Blue Springs, Missouri

Blue Springs is a city in Jackson County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. Blue Springs is located 19 mi east of Kansas City. It is the 8th largest city in the Kansas City metropolitan area and 10th largest city in the state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,604.

History
The city's history is tied to the migration of settlers seeking their fortunes out west during the age of manifest destiny. Pioneers found the area to be an ideal stopover due to the abundance of clean water from the local spring. The presence of water and a need for supplies led to the construction of a grist mill and a permanent settlement; now the site, on NW Woods Chapel Road, of Burrus Old Mill Park.

An early settler, Franklin Smith, arrived in Blue Springs from Virginia in 1838 and became a leading figure in the community's development. He established the first post office in 1845, naming it after the well-known springs.

The settlement continued to grow near the springs until March 1878, when the Chicago and Alton Railroad announced plans to build a station about one mile east of the original settlement. To take advantage of the commerce the railroad would bring, the town moved its center to the site of the new station and continued its development as a rural trading center. The Chicago & Alton Hotel built in 1878 is the oldest business in the city.

The Jackson County Court granted the incorporation of Blue Springs on September 7, 1880, making it the fourth settlement in the county to be incorporated.

Geography
Blue Springs is located at 39.01778°N, -94.27444°W (39.017778, -94.274444). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.35 sqmi, of which 22.27 sqmi is land and 0.08 sqmi is water.

2020 census
The 2020 United States census counted 58,603 people, 20,344 households, and 15,319 families in Blue Springs. The population density was 2,609.2 per square mile (1,007.4/km$2$). There were 21,195 housing units at an average density of 943.7 per square mile (364.4/km$2$). The racial makeup was 78.48% (45,989) white, 7.79% (4,567) black or African-American, 0.54% (315) Native American, 1.5% (880) Asian, 0.2% (117) Pacific Islander, 2.02% (1,184) from other races, and 9.47% (5,551) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 6.5% (3,596) of the population.

Of the 20,344 households, 35.7% had children under the age of 18; 57.2% were married couples living together; 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 20.3% consisted of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.1.

26.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 88.2 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $72,846 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,765) and the median family income was $83,058 (+/- $4,396). Males had a median income of $50,007 (+/- $2,780) versus $34,538 (+/- $2,432) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $41,436 (+/- $1,423). Approximately, 4.2% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under the age of 18 and 6.3% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 52,575 people, 19,522 households, and 14,468 families residing in the city. The population density was 2360.8 PD/sqmi. There were 20,643 housing units at an average density of 926.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 6.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.0% of the population.

There were 19,522 households, of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the city was 34.7 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census
, there were 48,080 people, 17,286 households, and 13,362 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,642.7 PD/sqmi. There were 17,733 housing units at an average density of 974.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.18% White, 2.93% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.76% of the population.

There were 17,286 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.16. In the city the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $55,402, and the median income for a family was $61,008. Males had a median income of $41,373 versus $29,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,444. About 3.9% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Top employers
According to the town's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Government
The City of Blue Springs has a Mayor-Council-Administrator form of government as set forth in the Home Rule City Charter. The City Council is the governing body of the city, elected by the public. The City Administrator is appointed by the City Council and is responsible for the implementation of policies and decisions made by the mayor and city council. The elected governing body is composed of a mayor and six councilpersons.

The City of Blue Springs has a Municipal Police Department. There are two Fire Districts providing fire and ambulance services to resident's Blue Springs.
 * Blue Springs Law Enforcement duties are performed by the Blue Springs Police Department. B.S.P.D. was formed by the City of Blue Springs in 1966 and started with just three employees. Today (BSPD) has grown to 138 employees, 101 sworn law enforcement personnel and 38 civilian support personnel.  (BSPD) is located at 1100 SW Smith Street.
 * Fire and ambulance service for most of Blue Springs is performed by Central Jackson County Fire Protection District(CJCFPD). CJC was formed in 1961 and is an Accredited Fire Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. It is 1 of only 4 agencies in the state of Missouri to be accredited.  CJCFPD has 5 fire stations that serve the community.  CJCFPD Headquarters is located at 805 NE Jefferson St.
 * Fire and ambulance service for the very southern portion of Blue Springs, roughly south of Liggett Road, is served by Southern Jackson County Fire Protection District (SJCFPD) which has history from 1954. SJCFPD has 3 fire station to serve the community's of Blue Springs and Lake Lotawana.
 * The Blue Springs School District Department of Public Safety (BSSD DPS) has 14 commissioned officers and an administrative assistant which serves as the departments dispatcher, records keeper, and public face of the department to the customers. The commissioned officers service the schools as School Resource Officers (SRO), providing public safety classes to students and staff members, and conduct residency/truancy investigations.  BSSD DPS is located at the Paul Consiglio Education Center at 1501 NW Jefferson Street in Blue Springs.

