History of Kansas City metropolitan area in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 8, 2026

The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state region spanning Missouri and Kansas, anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. With an estimated 2024 population exceeding 2.2 million across fourteen counties and 8,472 square miles (21,940 km2), it stands as the second-largest metropolitan area in Missouri and the largest in Kansas. Key cities within the metro area, aside from Kansas City, Missouri, include Overland Park, Kansas City (Kansas), Olathe, Independence, and Lee's Summit, each with populations exceeding 100,000.

1966: Voters Approve Bond Issue

In 1966, voters approved a bond issue for $150 million in upgrades to what became the Kansas City International Airport.

1972: Kansas City International Becomes Primary Airport

In 1972, Kansas City International (then known as Mid-Continent International Airport) became the primary airport for the Kansas City metropolitan area.

1972: Kansas City International Airport Opened

In 1972, Kansas City International Airport (MCI) opened as TWA's "Airport of the Future".

2000: Presidential Candidates

Since 2000, the Kansas City metro area has voted for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates equally.

July 2005: Metro Area Express (MAX) launch

In July 2005, the Metro Area Express (MAX) became Kansas City, Missouri's first bus rapid transit line.

2009: Kansas City Kansan moves online

In 2009, The Kansas City Kansan moved from print to an online format.

December 12, 2012: Ballot initiative approved

On December 12, 2012, voters approved a ballot initiative to fund construction of the $102 million KC Streetcar line.

August 2014: Cerner Acquires Siemens Healthcare

In August 2014, Cerner Corporation announced its acquisition of competitor Siemens Healthcare.

2015: GDP Contribution

In 2015, the Kansas City metropolitan area accounted for 40.9% of the total GDP in the state of Kansas and 22.7% of the total GDP in the state of Missouri.

May 2016: KC Streetcar Opened

In May 2016, the KC Streetcar, a 2.2-mile modern streetcar line in Downtown Kansas City, opened to the public.

2018: Job Growth

From 2018 to 2019 Kansas added 13,000 jobs and Missouri added 6,500 jobs in Kansas City metropolitan area.

2018: Kansas City metropolitan area population

In 2018, the population of the Kansas City metropolitan area (MO-KS) was 2,106,632.

2019: Employment Statistics

As of 2019, Missouri accounted for 56% of employment and Kansas accounted for 44% of employment in the Kansas City metropolitan area. From 2018 to 2019 Kansas added 13,000 jobs and Missouri added 6,500 jobs.

2022: Kansas City CSA population

In 2022, the Kansas City CSA population was 2,209,152.

February 28, 2023: New Single-Terminal Building Opened

On February 28, 2023, a new single-terminal building opened at Kansas City International Airport to modernize the design, operations, and passenger experience.