Independence, Missouri
About Independence
Set in the western part of Missouri, Independence is a mid-size city with an estimated population of 121,629. It ranks as the 5th largest city in Missouri.
Officially, Independence is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 77.99 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,560 residents per square mile.
📰 Independence News Today
- Bly Road residents file 52-page lawsuit to stop Independence AI data center project KSHB 41 Kansas City · Aug 13
- New lawsuit attempting to stop multi-billion data center project in Independence KMBC · Aug 13
- AMBER Alert for missing 9-month-old girl canceled FOX4KC.com · Aug 10
- Independence group files lawsuit to block Nebius' AI data center Spectrum News · Aug 13
- Another Independence official has confidential deal after leaving. What’s being hidden? kansascity.com · Aug 15
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Independence Unique
- One of the 5 largest cities in Missouri (#5 statewide).
- One of 14 places in the US named Independence — but the Missouri one has a character all its own.
- Positioned in western Missouri, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
Why People Love It Here
- Full urban amenities: dining, healthcare, education, and employment in one place.
- Serious economic gravity — one of the region's employment and cultural hubs.
- Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 7 miles.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Independence
- 54th Street Grill & Bar
- Chuck E. Cheese — pizza
- Cracker Barrel — american
- Hawaiian Brothers Island Grill — hawaiian
- Pizza Hut — pizza
- Smokehouse BBQ — barbecue
- Starbucks — coffee shop (café)
- Chili's — tex-mex
- China Town Buffet
- Denny's — american
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🎡 Fun Things to Do
- Chuck E. Cheese
Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Independence
- Adventure Oasis Water Park reviews ★
- Beckett Park reviews ★
- George Owens Nature Park reviews ★
- Independence Athletic Complex reviews ★
- Little Blue Trace Nature Preserve · Nature reserve reviews ★
- Adair Park reviews ★
- Blackburn School Park reviews ★
- Bund-Jack Park reviews ★
- Carriage Hills Park reviews ★
- Clothier Park reviews ★
- Curtis Park reviews ★
- Glendale Park reviews ★
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Independence
- BLACKBURN ELEM.
- BLUE HILLS ELEM.
- BUCKNER ELEM.
- CAR. TECH. CTR. AT FT. OSAGE
- CLER-MONT ELEM.
- EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR.
- ELM GROVE ELEM.
- FIRE PRAIRIE MIDDLE
- FORT OSAGE HIGH
- INDIAN TRAILS ELEM.
- LEWIS AND CLARK LEARNING CTR.
- OSAGE TRAIL MIDDLE
- THOMAS HART BENTON ELEM.
- WILLIAM YATES ELEM.
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare
- Centerpoint Medical Center ★★★ (3/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER
Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.