Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Kansas City, Missouri
State Missouri
City Kansas City
County1 Jackson*
City Population (2005)2 440,885 7.8% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 37 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 37 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Mid
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Jefferson City
State Population (2005)2 5,631,910
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Kay Barnes
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.kcmo.org/mayor.nsf/web/home?opendocument
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 816-513-3500
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, March 27, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  Yes
State Governor Name Matt Blunt
State/Governor Website http://www.state.mo.us/
State/Governor Contact Information 573-751-3222
State/Governor Party Affiliation Republican
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2009
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.29    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 16.9%    
     Disability Status 16.3% 46  
     Emphysema 1.25% 56  
     Cardiovascular Disease 25.00% 53  
     Diabetes 5.28% 55  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.53% 57  
     Adult Asthma 9.34% 59  
     Adult Obesity 22.5%   42
     People Without Health Insurance 12.4%   18
     Age: Children under 5 years 7.3% 32  
     Age: 65 years and over 12.1% 54  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 23.0% 39  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 12.9% 55  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 68.6% 4  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 7.7% 30  
     Individuals Below Poverty 17.6% 36  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 20.2% 33  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 68.3% 45  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 7.9% 13  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 2.9    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 32.3 (of 51) 40  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 66,272,686 pounds   35
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 63,744,000 pounds 32
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 7,992,330 pounds 35
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 510,926,210 pounds 34
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 532,929,071 pounds 32
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 30.2 grams 22
Number of Superfund Sites in County 2 sites 37  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.316 tons per person 42
Recycling Rate (1997) 33.0% 13
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 8,184,739 tons 36
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.4 tons/person 32
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 3,183,684 tons 12
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 38.9% 8
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.5% 31
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 6.4% 20
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 17.9% 10
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    2.4***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 235,500 tons   34
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 139,800 tons   36
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 76,041,800 tons   38
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 2,640 pounds   38
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 0.5 PM2.5 19  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 12.3 PM2.5 30  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.5 PM2.5 19  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 3 ppm 16  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.017 ppm 23  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.003 ppm 15  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    1.4***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Lower Missouri-Crooked ---  
# of Units in Watershed 115 units 13  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 115 units 10  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 115 units 58  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 100.0% 56  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 0.0% 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 37.62 inches 30  
Water Area Total, square miles 811 square miles 49  
Water Area Inland, square miles 811 square miles 42  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Kansas City ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 26 years 59  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 105 days 38  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Kansas City ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 64 years 5  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 20.0 inches 30  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 7,030,000,000 gallons/day 42  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 1,320,000,000 gallons/day 27  
Ground water, gallons/day 891,000,000 gallons/day 40  
Surface water, gallons/day 6,140,000,000 gallons/day 40  
Irrigation, gallons/day 567,000,000 gallons/day 40  
Public Supply, gallons/day 757,000,000 gallons/day 38  
Industrial, gallons/day 63,000,000 gallons/day 63  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 5,550,000,000 gallons/day 31  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 692,000,000 gallons/day 43  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Kansas City Water ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 450,000 people 40  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 0 contaminants 1  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 27 contaminants 59  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 20 contaminants 59  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 7 contaminants 54  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    2.7***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 1,408.2 people per square mile 66  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 645.3 housing units per square mile 66  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 21.9 minutes 27  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 21.2 minutes 28  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 11.8% 53  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 3.8% 40  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 2.4% 52  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.6% 42  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 104.5 39  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 79.2 MV registrations   16
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 36.3%   19
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 46.2 MV registrations   22
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.12 MV registrations   17
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 124,685 miles   46
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.411%   28
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 14.1%   36
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.03 miles   38
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 27.96 miles   37
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $2,120,000,000   35
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $17,003 per mile   17
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 61.5%   33
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 9.0 hours per person 5  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $156 per person 5  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $235,000,000 13  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 6 gallons per person 5  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $38,414 37  
Median Household Income (2000) $37,198 40  
Per capita income (2004) $22,405 34  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $20,753 35  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 14.2% 38  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 14.3% 29  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 17.6% 36  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 4.0% 37  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 20.2% 33  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 18,630 people 33  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 5.4% 36  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 7.7% 30  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 4.2% 38  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 6.3% 40  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 22.3% 37  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 18.2% 37  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Same as Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $5.15 per hour 28  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 65,566 kids (1.2% of total pop.) 46  
Largest School District Enrollment 37,298 kids (0.7% of total pop.) 51  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 68.3% 45  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 31.4% 66  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 87.1% 17  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 26.0% 46  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 23% 39  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Ahead of the Curve   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade B   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Average   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 181,189 units 34  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 44.3% 39  
Cost of Living: Housing 58.5 15  
Cost of Living: Utilities 94.7 24  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 101.4 44  
Cost of Living: Overall 85.7 18  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 66.89%   12
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 51.50%   9
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 66.30%   10
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 31.7%   19
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 9,294.5 incidents per 100,000 people 62  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 1,443.8 incidents per 100,000 people 62  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 7,850.7 incidents per 100,000 people 64  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 9,332.6 incidents per 100,000 people 62  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score) 3.0    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 0.7 parks per square mile 31  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 30.8 park acres per city square mile 29  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 31.2 acres 5  
Parkland as % of City Area 6.9% 29  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $122 per resident 37  
Total City Tree Canopy % 15.4% 22  
Total City Urbanized Area % 40.6% 10  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users Yes ---  
Disability Advisory Committees Yes ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks No ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.0    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.53% 57
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 9.34% 59
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.14% 44
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.25% 56
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 25.00% 53
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.28% 55  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 22.5% 42
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 10.5% 42
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 12.0% 27
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 8.5% 42
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 204.2 38
Cost of Living: Health 98.6 21  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 11.8% 16
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 12.4% 18
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 5.1% 42
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.5% 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 13 farms 21
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 17 markets 19
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 0 grocery stores 54
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 6 other sources 11
Cost of Living: Food 102.0 34
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 81.7% 51
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 48.4% 57
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    3.6***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) Yes ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 2 programs   6
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 0 kW   41
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 0 kW   40
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems No   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol None   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes No Residential Energy Codes   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes No Commercial Energy Codes   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 0.9%   45
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 23 years 60
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 59% 23
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 10.6 mph 11
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 11.2 mph 12
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9.2 mph 14
Heating Degree Days 5,393 days 36
Cooling Degree Days 1,288 days 38
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 26 years 58
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 81% 33
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 61% 44
Elevation, feet 899 feet 53
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 440,885 37 (of 72 in EDN study) 7.8% of state population
City Population (2000) 441,545 36 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 5,631,910 18 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region South ---  
EPA Region 7 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 314.0 square miles 12 0.5% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 68,898 square miles 18  
Watershed Name Lower Missouri-Crooked ---  
Elevation, feet 899 ft. (273.4 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 26.9°F (-2.8°C) 56
Average Daily Temperature - July 78.5°F (25.8°C) 42  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 36.5 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 77.1% 14  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 12.1% 18  
Under 5 years of age 30,731 kids (7.3% of total pop.) 39  
One Race-White % (2005) 61.5% 38  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 38.5% 35  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 8.2% 44  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 7.9% 60  
Largest School District Name Kansas City Public School District ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network