Jackson County, Missouri Collection

Jackson County was originally part of Lafayette County until the General Assembly of the State of Missouri passed an act in 1825. The county was officially organized in 1826 and named for Andrew Jackson, then a U.S. Senator and later the 7th president of the United States. It has two county seats; Independence and Kansas City. Early settlement was centered in towns such as Fort Osage, Independence, Westport, and Lone Jack. As the western migration began in the 1830s and 1840s, the cities of Independence and Westport saw an explosion in population as well as importance. The Santa Fe, Oregon, and California trails either started or went through western Jackson County. Independence even gained the nickname “Queen City of Trails”. Kansas City became a city on March 28, 1853. It quickly grew in population and size. Jackson County was the site of many battles and skirmishes during the Civil War. The period after the Civil War brought prosperity to Jackson County, especially the decade 1880-1889. The county has continued to grow in population and national importance.