The 6th District covers most of northwest and north-central Missouri, stretching from the Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas borders to North Kansas City and Eastern Jackson County. The District generally runs north along the Missouri River from the Kansas border to the Cooper County line east of Boonville. South of the Missouri River, the District also encompasses part of Eastern Jackson County and most of Blue Springs. The Districts’ eastern edge runs from Cooper County to Schuyler County taking in all of Howard, Chariton, Linn, Sullivan, and Mercer Counties.

  The 6th District consists of 26 counties: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, part of Jackson, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Schuyler, Sullivan and Worth.

  The district is very diverse, combining the Kansas City suburbs north of the Missouri River and Eastern Jackson County with rural, predominantly agricultural parts of north and central Missouri.

History of the 6th District

  The Sixth District is rich in history. As frontier land, Missouri saw many changes and events during the 19th Century.

  Fort Osage was the second outpost in the Louisiana Purchase and was used by the U.S. Government for 19 years. The Fort was established to maintain stability in the new frontier. In 1961, Fort Osage was recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

  Since Kansas City was located on the Missouri River, the young town was the starting place for many wagon trains heading to California and Oregon. Independence was the “jumping off” point for both the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. Pioneers would stock up on the necessary supplies before joining a train to head West. The move to the western frontier began in the 1840’s and continued through the rest of the 19th Century.

  St. Joseph is known for the beginning of the Pony Express and the end of Jesse James. The Pony Express was established in April 1860 to provide the fast delivery of mail between St. Joseph and Sacramento, California. Riders relayed mail over the 2,000-mile trail with new riders taking over every 75 to 100 miles. The total time for mail to travel from St. Joseph to Sacramento was usually ten days. The completion on the telegraph put an end to the Pony Express in October 1861. The Pony Express Stables in St. Joseph have been turned into a museum that is open to the public.

  The infamous Jesse James met his end in St. Joseph in 1882. Born in Kearney in 1847, Jesse and his brother Frank formed the James Gang with a few other men. The Gang traveled throughout the Midwest robbing trains and banks. In 1882, members of his own gang turned on Jesse and shot him in the head at his home in St. Joseph. That home has been turned into a museum and is open for tours.

  Watkins Woolen Mill is a restored 19th century textile mill that still has much of the original machinery intact. Established by Waltus Watkins in 1861, the Mill grew greatly during the Civil War and added a flourmill, general mill, and employee housing was added. The family The Mill is next to Watkins Mill State Park, which also has much to offer, from camping to fishing.

  Conception is the home to Conception Abbey, Conception Seminary College, and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Founded in the early 1870’s by Benedictine monks, the monastery was completed in 1881 and the Basilica was finished ten years later. Conception Abbey is one of only 33 basilicas in the country. The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration is located in nearby Clyde. Together, these two groups worked to serve the growing community in the late 19th century.

  General John J. Pershing, one of the greatest military leaders in American history, grew up in the small town on Laclede. Pershing also served as a teacher at the Prairie Mound School before beginning his military career. Both his childhood home and school exhibit the many accomplishments of this war hero.

  Jamesport is Missouri’s largest Amish community and offers visitors a view into the past and the Amish way of life. Amish quilts, foods, and antiques can be found at many of the local stores.

Commerce

  The continued growth in the northland and Eastern Jackson County surrounding Kansas City, not withstanding this area of the District continues to reflect the agricultural heritage that still dominates most of the 6th District's counties. For instance, the Northland is home to the national headquarters of Farmland, Dairy Farmers of America, and Charlois.

  Outside the greater metropolitan area of the District that is dominated by communities like Blue Springs, Liberty, North Kansas City, Parkville, and Riverside, the economic hub and population center of the District is located in St. Joseph. A river town of 74,000, St. Joseph is a center for commerce, transportation, and agriculture.

  The largest employer in the District is Ford Motor Company. Located in Claycomo, Ford employs around 5,000 people. American Airlines, Citibank, Farmland, Bayer, and Harley Davidson also employ thousands of employees each in the 6th District.

  The Golden Triangle Ethanol Plant in Craig is a major employer for northern Missouri and is looking to expand. With corn purchased from the region, the plant is able to produce 14-million gallons of ethanol fuel a year.

  For the remainder of the District, the commercial focus is on the main street small businesses, farms, and agribusinesses. Corn, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, and hogs are still the mainstay on the farms of the 6th District.

Area Attractions

  The range of geography, from river bluffs to open plains, provides the District with many state parks and forests. Along the Missouri River, one can enjoy the Lewis & Clark State Park and Lake,and Weston Bend State Park. Pinebreaks State Forest, Big Lake State Park, Pershing State Park, Fountain Grove Wildlife Area, Wallace State Park, Swan Lake Refuge, and Crowder State Park are also areas of enjoyment across the District.

  Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, located near Mound City, is home to many different animals including bald eagles that migrate into the Refuge during the late fall and early winter. Established in 1935, the Refuge covers over 7,000 acres. Visitors can walk the trails or drive around Squaw Creek to view the wildlife and the beautiful river bluffs.

  The Missouri River forms the border for much of the 6th District. The “Big Muddy,” as it has been nicknamed, runs a total of 2,341 miles, from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis where it joins the Mississippi River. The Missouri River is vital to the 6th District, serving for recreation purposes, irrigation for farming, and the transportation of goods. The River also provides a diverse ecosystem for many plants and animals.

Education

  Education is an important part of the entire district. The area is home to more than 100 school districts
(link: www.dese.state.mo.us/schdistrictsweb.htm) and 9 institutions of higher education.

Four-Year Colleges and Universities in the 6th District