lady of Presentation Catholic School, Lee's Summit Academy (formerly Libby Lane Academy), and St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School. Longview Community College is located on the western edge of Lee's Summit and is part of Metropolitan Community College (Kansas City) system. It also is home to the Summit Technology Center which is a branch campus of the University of Central Missouri.
Lee's Summit has three public libraries, branches of the Mid-Continent Public Library, on Oldham Parkway, Colbern Road, and Blue Parkway.[22]
Climate
Lee's Summit experiences a four-season humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with cold days and nights during the winter, and hot days and muggy nights during the summer.
| Climate data for Lee's Summit Municipal Airport[lower-alpha 1] and James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area[lower-alpha 2] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
107 (42) |
95 (35) |
82 (28) |
73 (23) |
108 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 59 (15) |
65 (18) |
77 (25) |
83 (28) |
88 (31) |
93 (34) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
92 (33) |
85 (29) |
73 (23) |
63 (17) |
99 (37) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 39.0 (3.9) |
44.3 (6.8) |
55.4 (13.0) |
65.5 (18.6) |
74.8 (23.8) |
84.0 (28.9) |
88.3 (31.3) |
86.9 (30.5) |
79.0 (26.1) |
67.1 (19.5) |
54.0 (12.2) |
43.2 (6.2) |
65.1 (18.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.6 (−0.8) |
35.1 (1.7) |
45.4 (7.4) |
55.5 (13.1) |
65.3 (18.5) |
74.7 (23.7) |
79.0 (26.1) |
77.3 (25.2) |
69.0 (20.6) |
57.2 (14.0) |
45.1 (7.3) |
34.7 (1.5) |
55.7 (13.2) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 22.1 (−5.5) |
25.9 (−3.4) |
35.4 (1.9) |
45.5 (7.5) |
55.9 (13.3) |
65.4 (18.6) |
69.7 (20.9) |
67.6 (19.8) |
59.0 (15.0) |
47.2 (8.4) |
36.2 (2.3) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
46.3 (8.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −3 (−19) |
2 (−17) |
13 (−11) |
27 (−3) |
39 (4) |
50 (10) |
56 (13) |
54 (12) |
40 (4) |
28 (−2) |
16 (−9) |
2 (−17) |
−6 (−21) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −19 (−28) |
−15 (−26) |
−5 (−21) |
11 (−12) |
28 (−2) |
35 (2) |
48 (9) |
43 (6) |
29 (−2) |
7 (−14) |
0 (−18) |
−25 (−32) |
−25 (−32) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.96 (24) |
1.43 (36) |
2.14 (54) |
4.19 (106) |
5.70 (145) |
4.95 (126) |
4.57 (116) |
4.54 (115) |
3.07 (78) |
3.39 (86) |
2.05 (52) |
1.35 (34) |
38.34 (972) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.7 (6.9) |
2.8 (7.1) |
1.3 (3.3) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
1.8 (4.6) |
4.5 (11) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 98 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Source: NOAA[23][24] | |||||||||||||
Infrastructure
Transportation
The Historic Jefferson Highway (known as the "Palm to Pine" highway) runs through Lee's Summit.
Major roads
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I-470 is an Interstate 70 spur through Lee's Summit into southern Kansas City.
US 40: Forms half of Lee's Summit's northern border with Independence.
US 50: Follows I-435 from the west to I-470 then spurs off in Lee's Summit and becomes just US 50.
Route 150: A highway linking southern Lee's Summit, and Grandview to the Kansas suburbs at State Line Road.
Route 291: Formerly an eastern bypass route of US 71, the minor freeway connects Harrisonville and Lee's Summit to Independence, Sugar Creek, Liberty, KCI Airport and northern Kansas City. It fuses with I-470 through parts of Lee's Summit.
Route 350: Connector highway that brings together I-435 with I-470 and US 50.
Healthcare
Two general medical and surgical hospitals which provide emergency services—Lee's Summit Medical Center and Saint Luke's East Hospital—are both located in Lee's Summit.
