History
Once, this "small Midwestern city" was a stopping point for covered wagons on the way west via the Santa Fe Trail. Because of the clear blue water in free-flowing springs, these pioneer ancestors looked forward to setting up campsites in Mission. The springs, likewise, enticed the first residents of Mission, since the precious water was free. Mission grew as America grew, becoming the first suburb as Kansas City emerged as our sophisticated cosmopolitan neighbor on the east.
Originally called Mission Hill Acres, this suburb was sub-divided into 245 lots and offered by the Breyfogel family for sale. By 1928 there were five businesses; a drug store, restaurant, hardware and dry goods store, a barber shop, and a cleaning and pressing establishment. In 1930, we had the first Mission grocery store, and in 1940 a post office. Today, we have three major shopping malls and a million square feet of office space. People come to Mission from all directions, to work and shop, see their doctors, dentists, lawyers and other professionals, and enjoy "big city services" in a friendly, small-town atmosphere.
Geography
Mission is located at 39°1'32N, 94°39'22W (39.025572, -94.656056). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.6 km² (2.5 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,727 people, 5,119 households, and 2,226 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,484.4/km² (3,845.9/mi²). There were 5,329 housing units at an average density of 813.3/km² (2,107.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.95% White, 3.78% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.76% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.03% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.91% of the population. 25.6% were of German, 13.5% English, 12.9% Irish and 7.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 5,119 households out of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.1% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.5% were non-families. 45.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 2.70.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.1% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,298, and the median income for a family was $59,328. Males had a median income of $37,544 versus $30,647 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,870. About 3.6% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
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