Kansas City, Missouri

==Geography==
[[File:Kansas City by Sentinel-2.jpg|thumb|The Kansas City metropolitan area was photographed by the [[Sentinel-2]] satellite in July 2022.]]
The city has an area of {{convert|319.03|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|314.95|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|4.08|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref> Bluffs overlook the rivers and river bottom areas. Kansas City proper is bowl-shaped and is surrounded to the north and south by [[glacier]]-carved [[limestone]] and [[bedrock]] cliffs. Kansas City is at the confluence between the [[Dakota ice lobe|Dakota]] and Minnesota ice lobes during the maximum late Independence glaciation of the [[Pleistocene]] [[Geologic time scale|epoch]]. The Kansas and Missouri rivers cut wide valleys into the terrain when the glaciers melted and drained. A partially filled spillway valley crosses the central city. This valley is an eastward continuation of the Turkey Creek Valley. It is the closest major city to the geographic center of the contiguous United States, or "Lower 48".

===Cityscape===
{{further|List of neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri}}
Kansas City comprises more than 240<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcmo.org/planning/pdf/focus/Neighborhood_Assessment_Reports/neighborhoodtypes.pdf |title=Neighborhood Types|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325133934/http://www.kcmo.org/planning/pdf/focus/Neighborhood_Assessment_Reports/neighborhoodtypes.pdf|archive-date=March 25, 2009}}</ref> neighborhoods, some with histories as independent cities or as the sites of major events.

====Architecture====
[[File:Community Christian Church KCMO.jpg|thumb|[[Community Christian Church (Kansas City, Missouri)|Community Christian Church]] was designed by [[Frank Lloyd Wright]] and is next to the [[Country Club Plaza]].]]
{{main|Architecture of Kansas City}}
{{further|List of fountains in the Kansas City metropolitan area|List of tallest buildings in Kansas City, Missouri}}

The [[Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art]] opened its Euro-Style Bloch addition in 2007, and the Safdie-designed [[Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts]] opened in 2011. The [[Kansas City Power and Light Building|Power and Light Building]] is influenced by the [[Art Deco]] style and sports a glowing sky beacon. The new world headquarters of [[H&R Block]] is a 20-story all-glass oval bathed in a soft green light. The four industrial artworks atop the support towers of the Kansas City Convention Center ([[Bartle Hall Convention Center|Bartle Hall]]) were once the subject of ridicule, but now define the night skyline near the [[T-Mobile Center]] along with [[One Kansas City Place]] (Missouri's tallest office tower), the [[KCTV-Tower]] (Missouri's tallest freestanding structure) and the [[Liberty Memorial]], a World War I memorial and museum that flaunts simulated flames and smoke billowing into the night skyline. It was designated as the [[National World War I Museum and Memorial]] in 2004 by the United States Congress. Kansas City is home to significant national and international architecture firms including ACI Boland, [[BNIM]], [[360 Architecture]], [[HNTB]], [[Populous (architects)|Populous]]. [[Frank Lloyd Wright]] designed two private residences and [[Community Christian Church (Kansas City, Missouri)|Community Christian Church]] there.

Kansas City hosts more than 200 working fountains, especially on the Country Club Plaza. Designs range from French-inspired traditional to modern. Highlights include the Black Marble H&R Block fountain in front of Union Station, which features synchronized water jets; the Nichols Bronze Horses at the corner of Main and J.C. Nichols Parkway at the entrance to the Plaza Shopping District; and the fountain at [[Hallmark Cards]] World Headquarters in [[Crown Center]].

