History of the Kansas City metropolitan area
The history of the Kansas City metropolitan area started in the 19th century as Frenchmen from St. Louis, Missouri moved up the Missouri River to trap for furs and trade with the Native Americans. The Kansas City metropolitan area, straddling the border between Missouri and Kansas at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, was a strategic point for commerce and security. Kansas City, Missouri was founded in 1838 and defeated its rival Westport to become the predominant city west of St. Louis. The area played a major role in the westward expansion of the United States. The Santa Fe, and Oregon trails ran through the area. In 1854, when Kansas was opened to Euro-American settlement, the Missouri-Kansas border became the first battlefield in the conflict in the American Civil War.
Kansas City Kansas Community College
Kansas City Kansas Community College was founded in 1923 as part of the Public School System of Kansas City, Kansas. In 1965, in accordance with legislation governing two-year colleges in the State of Kansas, the name of the college changed to Kansas City Kansas Junior College. In 1979, legislative action created another name change for the two-year colleges in the state. The term "junior" was dropped from their names and replaced with "community"; at this time the college officially became known as Kansas City Kansas Community College.