Raytown, Missouri
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Raytown is a city located in Jackson County, Missouri. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 30,388.
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History
The area where Raytown now lies 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 Rice-Tremonti Home (http://www.cavespring.org/rice-tremonti_home.htm), which still stands in Raytown today, was built on the Santa Fe Trail in 1844 by Archibald Rice and his family.
William Ray established a blacksmith shop on the Santa Fe Trail in Jackson County in about 1848.
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 apparently 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.
The settlement around the blacksmith shop was known first as "Ray's Town" and later as "Raytown".
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.
Source: History of Raytown (http://raytownkc.com/history.html)
Geography
Raytown is located at 38°59'42" North, 94°27'56" West (38.994873, -94.465444)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.7 km² (9.9 mi²). 25.7 km² (9.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.30% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 30,388 people, 12,855 households, and 8,304 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,183.9/km² (3,065.9/mi²). There are 13,309 housing units at an average density of 518.5/km² (1,342.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 84.22% White, 11.74% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 2.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 12,855 households out of which 27.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% are married couples living together, 12.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% are non-families. 30.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.32 and the average family size is 2.88.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $41,949, and the median income for a family is $50,952. Males have a median income of $33,828 versus $26,745 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,634. 5.0% of the population and 3.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External Links
- The City of Raytown web site (http://www.raytown.mo.us/)
- Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce (http://www.raytownchamber.com/)
- Raytown C-2 School District (http://www.raytown.k12.mo.us/)
- The Raytown Tribune (http://www.dispatchtribune.com/artman/publish/cat_index_8.shtml)