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About Jackson County
The History of Jackson
County, Missouri
Source:
Drury University
In the earliest days of recorded history, French trappers traveled the
river and learned the secrets from the Osage Indians who first called
this land home. Kansas City which was established as the Town of
Kansas, was named after the Kanza Indians which inhabited the area
along with the Hopewell, Shawnee, and Delaware tribes. In 1803, what is
now Jackson County became United States territory, a part of the most
valuable property deal in history, the Louisiana Purchase.
The state of Missouri was admitted to the Union in 1821. In the same
year, Francois Chouteau, a French fur trader from St. Louis, arrived in
the region. He created an American Fur Company at Kawsmouth (where the
Kaw runs from the Missouri). But 5 years later, the post was destroyed
by a flood. He never left the area and moved upriver into Missouri
along what is now Troost Ave. At this time, Jackson County was not part
of the state, but the treaty of 1826 added this land at a cost of
$800.00. Townships were surveyed in 1826, and in 1827 the county was
formed and named for our seventh president, Andrew Jackson. On December
15, 1826, the Missouri General Assembly organized Jackson County.
In 1838, a small piece of land was bought along the Missouri River in
northern Jackson County by the "Town Company," which established
"Westport Landing" (today Westport). The area outside of Westport
Landing was renamed the "Town of Kansas," after the local Kanza
Indians, in 1839. The town was incorporated by the State of Missouri as
the "City of Kansas" in 1853. In 1889, with a population of around
60,000, the city adopted a new charter and changed its name to Kansas
City. In 1897, Kansas City annexed Westport.
The county features prominently in the History of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith, Jr. taught that the Garden
of Eden was located in what is now Jackson County
During the Civil War, most of the county (except the portion known then
as "Kaw Township" - today the heart of Kansas City) was burned to the
ground General Order No. 11 (1863).
Today, with more than 650,000 residents living within its 611 square
miles, the county is home to 37% of the metropolitan area's residents,
42% of its jobs and more than 50% of its top employers. Jackson County
is among the leading Kansas City area counties that continues to add
population.
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Neighboring
Counties