Mid-Continent Public Library operates two library branches in Blue Springs.

Transportation

 * The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, KCATA provides public bus services to Blue Springs.
 * [[Image:I-70.svg|20px]] Interstate 70 - Major east–west interstate highway, connecting Blue Springs to Kansas City, Columbia, and St. Louis
 * [[Image:US 40.svg|20px]] US 40 -Connects Kansas City to Independence and then enters Blue Springs at Bolin Road to the west, then east of Adams Dairy Parkway enters Grain Valley.
 * [[Image:MO-7.svg|20px]] Route 7 - Links U.S. 24 Hwy with Blue Springs by first traveling through Independence entering Blue Springs at Pink Hill Road and is the main north/south Highway through Blue Springs, leaving Blue Springs at Colbern Road and entering Lake Lotawana then Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville.
 * Adams Dairy Parkway is an important trafficway that runs from the north to south through Blue Springs.

Parks and recreation
Fleming Park is home to Blue Springs Lake and Lake Jacomo. The park is operated by Jackson County. Fleming Park offers many recreational features. Fleming Park's total land area is 7809 acre of which 1690 acre is water.


 * Centennial Pool Plex (Demolished; 2022)
 * Vesper Hall
 * Blue Springs Field House
 * The Blue Springs Field House won the Kansas City Business Journal's, 2016 Capstone Award. It was featured in the Athletic Business Journal as one of the nation’s most State of the Art Facilities.

Points of interest

 * Chicago & Alton Hotel Museum
 * Chicago & Alton Depot Museum
 * Missouri Town 1855
 * Fort Osage National Historic Landmark
 * Dillingham-Lewis House Museum
 * Lone Jack Civil War Museum

Media

 * The Examiner, Eastern Jackson County Daily Newspaper. Also known as the Blue Springs Examiner
 * The Kansas City Star
 * The Blue Springs Magazine

Education
Blue Springs is served by three public schools districts and three private schools.
 * Blue Springs R-IV School District
 * Lee's Summit R-VII School District
 * Grain Valley R-V School District
 * Timothy Lutheran Schools, K-8, North Campus
 * St. John Lalande Catholic School, K-8
 * Plaza Heights Christian Academy, PreK-12

Climate
Blue Springs experiences a colder variation of a four-season humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with mild days and cold nights during the winter, and hot days and muggy nights during the summer.

Notable people

 * Doug Terry - Former NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs
 * Ladell Betts - Former NFL player for the Washington Redskins and the New Orleans Saints
 * Khristian Boyd, NFL defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints
 * Donald Stephenson - Former NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and the Cleveland Browns
 * Jimmy Redmond - Former NFL player for the Jacksonville Jaguars
 * Brandon Lloyd - NFL player for San Francisco 49ers
 * Khalil Davis - NFL player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Carlos Davis - NFL player for the Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Darrius Shepherd - NFL player for the Green Bay Packers
 * Elijah Lee - NFL player for the Detroit Lions
 * Deiondre' Hall - NFL player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Jim Eisenreich - Former MLB player for Twins, Royals, Phillies, and Marlins and 1997 World Series champion
 * Nick Tepesch - MLB player for the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and Toronto Blue Jays.
 * Terry Gautreaux - Taekwondo, bronze medalist in 1992 Summer Olympics
 * Steve Harris - NBA player and University of Tulsa basketball standout
 * Jon Sundvold - NBA player and University of Missouri basketball standout
 * Jeff Mittie - women's basketball head coach, Kansas State
 * Ivana Hong - alternate Olympic gymnast, Beijing 2008
 * Terin Humphrey - Olympic gymnast, Athens 2004
 * Tonya Knight - IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Courtney McCool - Olympic gymnast, Athens 2004
 * Josh Watson - NFL Player for the Carolina Panthers
 * Justin Pitts - Professional Basketball player for HLA Alicante of the Spanish LEB Plata.
 * Kendall Blanton - NFL Player for the Los Angeles Rams
 * David Cook - winner of American Idol Season 7