Raytown, Missouri
Raytown is a city of 29,445 people in Jackson County, Missouri, founded in 1849.
Why visit Raytown
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 22 parks and trails, 23 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Starlight Theatre, 85th and Manchester "Three Trails" Trail Segment, Four Gates Farm and Palmer Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Raytown
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Raytown
Raytown is a city in Jackson County, Missouri, United States, and is a suburb of Kansas City. The population was at 30,012 in 2020 census. The current mayor of Raytown is Michael McDonough. It is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Raytown, Missouri (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Starlight Theatre
Cinema and theater · 3.9 mi
Outdoor theater in Kansas City, Missouri
Museums and landmarks6
85th and Manchester "Three Trails" Trail Segment
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
United States historic place
Four Gates Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Historic house in Missouri, United States
Rice-Tremonti House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Raytown, Missouri, listed on the NRHP in Jackson County
Brooking Historic Cemetery
Monument and historic site · 2.2 mi
The walled cemetery was built by Judge Brooking and his enslaved workers in the 1840s. This family cemetery became the nucleus of the...
Raytown Historical Society & Museum
Museum · 1.0 mi
9705 East 63rd Street, Raytown
Parks, trails and playgrounds22
Palmer Park
Park · 2.9 mi
Relatively undeveloped city park, planned as a natural area and outdoor nature classroom for adjacent elementary school. Has an outdoor...
7887 East 54th Street, Kansas City
Mo-Su 05:00-24:00
Swope Park
Park · 4.0 mi
Park in Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
Timber Valley Park
Park · 1.7 mi
An undeveloped park, dedicated by the Timber valley plats.
6498 Norfleet Road, Kansas City
Terry Copeland Park (under development)
Park · 2.3 mi
A new Raytown Park facility, under development as of 10/2024, will include dog parks and other facilities.
10 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes23
Papa John's
Fast food · Pizza · 0.4 mi
9460 East State Route 350, Raytown
Mo-Th 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-01:00; Su 10:00-24:00
11 more on the map.
History
The area where Raytown now lies was developed throughout the 19th century and early 20th century as pioneers moved westward along the Three Trails in search of available fertile lands and water. It was added to the state of Missouri at a cost of $800 by a treaty signed in 1826. Jackson County, named after President Andrew Jackson, was formed in 1827.
A large section of the county, Township 49, was accidentally not offered for sale when the other townships were, and so was called "The Lost Township". People moved into the township and squatted until the township was surveyed and the land sold in 1843.
The pioneers and travelers moving westward down the Three Trails discovered an area of high, wooded ridges, in the Raytown area, that reminded them of their former homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The land was named Blue Ridge, with the bordering bodies of waters called the Big Blue and the Little Blue rivers.
The Rice-Tremonti Home, which still stands in Raytown today, was built on the Santa Fe Trail in 1844 by Archibald Rice and his family.
William Ray established a blacksmith shop on the Santa Fe Trail in Jackson County in about 1848. The settlement around the blacksmith shop was known first as "Ray's Town" and later as "Raytown" in 1854. (Now Fox's Drugs) The Anvil on the flag was to commemorate William Ray and his blacksmith shop.