====City Market====
[[File:BridgeTownofKansas.jpg|thumb|The Town of Kansas Bridge connects pedestrian traffic from the Riverfront Heritage Trail (starting at Berkley Riverfront Park) to River Market.]]
Since its inception in 1857, [[River Market, Kansas City|City Market]] has been one of the largest and most enduring public farmers' markets in the American Midwest, linking growers and small businesses to the community. More than 30 full-time merchants operate year-round and offer specialty foods, fresh meats and seafood, restaurants and cafes, floral, home accessories and more.<ref name="Thecitymarket.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.thecitymarket.org|title=Historic City Market :: City Market Kansas City|work=thecitymarket.org|access-date=February 4, 2019|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110711094146/http%3A//www.thecitymarket.org/|archive-date=July 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The City Market is also home to the [[Arabia Steamboat Museum]], which houses artifacts from a steamboat that sank near Kansas City in 1856.<ref name="Thecitymarket.org" />

====Downtown====
{{Main|Downtown Kansas City}}

[[Downtown Kansas City]] is an area of {{convert|2.9|sqmi|km2}} bounded by the Missouri River to the north, 31st Street to the south, [[Troost Avenue]] to the East, and State Line Road to the west. Areas near Downtown Kansas City include the [[39th Street (Kansas City)|39th Street District]], which is known as Restaurant Row,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://restaurants.pitch.com/search/restaurants.php |title=Kansas City – Restaurants – Restaurant Guide |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509084947/http://restaurants.pitch.com/search/restaurants.php |archive-date=May 9, 2008 }}</ref> and features one of Kansas City's largest selections of independently owned restaurants and boutique shops. It is a center of literary and visual arts, and [[bohemian culture]]. [[Crown Center]] is the headquarters of [[Hallmark Cards]] and a major downtown shopping and entertainment complex. It is connected to Union Station by a series of covered walkways. The [[Country Club Plaza]], or simply "the Plaza", is an upscale, outdoor shopping and entertainment district. It was the first suburban shopping district in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countryclubplaza.com/plaza.aspx?pgID=893 |title=A walk through Kansas City history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220142025/http://www.countryclubplaza.com/plaza.aspx?pgID=893 |archive-date=December 20, 2008 }}</ref> designed to accommodate shoppers arriving by automobile,<ref>{{Cite book|title=The American city : what works, what doesn't|last=Garvin, Alexander.|date=2014|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education|isbn=9780071801621|oclc=892561635|pages=119–125 }}</ref> and is surrounded by apartments and condominiums, including a number of high rise buildings. The associated [[Country Club District]] to the south includes the Sunset Hill and [[Brookside (Kansas City)|Brookside]] neighborhoods, and is traversed by [[Ward Parkway]], a landscaped boulevard known for its statuary, fountains and large, historic homes. Kansas City's [[Union Station (Kansas City)|Union Station]] is home to [[Science City at Union Station|Science City]], restaurants, shopping, theaters, and the city's [[Amtrak]] facility.[[File:Alphamap.gif|thumb|The city's tallest buildings and characteristic skyline are roughly contained inside the [[downtown freeway loop (Kansas City)|downtown freeway loop]] (shaded in red). Downtown Kansas City itself is established by city [[Local ordinance|ordinance]] to stretch from the Missouri River south to 31st Street (beyond the bottom of this map), and from State Line Rd. to Troost Ave.]]After years of neglect and seas of parking lots, Downtown Kansas City is undergoing a period of change with over $6 billion in development since 2000. Many residential properties recently have been or are under redevelopment in three surrounding warehouse loft districts and the Central Business District. The [[Power & Light District]], a new, nine-block entertainment district comprising numerous restaurants, bars, and retail shops, was developed by the [[Cordish Company]] of [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]]. Its first tenant opened on November 9, 2007. It is anchored by the [[T-Mobile Center]], a 19,000-seat sports and entertainment complex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sprintcenter.com/news/detail/sprint_center_announces_grand_opening_week_festivities|title=Sprint Center Announces Grand Opening Week Festivities|publisher=Sprint Center|access-date=March 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306131822/http://www.sprintcenter.com/news/detail/sprint_center_announces_grand_opening_week_festivities|archive-date=March 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{climate chart
|Kansas City
|22|40|1.0
|26|45|1.5
|36|57|2.1
|46|67|3.9
|57|76|5.1
|67|86|5.3
|72|90|4.4
|70|89|4.7
|61|80|3.8
|49|68|3.2
|36|55|1.8
|27|44|1.3
|units = imperial
|float = right
|clear = both}}
