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Lee's Summit, MO

Frequently asked questions

Lee’s Summit, MO

Lee's Summit is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is a suburb in the Kansas City metropolitan area. It resides in Jackson County (predominantly) as well as Cass County. As of the 2020 census, its population was 101,108, making it the 6th most populous city in both Missouri and the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The "Town of Strother" (not to be confused with a town of the same name in Monroe County) was founded by William Bullitt Howard in October 1865. He named it for his wife, Maria D. Strother, the daughter of William D. Strother formerly of Bardstown, Kentucky. Howard came to Jackson County in 1842 from Kentucky, married Maria in 1844, and by 1850 he and Maria had 833 acres (3.37 km2) and a homestead 5 miles (8 km) north of town. Howard was arrested for being a Confederate in October 1862, near the beginning of the Civil War, and after being paroled he took his family back to Kentucky for the duration of the war. After the war ended he returned and, knowing that the Missouri Pacific Railroad was surveying a route in the area, platted the town with 70 acres (280,000 m2) in the fall of 1865 as the town of Strother.

In November 1868, the town's name was changed to the "Town of Lee's Summit", most likely to honor early settler Dr. Pleasant John Graves Lea, who had moved to Jackson County in 1849 from Bradley County, Tennessee. Lea was listed as the postmaster of nearby Big Cedar in the 1855 United States Official Postal Guide. Dr. Lea was killed in August 1862 by Kansas Jayhawkers (or Redlegs).

When the surveyors for the Missouri Pacific Railroad came through, the local people and the railroad wanted to name the town in Dr. Lea's honor. He had a farm on the highest point and near the path of the tracks, and his murder had taken place near the site of the proposed depot. So they chose the name "Lea's Summit", the "summit" portion to reflect its highest elevation on the Missouri Pacific Railroad between St. Louis and Kansas City. But they misspelled the name "Lees Summit" (with two "e's"; "Lee" instead of "Lea"; and leaving out the apostrophe) on a boxcar that was serving as a station and donated by the Missouri Pacific, then a sign next to the tracks, and finally in the printed schedule for the railroad. It may be that this misspelling stuck and the name has remained "Lee's Summit" ever since.

Since the name was already being circulated and published with two "e's", the town petitioned the state legislature and incorporated its name in 1868 as: "Town of Lee's Summit".

Lee's Summit lies near Missouri's western border with Kansas and is further north than south relative to the rest of the state. The city borders Kansas City to the west and northwest, Independence, Missouri to the north and several smaller, more rural cities to the south and east. It is part of the Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 65.911 square miles (170.71 km2), of which 63.895 square miles (165.49 km2) is land and 2.016 square miles (5.22 km2) is water.

Lee's Summit places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Lee's Summit is home to Saint Luke's East Hospital, a reputable healthcare institution providing a range of medical services to the community and other hospitals such as Lee's Summit Medical Center and University Health Lakewood Medical Center. These healthcare facilities ensure residents have access to quality healthcare and contribute to the overall well-being of the city. Genesis Health Clubs and Anytime Fitness provide comprehensive fitness programs to keep you in shape. Thai Butterfly Massage is ideal for those seeking traditional Thai massage therapies.

Top sites in Lee’s Summit, MO are Lee's Summit History Museum, Summit Fair, and Summit Waves.

Population: 104,184 (2023). ZIP codes: 64015, 64063, 64064, 64081, 64082, 64083, 64086. Area code(s): 816. Elevation: 1,063 feet. Area: 65.91 sq mi (170.71 km2).

FAQs

Is Lee's Summit, MO a suburb of Kansas City?

Lee's Summit, Missouri, with a current population estimated at 106,031, is located in eastern Jackson County extending south into Cass County and is a suburban community in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The City encompasses a geographic area of 65.87 square miles served by I-470, US 50, M-291, and M-150 highways with convenient access to the metropolitan area's commerce, employment, services, and recreational opportunities. Lee's Summit has been one of the fastest-growing communities in Missouri over the past decades.

What are the demographics of Lee's Summit, MO?

In 2022, Lee's Summit, MO had a population of 102k people with a median age of 38.6 and a median household income of $103,447. Between 2021 and 2022 the population of Lee's Summit, MO grew from 100,772 to 101,728, a 0.949% increase and its median household income grew from $98,960 to $103,447, a 4.53% increase. The 5 largest ethnic groups in Lee's Summit, MO are White (Non-Hispanic) (79.2%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (8.84%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (4.46%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.06%), and White (Hispanic) (1.78%).

Is Lee's Summit, MO a nice place to live?

Lee's Summit is in Jackson County and is one of the best places to live in Missouri. Living in Lee's Summit offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Lee's Summit, there are a lot of parks. Many families and young professionals live in Lee's Summit and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Lee's Summit are highly rated.

Sources

City of Lee’s Summit

Wikipedia

Kansas City

Data USA

Niche

Lee's Summit History Museum

Summit Fair

Summit Waves

Saint Luke's East Hospital

Lee's Summit Medical Center

University Health Lakewood Medical Center

Genesis Health Clubs

Anytime Fitness

Thai Butterfly Massage

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