Nearly 500,000 residents call Kansas City, Mo. home and close to two million people reside in its surrounding metropolitan. With its strong business community – serving as headquarters for H&R Block, Russell Stover, Hallmark Cards and AMC Theatres – it’s no wonder Kansas City ranked #5 in Forbes “Best Mid-Sized Cities for Job Growth” last year. Besides work opportunities, the City also has an impressive variety of sports, arts and nightlife.
Many residents cheer for Kansas City’s professional sports teams, such as the Chiefs (NFL), Royals (MLB), Command (arena football), Sporting KC (soccer) and Explorers (tennis). Kansas City’s new Sprint Arena will be home to the Big Twelve Basketball Championship in 2011 and 2012.
Kansas City also preserves and promotes its impressive artistic culture. The City is affectionately known as the “City of Fountains” because it boasts more fountains per capita than any other city in the world besides Rome. The City also supports public art projects. Its One Percent for Art program began more than 20 years ago – this program requires all new City buildings or renovations to set aside 1 percent of its total cost to be used for public art. A number of traveling art exhibits make sure to stop in Kansas City each summer. One such exhibit, Avenue of the Arts, displays six pieces of temporary public artwork, resulting in a landscape dotted with unique and captivating sculptures.
Residents and visitors alike enjoy Kansas City’s exciting nightlife, with its wide variety of restaurants, bars, festivals and shopping. First Fridays in the Crossroads Art District allows visitors to stroll through dozens of art galleries while sampling free food and drink the first Friday of every month. Opened in early 2008, KC Live! is home to several restaurants, bars and unique shops located in the heart of downtown in the new Power and Light District.
Check out some of the following websites to learn more about the City. You will find no other city has as much to offer a young professional at such a low cost of living.
