Waldo, Kansas City

Waldo is a neighborhood located in Kansas City, Missouri on 75th Street and Wornall Road that has continued to maintain its own unique character, even though it was annexed by Kansas City in 1909. Waldo's boundaries are Gregory Boulevard on the north to 91st Street on the south (although 89th street forms a full south boundary), and Troost Avenue on the east to State Line Road on the west.

History

In 1841, Dr. David Waldo of Gasconade County, Missouri, was convinced by some friends to purchase land in Jackson County, Missouri. Dr. Waldo purchased 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) that ran from what is now 75th Street to 59th Street and Wornall Road to Troost.

In 1860 a rail line was established between Westport and Dodson, and a main stop was located in Waldo. When the rail line was converted to street cars in 1907, a brick station was built at the Waldo location, and it became known as the Grand Central Station of Waldo. Waldo was annexed by Kansas City in 1909, which pushed the southern city limit from 49th Street to 77th Street. Business began to grow around the station, including Elmer Family Grocery and Milen Drygoods store. As the growth continued, the Waldo area became a main traffic artery of south Kansas City. Houses on Wornall Road south to 75th Street made way for continued business expansion in the 1930s.

The Waldo water tower, located near 75th and Holmes, is a local landmark.

Present day

Sunnyside Park, at 84th Street and Summit Street, is currently being considered as a location for an off-leash dog park.

Notable local businesses

National tenants

See also

External links

Coordinates: 38°59′38″N 94°35′31″W / 38.99389°N 94.59190°W / 38.99389; -94.59190


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, January 25, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.