No matter where in Clay County you find them, residents frequently will talk about the combination of “big city and small town” that they treasure.

Even with today’s dramatic growth, Clay County retains a unique combination of old and new, urban and rural. The juxtaposition is so striking that even a Kansas University Design Studio team was temporarily stymied in recent efforts to plan Clay County’s future.

Known for their successful visions for Kansas City West Bottoms and Riverfront Park, the long-range urban planners finally arrived at a Clay County concept they called “urban villages,” connected communities that retain their individuality while working to create a common tapestry.

In some locales that might sound impossible. In Clay County it is a likely scenario.

The area’s recent history includes the generally peaceful coexistence of numerous separate small towns: Excelsior Springs, Gladstone, Kearney, Lawson, Liberty, North Kansas City, Pleasant Valley and Smithville.

Most of these are just big enough to maintain self-sufficiency, and compact enough to retain their small-town feel. Even in the shadow of downtown, North Kansas City uses an extensive industrial base, regional hospital and other key developments to retain its identity—despite a population of less than 5,000. Even in portions of Kansas City near Gladstone or Liberty, Clay Countians still talk about their communities as places where individuals are known and lifestyle matters.

Clay Countians also look at the region’s growth with surprising maturity. Excited that “their time has finally come,” they also redouble efforts to ensure that what they value about the rolling hills and small communities is not lost. Even while pushing for new growth, local leaders recently promoted redevelopment in the oldest portions of the county, the “first annexation” areas of Kansas City nearest the Missouri River.

This work also displays the area’s readiness for cooperation. Although Clay Countians can be as competitive as anyone, they have a surprising track record of collaboration when it counts. Clay County recently led efforts to form the Coalition of Northland Development Organizations. Composed of groups from both Clay and Platte counties, it seeks to promote the area’s considerable growth, tourism and educational resources while increasing cooperation and reducing duplication.

Some of this penchant for cooperation is explained by Clay County’s decidedly “down home” flavor. In rural Clay County, three-acre-home developments with mini-horse ranches are the norm. Family values are stressed throughout the area.

Clay boasts more than 200 churches and church organizations. Two of the largest are currently involved in construction of multi-million dollar “campus” projects to provide everything from worship to senior retirement and even automobile repair for their members.

But nowhere is the area’s character more visible than in its local schools. Clay County’s six public and two major private school districts not only top state and national standards, they form a key core of their communities. It’s no accident that some of Clay County’s most popular social gatherings are Friday night football games.

Higher education is another major factor in Clay County. Led by nationally praised William Jewell College and dynamic Maple Woods Community College, Clay County does more than just send its young people to these educational institutions. Although Clay boasts higher averages for both high school and college graduation, the local centers also impact dramatically the region’s lifestyle. Nationally ranked fine arts programs and other benefits have a profound and growing impact on Clay County.

Interesting Tidbits

• The 2000 census recorded a county population of 185,642, a 20% increase from 1990, a rate of growth nearly twice that of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
• The 1,700-acre master-planned Shoal Creek Valley community is the largest in Kansas City history with room for at least 28,000 residents and includes office, retail and a pedestrian friendly downtown area.
• The 2000 Census found that Clay County’s per capita personal income of $29,813 was 4th highest of all counties in Missouri.
• Although only minutes from downtown Kansas City, 50 percent of the land area in Clay County is still undeveloped.
• A successful grassroots initiative spearheaded by business and civic leaders has led to a plan for 472 miles of new Northland trails to be constructed over the next several years.
• Virtually all of the county lies within a 20-minute drive of Kansas City International Airport. 69% of the available labor pool in Clay County has at least some college education.Clay County boasts more than 200 churches and church organizations.

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