Gladstone, MO

Gladstone incorporated by popular vote in November 1952, and the reason is the point: to avoid being annexed by Kansas City. The new city took in all of the older village of Linden plus a good deal of surrounding land. Linden itself dated from the 1880s, when W. E. Winner bought three 80-acre farms and founded a town on part of the land. source 1 source 2

The name. The city took its name from the Gladstone Telephone Exchange that served the area. source

Formally incorporated under the Missouri Constitution by popular vote in November 1952. source

1. 1880W. E. Winner bought three 80-acre farms; the town of Linden was founded on part of the land, and the Kansas City and Atlantic Railroad was built to Linden. source
2. 1952Gladstone incorporated by popular vote in November, taking in all of old Linden, to avoid annexation by Kansas City. source
3. 2007The Atkins-Johnson Farmhouse property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. source

The median home sold here was built in 1965. Most of what sells was built between 1954 and 1998. That closely matches the Census figure of 1973 for all housing, so sales are broadly representative of the stock. 55% of sales included finished basement space beyond the above-grade footprint - which matters here, because square footage quoted above grade can understate a house considerably.

By property type, sales broke down as Single Family (234), Townhouse (28), Patio/Villa (8), Condo/Loft (7).

Gladstone is its own municipality, not part of Kansas City, Missouri - which is why a Gladstone address does not by itself create Kansas City earnings-tax liability. The 1% earnings tax follows Kansas City residency, or wages earned for work performed inside Kansas City limits. The boundary is not visible from the street, and a Gladstone mailing address is not proof of being outside Kansas City; someone commuting to a downtown job pays it regardless of where they live.

The Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum preserves 40 acres of farmland around a house begun as a two-story log cabin between 1831 and 1834 and converted to a four-room I-house by the Atkins family in 1853 - described as one of the oldest continuously occupied homes in Clay County. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 and is the city's first historic preservation project. source 1 source 2

Maple Woods Natural Area, a National Natural Landmark, lies within the city. source

Happy Rock Park

79.8 acres at NE 76th Street and N. Antioch Road, with five lighted ball fields, four soccer fields, four lighted tennis courts, a basketball court, three playgrounds and a 1.3-mile fitness trail circling the park. source

Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum

40-acre historic farm and house museum on the east side of the city, in the Big Shoal Heritage Area alongside Big Shoal Cemetery. source

Maple Woods Natural Area

National Natural Landmark within the city. source

Mid-Continent Public Library branch

Library branch serving the city. source

Schools

North Kansas City School District 74. The district covers a large part of southern Clay County including areas of Kansas City, Missouri; its boundaries do not follow Gladstone's city limits. Confirm the district and attendance area for any specific address. Confirm the assigned school for any specific address before you rely on it. source

Getting around

Missouri Routes 1 and 283 run through the city, US 169 is about 1.5 miles west, and Interstate 29 runs near the southern boundary. The FRA crossing inventory records no open at-grade rail crossings within Gladstone. source 1 source 2

Jerry Nolte

Artist and Missouri legislator from Gladstone. source