Raytown

About Raytown

Raytown is a midsize suburban city in Missouri's Jackson County, just 10 miles southeast of Kansas City. With its proximity to one of the largest cities in the Midwest, Raytown is home to many people who commute to Kansas City for work but still enjoy the peaceful, relaxed atmosphere of their quiet hometown. A convenient location, an extensive parks system and above-average schools make Raytown an ideal community for families. With just a short drive to the city, you can easily access fine dining, museums, professional sports and other activities.

The History of Raytown

In the latter half of the 18th century, the area now known as Raytown was part of the land owned by the native Osage people. After the Native Americans left the area, it became a starting point for settlers beginning their journey on the Santa Fe Trail. During this time, many farmers and tradesmen moved here, selling supplies to pioneers. In 1848, one of those men was blacksmith William Ray, whose name is part of the town's history.

For decades after that, the growth of the town remained stagnant. In the early 1900s, the city grew as the result of a newly built railroad. By 1950, it had grown to over 1,000 residents, and it incorporated the same year. Today, Raytown is primarily residential, although hundreds of small businesses operate in the downtown area in the services, banking, IT, manufacturing and retail sectors.

Jobs in Raytown

Many residents of Raytown commute to Kansas City or other suburbs for work, in order to access a wider job market. If you'd rather work close to home, however, you can still find a good job within city limits. Local businesses like grocery stores, convenience stores and restaurants often have open positions.

The largest employer in Raytown by far is Raytown Quality Schools, which provides more than 1,000 jobs in a variety of roles. You don't necessarily have to be a teacher to be employed by the school district; keep in mind that support staff, like administrative assistants, custodial staff and more, are also very important. Other major employers in the city include Walmart, Hy-Vee, USA 800 and Kansas City Power & Light.

Raytown Schools

Raytown is part of Raytown C-2 School District, or Raytown Quality Schools. You'll also find plenty of private school options in Raytown and its neighboring communities, with options including Montessori and faith-based campuses.

Resources for Moving to Raytown

Here are a few helpful resources to make your move to Raytown as easy as possible:

• Utilities: The Raytown Water Co. and Public Water District No. 2 facilitate water services for the city. The city's primary energy providers are Kansas City Power & Light and the Missouri Gas Energy Co.
• Garbage and Recycling: The city doesn't provide trash services, so it's up to you to locate and hire your own private company.
• Transportation: RideKC is the public transit program that serves Raytown and most of the Kansas City metro area.
• Pets: All dogs, cats, ferrets and pot-bellied pigs over 90 days of age are required to be licensed with the city. You may have up to four dogs and cats, and just one pig.

Raytown Housing

Even with its many amenities and proximity to the big city, the homes in Raytown are very affordable. Rent is also fairly budget-friendly, but you can often own a home for a lower monthly payment, making it a sound investment.