Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine, Your destination for travel resources and entertainment.

Advertiser Information

Live in Kansas City 

“In the next five years, I believe Kansas City will be the new capital of innovation and creativity. We’re putting the pieces in place to compete with anyone in technology and the arts. We’re proudly America’s creative crossroads, and I think people would be surprised at how extraordinary our city and its people are. We’re a city on the move, and people are starting to take notice.”

—Mayor Sly James

Kansas City, Missouri

“With its affordable cost of living, high-performing school districts, and sophisticated metropolitan environment, Kansas City is an ideal place to raise a family. Whether you’re a young professional or a C-level executive, you have a greater chance to make an impact on your industry than you might elsewhere.”  

—Bob Marcusse

President and CEO

Kansas City Area Development Council

“Kansas City appeals to all types of people. College grads love that it’s cosmopolitan but also down-to-earth. Families love the wealth of things to see and do. And artists and musicians love the creative opportunities available here. You’ll find the city stays with you long after your visit—and that’s just how we like it.”

—Derek Klaus

Communications Manager

Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association

Facts of Life in Kansas City

• The Kansas City bistate metropolitan area includes 18 counties with a total population of 2.5 million. 

• Greater Kansas City is the most centrally located metropolitan area in the country. 

• According to the National Association of Realtors, the median home price in Kansas City is $124,400. 

• The average age of Kansas City residents is 36.5 years old. 

• The average high temperature in July is 90 degrees. 

Work in Kansas City 

“Kansas City is a vibrant city and offers flourishing suburban communities, rolling hills, and tree-lined boulevards. We have a thriving economy driven by thousands of small businesses, tech startups, and medical research; and we’re the headquarters of several industry-leading, international companies such as Garmin. This city is home to talented individuals who have helped grow Garmin into what it is today.”

—Cliff Pemble

President and Chief Operating Officer

Garmin International

“There’s an extremely robust business atmosphere here in Kansas City. In addition to Sprint, companies such as Hallmark and H&R Block all have their headquarters here. The city is small enough to get around easily, but still large enough to have NFL and MLB teams. One of the first things I noticed about Kansas City is the absence of car horns! You’ll find people are relaxed, smiling, and friendly. And it always surprises visitors how beautiful and green the city is.”

—Dan Hesse

CEO, Sprint

Facts of Work in Kansas City

• The Kansas City area is home to three Fortune 500 companies: Seaboard, Sprint, and YRC Worldwide.

• Greater Kansas City boasts 20 four-year colleges and universities. 

• In the spring of 2011, Google chose the Kansas City area (out of nearly 1,100 American communities) as the site of a new fiber-optic, broadband network.

• Kansas City ranks seventh in the country for its number of visual artists per capita. 

• In October 2011, the online business publication Under30CEO ranked Kansas City No.2 on its list of “Top Ten Cities for Young Entrepreneurs.”

• More than 20,000 people are employed by the nearly 200 biotech companies in the region. 

Heal in Kansas City 

“Health care is thriving in Kansas City due to our high level of expertise. We have some of the country’s leaders in pediatric subspecialties, and the research and clinical trials we’re doing at Children’s Mercy Hospital will continue to improve outcomes not only for patients here, but for children throughout the country. This city is truly cutting-edge, from our technology to the commitment of the health care community to research and life sciences. And being on the leading edge has made all the difference for our patients.”

—Randall O’Donnell

President and CEO

Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics  

“Kansas City is home to a wealth of exceptional medical services, physicians, and clinicians. There’s no reason to leave our metro area for the very best care. Many of the clinical procedures being performed today at hospitals nationwide were developed right here. At Saint Luke’s, our specialists in cardiovascular care, neuroscience, and other areas are raising the standard of care for Kansas City and the country.”

—Melinda L. Estes, M.D.

President and CEO

Saint Luke’s Health System

“Midwest values lend themselves well to finding physicians, nurses, and other caregivers who are focused on the patient. You can visit a nationally ranked hospital in Kansas City while keeping a rural, suburban, or urban lifestyle. That flexibility attracts not only patients, but physicians and nurses who are looking for a great city in which to raise a family. The University of Kansas Hospital is becoming a destination hospital, and we served patients from every state in the country last year. Patients came for many of our cancer specialties, solid-organ transplants, and specialized heart care, and we’ve been a pioneer in ways to deliver the best care.”  