From the History section of Raytown, Missouri on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Holiday Inn Express & SuitesHoliday Inn Express & Suites Kansas City Sport Complex Area
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
8551 East Blue Parkway, Kansas City
Churches and places of worship49
First United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 2.4 mi
5413 Blue Ridge Cutoff
Heaven Sent Community Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.5 mi
9507 East 59th Street
Kansas City Baptist Temple (Graceway, KCBT)
Church · Baptist · 2.4 mi
5460 Blur Ridge Cutoff
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries62
Healthcare4
ReDiscover's Behavioral Health Urgent Care Clinics - Raytown Outreach
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.1 mi
7001 Blue Ridge Boulevard
Map of Raytown
179 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 22°F | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 44°F | 26°F | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 35°F | 2.1 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 46°F | 4.2 in |
| May | 75°F | 56°F | 5.7 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 5.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 70°F | 4.6 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 68°F | 4.5 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 59°F | 3.1 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 47°F | 3.4 in |
| Nov | 54°F | 36°F | 2.0 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 26°F | 1.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lees Summit Muni Ap (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Jackson County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-07-09: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2015-08-07: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2011-06-30: Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-02-03: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Lee's Summit 6 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- Grandview 8 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- Independence 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- Prairie Village 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Kansas City 10 mi northwest, about 16 min by car
- Blue Springs 10 mi east, about 17 min by car
- Leawood 11 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Belton 13 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Merriam 13 mi west, about 20 min by car
- Overland Park 14 mi southwest, about 23 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Aerial view of Raytown, Missouri 8-31-2013, Ichabod, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Raytown Limestone Formation and underlying Muncie Creek Shale, Kansas City Group, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WestervilleLS-Outcrop-Raytown-IMG 20250321 193018406, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WestervilleLS-fossils-Raytown-IMG 20250321 191846083, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WestervilleLS-fossils-Raytown-IMG 20250321 193253461, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- CementCityLS-fossil-Raytown-IMG 20250323 215006163, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WestervilleLS-Fossils-Raytown-IMG 20250321 192151156, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WestervilleLS-Outcrop-Raytown-LMC 20250321 191607 2024-10-03 LMC8.4r8, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- KCMO Zoo Nima 09, Nightryder84, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Starlight Theatre Stage, Duedate2010, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Starlight-theatre, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cave Spring, Santa Fe Trail Campground, Brent Hugh, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WestervilleLS-exposure-RockIslandTrail-IrwinRd-20230422 193039 lmc 8.4, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- Rice Tremonti House, TBoaN, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WestervilleLS-crinoid-RockIslandTrail-75thSt-IMG 20230419 174042699, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WestervilleLS-Crinoids-RockIslandTrail-75thSt-IMG 20230419 174648604, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WestervilleLS-fossils-RockIslandTrail-75thSt-IMG 20230419 174712352, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- LMC 20250412 175105 2024-10-03 LMC8.4r8, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- Detail of Cement City Limestone, Kansas City Group, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- Cement City Limestone, Kansas City Group, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- Wea Shale, Cherryvale Formation, Lower Linn Subgroup, Kansas City Group, Brent Hugh, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BlockLS-RockIslandTrail-75thSt-20230422 200158 lmc 8.4, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- Block Limestone Exposed by a Creek, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- Wea Shale Excavated by a Burrowing Rodent, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WintersetLS-cliff-RockIslandTrail-Frost-20230422 200738 lmc 8.4, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WintersetLS-detail-RockIslandTrail-Noland-IMG 20231106 164111419, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WintersetLS-cliff-RockIslandTrail-Frost-LMC 20231106 163355 LMC8.3R8 Moto G Stylus 2022 first-CROP-CROP, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- WintersetLS-RockIslTrail-Noland-LMC 20241008 184525 LMC8.3R8 Moto G Stylus 2022 first, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- MiddleCreekLS-BethanyFallsKS-RockIslTrail-Knobtown-LMC 20230314 184826 LMC8.3R8 Moto G Stylus 2022 first-CROP, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- MiddleCreekLS-BethanyFallsKS-RockIslTrail-Knobtown-LMC 20230314 185041 LMC8.3R8 Moto G Stylus 2022 first-CROP, Bhugh, CC BY 4.0
- Wieduwilt Swales on the Santa Fe Trail. Historical Marker, Mwkruse, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wieduwilt Swales on the Santa Fe Trail. Markers, Mwkruse, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wieduwilt Swales on the Santa Fe Trail, Mwkruse, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Clasts and Fossils in Knobtown Sandstone, Brent Hugh, CC BY-SA 4.0
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