Kansas City lies in the [[Midwestern United States]], near the geographic center of the country, at the confluence of the [[Missouri River|Missouri]] and [[Kansas River|Kansas rivers]]. The city either lies in the [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] zone when using the 0&nbsp;°C isotherm, or in the [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] zone when using the -3&nbsp;°C isotherm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=64427&cityname=Kansas+City%2C+Missouri%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Kansas City Missouri Climate Summary|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=February 3, 2015|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203194055/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=64427&cityname=Kansas+City%2C+Missouri%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the city experiences roughly 104 air frosts on average per annum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=64427&cityname=Kansas-City-Missouri-United-States-of-America|title=Kansas City, Missouri, Temperature Averages|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=February 3, 2015|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203181543/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=64427&cityname=Kansas-City-Missouri-United-States-of-America|url-status=live}}</ref> {{Unreliable source?|date=January 2023}} The city is part of USDA plant [[hardiness zone]]s 5b and 6a.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Images/300dpi/MO.jpg |title=Plant Hardiness Zone Map Missouri |publisher=USDA.gov |access-date=June 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224001607/https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Images/300dpi/MO.jpg |archive-date=February 24, 2014 }}</ref> In the center of North America, far removed from a significant body of water, there is significant potential for extreme hot and cold swings throughout the year. The warmest month is July, with a 24-hour average temperature of {{convert|81.0|°F|1}}. The summer months are hot and humid, with moist air riding up from the [[Gulf of Mexico]], and high temperatures surpass {{convert|100|°F}} on 5.6 days of the year,<!--140 occurrences in 25 "valid" years--> and {{convert|90|°F}} on 47 days.<ref name = "NWS Pleasant Hill, MO"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theweatherprediction.com/thermo/interpret/ |title=Interpretation Of Skew-T Indices |publisher=Theweatherprediction.com |access-date=July 10, 2013 |archive-date=September 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917202112/http://www.theweatherprediction.com/thermo/interpret/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The coldest month of the year is January, with an average temperature of {{convert|31.0|°F|1}}. Winters are cold, with 22 days where the high temperature is at or below {{convert|32|°F}} and 2.5 nights with a low at or below {{convert|0|°F}}.<ref name = "NWS Pleasant Hill, MO"/> The official record highest temperature is {{convert|113|°F|0}}, set on August 14, 1936, at Downtown Airport, while the official record lowest is {{convert|−23|°F|0}}, set on December 22 and 23, 1989.<ref name = "NWS Pleasant Hill, MO"/> Normal seasonal snowfall is {{convert|13.4|in|cm|0}} at Downtown Airport and {{convert|18.8|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} at Kansas City International Airport. The average window for freezing temperatures is October 31 to April 4, while for measurable ({{convert|0.1|in|cm|abbr=on|disp=or}}) snowfall, it is November 27 to March 16 as measured at Kansas City International Airport.<ref name = "NWS Pleasant Hill, MO"/><!--Downtown is missing data for five seasons in the 1990s--> Precipitation, both in frequency and total accumulation, shows a marked uptick in late spring and summer.

Kansas City is located in "[[Tornado Alley]]", a broad region where cold air from Canada collides with warm air from the Gulf of Mexico, leading to the formation of powerful storms, especially during the spring. The Kansas City metropolitan area has experienced several significant outbreaks of [[tornado]]es in the past, including the [[May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak|Ruskin Heights tornado in 1957]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wdaftv4.com/almanac/watorndo.html |title=Kansas City Tornado Almanac |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020824021557/http://www.wdaftv4.com/almanac/watorndo.html |archive-date=August 24, 2002 }}</ref> and the [[May 2003 tornado outbreak sequence]]. The region can also experience [[ice storm]]s during the winter months, such as the [[2002 Central Plains Ice Storm|2002 ice storm]] during which hundreds of thousands of residents lost power for days and (in some cases) weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/special_packages/star_history/calamities_crime/12508862.htm |title=KC powerless as icy barrage pummels the area, leaves behind disaster zone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716001241/https://www.kansascity.com/ |archive-date=July 16, 2022 |access-date=September 10, 2006}}</ref> Kansas City and its outlying areas are also subject to flooding, including the Great Floods of [[Great Flood of 1951|1951]] and [[Great Flood of 1993|1993]].

{{Kansas City weatherbox}}