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INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI - USA
Independence is a city located in Missouri, in the Kansas City metropolitan
area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 113,288. It
is the county seat of Jackson County.
Geography
Independence is located at 39°4'47" North, 94°24'24" West (39.079805,
-94.406551)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
203.2 km˛ (78.4 mi˛). 202.9 km˛ (78.3 mi˛) of it is land and 0.3 km˛ (0.1
mi˛) of it is water. The total area is 0.17% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 113,288 people, 47,390 households, and
30,566 families residing in the city. The population density is 558.4/km˛
(1,446.3/mi˛). There are 50,213 housing units at an average density of
247.5/km˛ (641.1/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 91.87% White, 2.59%
African American, 0.70% Asian, 0.64% Native American, 0.46% Pacific Islander,
1.43% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. 3.69% of the
population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 47,390 households out of which 28.1% have children under the age
of 18 living with them, 47.9% are married couples living together, 12.3%
have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% are non-families.
30.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.37 and the average family size is 2.93.
In the city the population is spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18,
8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100
females there are 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $38,012, and the median
income for a family is $45,876. Males have a median income of $34,138 versus
$25,948 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,384. 8.6% of
the population and 6.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 11.8% are under the age of 18 and 6.7% are
65 or older.
History
In 1831, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or
Mormons) began moving to the Jackson County, Missouri, area. Shortly
thereafter, Joseph Smith, Jr., the Mormon prophet, declared a spot just west
of Courthouse Square to be the place for a prophesied temple of the New
Jerusalem in expectation of the Second Coming of Christ. Tension grew with
local Missourians until finally the Saints were expelled from the area.
After splintering, many of the LDS churches, including gradually returned to
the city, often making Independence their headquarters, including the
Community of Christ and the Church of Christ (Temple Lot).
In the mid-1800s an act of Congress defined Independence as the start of the
Oregon Trail.
President Harry S. Truman grew up in Independence, and returned to the city
after two terms in office.
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