Media
- Lee's Summit Journal
- The Kansas City Star
- The Lee's Summit Tribune
Notable people
- Megan Anderson, Australian mixed martial artist in the UFC
- Evan Boehm, NFL center for Miami Dolphins
- Paul Coverdell, former United States Senator from Georgia
- William S. Cowherd, former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
- Mark Curp, former half marathon world record holder
- Robert K. Dixon, Nobel Laureate, Presidential adviser and scientist
- Forrest Griffith, NFL halfback for New York Giants
- Monte Harrison, MLB center fielder for the Miami Marlins
- James Krause - American mixed martial artist in the UFC
- Alex Lange, MLB pitcher for Detroit Tigers
- KC Lightfoot, Olympic pole vaulter
- Angela Lindvall, model and actress
- Audrey Lindvall, model
- Drew Lock, NFL quarterback for Seattle Seahawks
- Katherine McNamara, actress on TV series Shadowhunters on Freeform as Clary Fray
- Mike Metheny, jazz musician and journalist
- Pat Metheny, jazz musician
- Rick Roeber, expelled from the Missouri House of Representatives in a child abuse investigation
- Trevor Rosenthal, MLB pitcher
- Sam B. Strother, former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
- Matt Tegenkamp, long-distance runner, U.S. Olympian
- Freddie Williams II, comic book artist
- Bob Younger, member of the James–Younger Gang
- Cole Younger, leader of the James–Younger Gang
- Jim Younger, member of the James–Younger Gang
- John Younger, member of the James–Younger Gang
- Erik Palmer-Brown, soccer player
Notes
- Data used to calculate the average daily high temperatures, the average daily low temperatures, and the overall daily average temperatures of each month are from the Lee's Summit Municipal Airport (1991 to 2020).[23]
- Record high temperatures, record low temperatures, and the data used to calculate the mean monthly high temperatures, the mean monthly low temperatures, the average monthly precipitation and snowfall, the average days with precipitation of each month, and the average days with snowfall of each month are from the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area (1962 to 2011).[24]
References
- "Lee's Summit History". City of Lee's Summit. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- "Mayor's Office". City of Lee's Summit. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- "City Manager's Office". City of Lee's Summit. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- "City Council". City of Lee's Summit. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- "Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lee's Summit, Missouri
- "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lee's Summit city, Missouri". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- Lee's Summit, Missouri, Municipal Code art. I, § 1.2 (2022). Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- "City Map of Lee's Summit" (PDF). MODOT. 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- Horner, John Arthur (November 8, 2013). "Here a Lea, There a Lea - Everywhere a Lea, a Lea! Part 1". Kansas City Public Library. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
- Wilcox, Pearl (1975). Jackson County Pioneers. Independence, Missouri. pp. 107–108. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
- Union Historical Company (1881). The History of Jackson County, Missouri. Cornell University Library. Kansas City: Birdsall, Williams & Co. p. 342.
- "List of Postmasters". United States Official Postal Guide. United States Post Office Dept. July 1, 1855. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
-
Horner, John Arthur (November 15, 2013). "Here a Lea, There a Lea - Everywhere a Lea, a Lea! Part 2". Kansas City Public Library.
In January 1852 he was appointed as a US Postmaster.
- Lee's Summit Centennial, 1876–1965. June 1965. p. 6. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
-
Horner, John Arthur (November 15, 2013). "Here a Lea, There a Lea - Everywhere a Lea, a Lea! Part 2". Kansas City Public Library. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
On September 12, 1862, Dr. Pleasant Lea was murdered.
- Historic Preservation Services, LLC. (September 1, 2002). "Historic Preservation Plan: City of Lee's Summit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2007.
- "Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Missouri Collection". MU Special Collections. March 3, 2023. Archived from the original on March 28, 2004.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
- "Lee's Summit Economic Development Council Workforce Major Employers". Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- "Locations". Mid-Continent Public Library. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- "Station: LEES SUMMIT MUNI AP". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
- "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
External links
Kansas City metropolitan area's cities and counties | ||
|---|---|---|
| Central city |  | |
| Largest cities (over 100,000 in 2000) | ||
| Medium-sized cities (10,000 to 100,000 in 2000) | ||
| Smaller cities (between 5,000 and 9,900 in 2010) | ||
| Counties | ||
Municipalities and communities of Cass County, Missouri, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  Map of Missouri highlighting Cass County | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities of Jackson County, Missouri, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  Map of Missouri highlighting Jackson County | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
