city, seat of Wyandotte Co., NE Kansas, at the confluence of the Kansas (Kaw) and Missouri rivers, adjacent to Kansas City, Mo.; inc. 1886. One of the largest cities in the state, it is a commercial, manufacturing, and distribution center for the surrounding crop-farming and livestock-raising area. Major manufactures include processed food (especially meat), building materials, transportation equipment, machinery, chemicals, and refined petroleum. It is the site of the University of Kansas Medical Center (1905), Central Baptist Theological Seminary (1901), two junior colleges, the Kansas State School for the Blind, and the Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Also here are Woodlands, a racetrack; River City USA, a family entertainment complex; and the Standstone Amphitheater. A Renaissance Festival is held here annually.

Settled in 1843 by the Wyandot Indians, the site was sold to the federal government in 1855. The community of Wyandotte was platted here two years later and was incorporated in 1859. The area developed as a major cattle market and meat-packing center after 1863, when Wyandotte became a station on the first transcontinental railroad. In 1886 the communities of Wyandotte, Armstrong, and Armourdale were amalgamated to form Kansas City. Later, adjoining settlements such as Argentine, Quindaro, Rosedale, and Turner were annexed by the city. Pop. (1980) 161,087; (1990) 149,767; (2000) 146,866.