Ted Ihde's Blog: Ted Ihde author of “Thinking About Becoming A Real Estate Developer?” - Posts Tagged "kc"

In 1806, as their expedition took Meriweather Lewis and William Clark to the confluence of two major rivers – the Missouri River and the Kansas River – historians have written that, upon arriving at this future settlement, William Clark noted in his journal that the riverfront location they found would be the perfect spot to build a fort and set up a trading post.

As Lewis and Clark established their foothold in what would grow, evolve and
become Kansas City, the origin for the Kansas City which is located in the State of Kansas was really triggered by an act of Congress.

What laid the foundation for the establishment of Kansas City, Kansas was, many will argue, the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed in 1854.

Seven years after Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Kansas was incorporated as a state. That year was 1861.

By 1880, as westward expansion continued, the population of “old” Kansas City, Kansas had been just a little over 3,000. Fourteen years after the formation of “old” Kansas City, Kansas – in 1886 –
“new” Kansas City, Kansas was incorporated. Four years later, the population of Kansas City, Kansas reached 30,000.

“New” Kansas City, Kansas is really the result of a merger – a merger of towns.

In 1886, “new” Kansas City, Kansas was created when “old” Kansas City, Kansas, Wyandotte City, Armstrong, Riverview and Armordale combined to form one city – Kansas City, Kansas.

Twenty-four years after the formation of “new” Kansas City, Kansas, Argentine
was added to the mix…annexed by Kansas City, Kansas.

Argentine became part of Kansas City, Kansas in 1910. By that time – in 1910 – the population of Kansas City, Kansas topped 80,000.

During the latter part of the 19th Century, Argentine – which is now a neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas – was an independent town.

The growth of Argentine was triggered by two catalysts: a) smelting and mining plants which were established in Argentine, then grew, and b) Argentine’s location along the Santa Fe Railroad.

Argentine borders Kansas City’s Rosedale neighborhood.

Prior to its annexation by Kansas City, Kansas, Rosedale had been The Town of Rosedale.

The Town of Rosedale traces its origin back to 1872.

Rosedale was annexed by Kansas City, Kansas in 1922…after having been an independent town for forty years. At the time of Rosedale’s annexation, the population of Kansas City, Kansas was over 100,000.

Quindaro – now a neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas – was originally a free state port. A port situated along the Missouri River. At one time, Quindaro was an important Underground Railroad “station.”


Quindaro was annexed by Kansas City, Kansas in 1923.

Three miles to the west of the Kansas City you’ll find in Missouri…you have Kansas City, Kansas. Nineteen years younger than the Missouri city Kansas City, Kansas was named after. Two independent cities…sharing the same name. Located where the Kansas River meets the Missouri River. Connected by the Buck O’Neill Bridge.

Just as much so as through their shared name, the two Kansas Cities are connected by a shared history. By westward expansion. And by a journal.

This journal? One kept by a famous early 19th Century pioneer – Meriweather Lewis.

And by Meriweather Lewis’s journal notes. Notes taken by Lewis in the dawn of the 19th Century. Notes which show all of us just what he and William Clark found, where two rivers meet – The perfect location for a fort and a trading post.