—Bob Page

President and CEO

The University of Kansas Hospital

“Kansas City is the breadbasket of the United States, and we’ve got incredible small farmers with wonderful land to grow outstanding product. At The Farmhouse, we’re currently working with 38 local farmers to get the best product for our customers. The health benefits of eating locally grown food are plentiful. We’re able to get fresher produce, and we can monitor what processes our farmers are using. By eating local, you’re also supporting your local economy and neighbors. And we also have a smaller carbon footprint when we use our local environment.”  

—Michael Foust

Owner/Chef

The Farmhouse

Facts of Health in Kansas City

• Greater Kansas City is home to 16 hospitals and medical facilities.

• Children’s Mercy Hospital is the fifth largest employer in Kansas City. 

• For 2011–2012, U.S. News & World Report listed the University of Kansas Hospital among the best medical facilities in six adult specialties, including cardiology and heart surgery. It also cited Children’s Mercy Hospital as one of the 50 best pediatric hospitals in 10 major subspecialties.

• Saint Luke’s Health System employs 9,700 employees at its 11 hospitals and health-related facilities in the area.

• Kansas City is home to the largest concentration of animal health care businesses in the world. 

Play in Kansas City 

“From tailgating with friends to family reunions and pre-race concerts, there is so much to do at Kansas Speedway during race weekends. On October 21, the stars of the Nascar Sprint Cup Series will compete on a completely new racing surface that’s sure to bring out the best in all of the teams. Our fans can’t wait to be a part of history as our new track makes its debut.”

—Chris Schwartz

Vice President of Marketing and Sales

Kansas Speedway 

 “The Chiefs are celebrating our 50th year in Kansas City, and tours of Arrowhead Stadium give fans a firsthand experience of this iconic venue. There’s nothing like driving in on game day and seeing barbecue smoke rising above the crowd of tailgaters and enveloping the famous silhouette of the stadium. Our fans are very welcoming and very loud. Sports bind the city together and are a key component of the Kansas City spirit.”

—Mark Donovan

President

Kansas City Chiefs

“There’s never a boring moment in Kansas City! Hotel Phillips recently completed a renovation in November, which included all the public spaces and all 217 guest rooms. The greatest surprise to people visiting this city is all the amazing things happening —the arts, museums, restaurants, and special events.” 

—Blaine Proctor

Director of Sales and Marketing

Hotel Phillips

“Kansas City is big enough to have great cultural amenities, but small enough for everyone to be connected. Many people don’t think of Kansas City as an Irish town, but it was largely built by Irish immigrants. Irish Fest gives the downtown area an economic boost, as thousands of visitors from across the country attend each year. It’s like an old-fashioned ice cream social for 90,000 people. Only with good music and really cold beer.”  

—Keli O’Neill Wenzel

Executive Director

Kansas City Irish Fest

Facts of Play in Kansas City

• Major League Baseball All-Star Summer consists of five days of autograph signings, a home run derby, a charity 5K, and other activities, all leading up to the All-Star Game on July 10 at Kauffman Stadium.

• Because of its popular racing simulators and pre-race concerts, the Kansas Speedway was named the “Most Family-Friendly Track” by Sports Illustrated in January 2012.

• Kansas City has hosted more NCAA basketball tournaments (150) than any other city in the country. 

• Budget Travel magazine named Kansas City among its top 10 budget travel destinations for 2012. 

• In September 2011, Travel + Leisure ranked Kansas City among the country’s best cities for foodies. Two months later, the magazine put it at No. 6 on its list of “America’s Most Sports-Crazed Cities.”

• The Country Club Plaza, now home to more than 150 shops and restaurants, opened as the country’s first outdoor shopping district in 1922. 

• Union Station, which features a science center, rail museum, restaurants, and a theater district, is second only to Grand Central Station as the largest operating train station in the nation.

• The Power and Light District features more than 50 shops, restaurants, and watering holes, including the dueling piano bar, Howl at the Moon.

• The Crossroads Arts District hosts free First Fridays events each month, when galleries and shops stay open late for lovers of the arts.