Parts of Jackson County: Kansas City & 20 Towns

JACK TRUMAN FOR CONGRESS

Missouri 4th Congressional District

Let's talk a little bit about Jackson County.

I think it's important to bring something back to my home state here in Missouri. Where I grew up. Was raised. Went to school. Own property. And call home.

There's a lot to share about Jackson County in Missouri. This is one of 26 counties in the 4th Congressional District of Missouri that I'm running for U.S. Congress in 2016.

You can't get much more metropolitan, mixed with rural and down home living in Jackson County. The total population here in Jackson County is around 680,000 people. In the state of Missouri, it's the second most populated county. And the largest populated county in my 4th Congressional District. So it's very metropolitan. But also rural. Some small towns and down home living, along with a big city mix. Good values. Good morals. Very down home.

Jackson County is in the western part of the state of Missouri. Not too far down the road from my hometown. Lots of memories from my life in Jackson county. It's about 80 miles or so north from home. I consider Jackson County part of my big backyard. From where I live in Lamar, drive north on old Highway 71 or what they now call Interstate 49.

I have a lot of history in Jackson County. In the early 1980's, after my military service, I moved up to Kansas City in Jackson County and spent several years there in Independence and Kansas City. Began my theater and entertainment career there. Started working jobs there. Became a Royals and Chiefs fan. Great memories from the '80's and '90's.

A little bit of history about Jackson county:

Jackson County in Missouri started back in 1826.

The county was named after President Andrew Jackson.

Jackson County has a lot of history to it. In its early years, Jackson County was home to the Osage Native American Indian tribe, and also the first European explorers. France sold it to the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Several of the great Westward trails made their way through Jackson County. And Jackson County was a big factor in the Civil War. In the 1830's, Jackson County became a prominent part of the Latter Day Saint movement. A lot of history from the 1800's.

The 20th century played a lot of history too. Railroads, stockyards, jazz and blues music, Hallmark Cards, Walt Disney. The City Market, Westport, 18th and Vine district and the Kansas City Power and Light District.

And then there's always Harry S. Truman.

Religion plays a big factor in Jackson county. The primary religions are Protestant, Roman Catholic, Southern Baptists, and non-denominational Christians.

There are a lot of highways and towns in Jackson County. Kansas City is the biggest city, but there's a total of 20 towns:

Blue Springs
Blue Summit
Buckner
Grain Valley
Grandview
Greenwood
Independence
Kansas City
Lake Lotawana
Lake Tapawingo
Lee's Summit
Levasy
Lone Jack
Martin City
Oak Grove
Raytown
River Bend
Sibley
Sugar Creek
Unity Village

These are all the towns that make up Jackson county. But only parts of Jackson County are considered Missouri's 4th Congressional District.

I live in Barton County. Barton County in Missouri is a little south of Jackson County. Very rural area.

A lot of issues that need to be addressed relate more than ever to small town rural and metropolitan America. And Jackson County is no exception.

Taking care of our Farmers. Veterans. Senior Citizens. Children. Education. Health. Equality. The Second Amendment. Drug reform. The homeless. Prisons, jails and the Criminal Justice system. Small business. Making our country great again. Taking care of our own here domestically, and focusing on the little man and woman. The rural communities are our roots. Where everything got started. There's no discipline anyone. This culture doesn't follow rules. It's time to get back to some basic hometown values and traditions.

I've worked all kinds of jobs from coast to coast.

Got to know all kinds of cultures over my life. From New York to California. Dallas to Chicago. Florida to Utah. All my life. From my childhood to present day.

I have a lifetime of experiences: from education, business, military, public speaking, rural and metropolitan, to creative and innovative experience.

In a nutshell, I've lived a life less traveled. And want to share my lifetime of experiences to make our country a better place. For everyone.

It's time for a radical change. It's time for outsiders who represent the little man and woman to be a part of our government. It's time to shake things up in Washington. It's time for a political revolution.

My name is Jack Truman. And I'm running for U.S. Congress in Missouri's 4th Congressional District.