Gladstone, Missouri

Gladstone, Missouri
City
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Clay
Area
• Total	8.06 sq mi (20.88 km2)
• Land	8.05 sq mi (20.85 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	938 ft (286 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	25,410
• Estimate (2012)	25,931
• Density	3,156.5/sq mi (1,218.7/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	64100-64199
Area code(s)	816
FIPS code	29-27190
GNIS feature ID	0730104

Gladstone, located in Clay County, Missouri, is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. The City of Gladstone has the advantage of being located only 10 minutes from downtown Kansas City, and 10 minutes from Kansas City International Airport. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,365.

City Website

http://www.gladstone.mo.us/

History

How did Gladstone get its name? There are two versions of the story, so you’ll have to decide which one you prefer.

One version is told in a beautiful, framed calligraphy scroll which was signed and presented to the City on July 4, 1976 by two members of the first City Council who were instrumental in the City’s incorporation in 1952. The story goes that when the Petition for Incorporation was presented to the Circuit Court of Clay County, the bearers were informed the Petition was incomplete because the name of the proposed new city was not shown. As time was of the essence (Kansas City had plans to annex this area), a hurried meeting was called and Mrs. Maria Harless, who later became the first City Clerk, suggested the name of Gladstone. At that time, much publicity was being given to Southwestern Bell Telephone Company’s opening of the new Gladstone telephone exchange in this area. Mrs. Harless reasoned that the publicity this name received would also provide some much-needed publicity for this newborn city. Thus, the name Gladstone was borrowed from the telephone company.

Another member of the first City Council, however, recalled differently. His memory was that the mention of the Gladstone telephone exchange prompted discussion of the British Prime Minister and noted statesman, William Ewert Gladstone (1809-1898), and the group agreed to name our city after this famous English statesman.

Government

Under state statute, Gladstone is a city of the third class. It has a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council consists of 5 members popularly elected every 3 years with staggered terms in office. The Mayor presides over council meetings, appoints members to resident boards and commissions, meets with constituents, and signs ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and agreements authorized by the council. The City Manager administers city operations and implements policies set by the City Council.

Vision for the Future

The City of Gladstone is working to sustain long-term economic health in the community through the development of a new downtown. The goal is to promote development and redevelopment that offers new housing options, expanded shopping and new dining opportunities for our citizens and neighbors.

Points of Interest

Linden Square, located in downtown Gladstone, is a gathering place for friends, family and community to enjoy live entertainment, activities, festivals and events in the downtown.

The Gladstone Community Center, located in downtown Gladstone, is a 78,000 square foot building that was completed and opened to the public in 2008. The Community Center is broken into three separate smaller operations that include a 2000 seat natatorium, banquet rental space, and a fitness center.

The Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a 1900 Missouri farmstead. The Farm operates as a living history museum and educational facility with permanent and rotating exhibits, including a heritage garden. The AJ Farm hosts numerous educational and cultural events throughout the year.

The Northland Innovation Campus, currently under construction in Downtown Gladstone, is a partnership between the North Kansas City School District, Northwest Missouri State University, the City of Gladstone, and CBC Real Estate Group. The Northland Innovation Campus will offer seven undergraduate completion programs in the areas of recreation and wellness, elementary education, special education, early childhood, computer sciences, business and marketing along with graduate programs in education and business. Northwest will also offer dual credit coursework as part of its partnership with Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS).

The City of Gladstone proudly hosts a variety of festivals and special events throughout the year including Theatre in the Park, which has celebrated 25 years of community theatre in Gladstone; Bluesfest, a regionally recognized free blues festival held every spring at Oak Grove Park; and Gladfest, a family-friendly fall festival which takes place in the emerging downtown Gladstone.

Also, the city has numerous public art works installed in Downtown Gladstone under the Public Art Program.

Geography

Gladstone is located at (39.211752, -94.561687). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.06 square miles (20.88 km²), of which, 8.05 square miles (20.85 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water. The city is connected to nearby North Kansas City and Kansas City proper by Routes 1 and 283 as well as nearby U.S. Route 169, which sits less than a mile from the city's western border. I-29 runs near the city's southernmost tip shortly after its initial break from I-35. A handful of small subdivisions maintain independent municipalities along North Oak Trafficway, a road host to much of the area's shopping. The city is rectangular in shape, with the city limits generally extending from NE Englewood Road or NE 55th to NE 78th south to north, and N. Jackson Ave. to N. Broadway east to west. The city boundaries include a panhandle that goes south to NW 44th St. and from NW Briarcliff Ln. to Gladstone Waterworks Rd. from east to west. A portion of the panhandle was de-annexed by Kansas City and annexed by Gladstone in 2005 to bring the Gladstone Water Plant property within the Gladstone city limits.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1960	14,502		—
1970	23,422		61.5%
1980	24,990		6.7%
1990	26,243		5.0%
2000	26,365		0.5%
2010	25,410		−3.6%
Est. 2014	26,800		5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 25,410 people, 11,182 households, and 6,859 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,156.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,218.7/km²). There were 12,148 housing units at an average density of 1,509.1 per square mile (582.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.8% White, 5.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 2.6% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.3% of the population.

There were 11,182 households of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.7% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 41.7 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,365 people, 11,484 households, and 7,384 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,297.2 people per square mile (1,272.4/km²). There were 11,919 housing units at an average density of 1,490.6 per square mile (575.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.25% White, 2.05% African American, 0.52% Native American, 1.26% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56% of the population.

There were 11,484 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,333, and the median income for a family was $55,128. Males had a median income of $40,114 versus $27,429 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,105. About 3.1% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Melana Scantlin, Miss Missouri USA 2002 and Average Joe star
• Jerry Nolte, artist and representative to the Missouri state legislature
• James Hopkins, General Electric National Manager
• Jason Johnson, former Indianapolis Colts player

External links

• City of Gladstone