Kansas City is the principal city of the Kansas City metropolitan area, which straddles the Kansas-Missouri state line. It’s located in the western part of Missouri. Kansas City is among the major U.S. cities renowned for its rich cultural heritage and cosmopolitan appeal. It is the city’s economic, transportation, and cultural centre. Since the 19th century, Kansas City has been influencing other cities around the U.S. with its unique jazz music and distinct barbecue style. It is famous for its plethora of fountains, earning it the nickname 'City of Fountains', and its impressive architecture, ranging from the neo-gothic design of the Kansas City Power and Light Building to the modern Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The United States Census Bureau conducts a census every ten years, with the most recent one in 2020. According to the 2020 census, Kansas City had a population of 495,327. Among other U.S. cities, Kansas City is known for its cultural diversity. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019, 59.2% of the population was White, 29.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 4.3% Two or More Races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 10.2% of the population. Kansas City is home to a number of religious beliefs, with Christianity being the most prevalent. The city also has sizable communities of people identifying as Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist. Kansas City is famous for its jazz music, with the American Jazz Museum being a major attraction. The city is also known for the Kansas City-style barbecue, characterized by its use of various types of meat, including pulled pork, pork ribs, smoked sausage, beef brisket, and others.

The government of Kansas City operates as a council-manager government with a mayor and a 12-member city council. The mayor is the presiding member. Kansas City holds city elections in every four years. The mayor and the council members are each elected to four-year terms. The city manager, appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council, serves as the city’s chief administrator. The city manager executes the laws and administers the government of the city.

Kansas City has a diverse economy that accommodates many sectors including telecommunications, transportation, information technology, manufacturing, and more. The city is known for having one of the largest freight rail centers in the U.S. and is a significant transportation hub. Kansas City's economy also benefits from its agricultural industry, being located in the Agricultural Heartland of America. The city has a GDP of about $124.6 billion, representing about 2.4% of the total GDP of Missouri.

Kansas City boasts a robust infrastructure plan that supports its continued growth and development. The city's location at the intersection of major national highways and rail lines has made it a significant transportation hub. The city is served by Kansas City International Airport, several interstate highways, and a bus transit system. Kansas City is also one of the few cities in the U.S. to have a citywide gigabit internet service, provided by Google Fiber. The city continues to invest in infrastructure improvements, including the construction of a new terminal at Kansas City International Airport, and the expansion of the city's streetcar line.