Jackson County's first 100 years

Published on March 09, 2026

Jackson County is celebrating its rich history during its Bicentennial in 2026.

During its first 100 years the county went from a frontier gateway for westward expansion to a major commercial and transport hub.

In 1821, Jackson County was included in the newly admitted state of Missouri. Jackson County was organized on December 15, 1826, and named for Andrew Jackson.

Independence was designated as county seat. A year later, the first courthouse was built in Independence by Daniel P. Lewis for $150. In 1836, the first permanent, brick courthouse was built on the Independence Square. That building, now known as the Truman Courthouse, has since undergone five major remodels.

The first county jail was a log structure built in 1827 in Independence, which was destroyed by fire in 1841. A new brick jail was constructed following the fire which was replaced in 1859. The 1859 jail has twelve limestone jail cells and a home for the jailer. It has been restored as a public museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The rapid increase in westward exploration and expansion resulted in Independence becoming the starting point for three of the great Westward Trails: Santa Fe, Oregon and California.

In 1831 Gabriel Prudhomme purchased 257 acres of land south of the Missouri River. Prudhomme farmed the land and ran a grocery and tavern. He was killed during a brawl in November 1831, just 10 months after purchasing the land.

Seven years after Prudhomme’s death the land was sold at auction. It was purchased by a coalition of 14 men who called themselves the "Town Company" for $4,220 establishing Westport Landing, now known as the River Market district. The area outside Westport Landing was renamed in 1839 as the Town of Kansas, after the local Kanza or Kaw tribe.

The town was chartered by Jackson County in 1850 and incorporated by the State of Missouri in 1853 as the "City of Kansas". In 1889, with a population of around 130,000, the city adopted a new charter and changed its name to Kansas City.

In the late 1800s, Jackson County transformed from a frontier outpost into a major urban center driven by westward expansion, the railroad and the rapid growth of Kansas City. Following the Civil War, the area saw massive population growth, with Kansas City annexing nearby areas like Westport in 1897.

The area became a center of Jazz and Blues music in the 1920s and ‘30s, as well as the headquarters of Hallmark Cards and the site of Walt Disney’s first animation studio.

During the Great Depression, political boss Tom Pendergast worked to implement a $50 million public works project that provided thousands of jobs helping the county fare better than most of the country.

In 1926, Harry S. Truman was elected Presiding Judge of Jackson County and was instrumental in the approval of a major bond issue and the adoption of a County "Ten Year Plan." The plan called for a new courthouse in downtown Kansas City plus remodeling of the Independence Courthouse, a juvenile center, and modernization of roads and bridges. Construction of the new courthouse began July 17, 1933, and the building was dedicated in 1934.

Returning soldiers and other workers moved into new subdivisions following World War II causing growth in the suburbs of Independence, Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit. The region then shifted toward commuter-based lifestyles.