The communities

The largest city in Clay County—accounting for nearly half the county’s population—is Kansas City in its northeast extension, but as Kirk Davis said with a bit of understatement, “We have some unique communities in Clay County.” These communities range from urban and industrial cities like North Kansas City to the suburban cities like Gladstone to smaller communities like Kearney to areas that are inarguably rural.

Bonnie Sue Cooper sees this “diversity” as an asset. “We say ‘Northland,’” she noted, “because there is strength in numbers.” The area’s strength is being felt, she argued, “because of all us joining together.” Indeed, a new and welcome challenge now for the communities, as Darren Hennen pointed out, “is to maintain our identities as we expand.”

Kansas City Councilman Paul Danaher attributes the county’s “fiercely independent streak” to its rural heritage. But he is encouraged now that “all these independent voices have come together to send a unified message.”

When we did not go as a unified voice to KCMO’s City Hall,” agreed Tammy Henderson, “we were not able to achieve as much for this area as we have in the last several years.”

“We see ourselves as a community,” observed Jerry Brant. “There is not the competitiveness you might expect.” “Lynn McClure concurred that the strength of the county derives from the fact “that one area helps another.” The question we should be asking ourselves, he believes, is “How do we push forward the Northland as a whole?”

One answer to that question was provided by Pete Hall who argued that “the single most important thing we can do is to convince the citizens of Clay County to vote.” He added that “a large voice at the polls always gets attention.”

Paul Danaher told how his wife Mary had induced him to move north some twenty plus years ago, reminding him that there are “great opportunities out there.” “There is a different attitude up here,” added Danaher. “You can feel it when you cross the bridge. You can’t tell someone in Clay or Platte County that they can’t do something.” Everyone’s getting things done,” observed Mayor Gene Bruns. “The continuity Clay County has with Platte makes this entire Northland community an exciting place to be.”

“There is much energy here,” added Carolyn Vellar. “So much passion about where we live.” “I don’t hear that sense of community elsewhere,” agreed Tom Brandom. His only question was, “How you package that?”