Waldo is a neighborhood located on the southside of Kansas City, Missouri, that has continued to maintain its own unique character, even though it was annexed by Kansas City in 1909. Waldo's boundaries are Gregory Boulevard on the north to 85th Street on the south, and Holmes Street on the east to State Line on the west.

History

In 1841, David Waldo of

Gasconade County, Missouri Gasconade County is a county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,794. The county seat has been Hermann since 1842. The county was named after the Gasconade River. Th ...

, was convinced by some friends to purchase land in Jackson County, Missouri. Waldo purchased that ran from what is now Gregory to 91st Street and State Line to Holmes. In 1860 a rail line was established between Westport and Dodson, and a main stop was located in Waldo. When the rail line was converted to street cars in 1907, a brick station was built at the Waldo location, and it became known as the Grand Central Station of Waldo. Waldo was annexed by Kansas City in 1909, which pushed the southern city limit from 49th Street to 77th Street. Business began to grow around the station, including Elmer Family Grocery and Milen Drygoods. As the growth continued, the Waldo area became a main traffic artery of south Kansas City. Houses on Wornall Road south to 75th Street made way for continued business expansion in the 1930s. The Waldo Water Tower, located near 75th and Holmes, is a local landmark and is listed in the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

. The

Alexander Majors Alexander Majors (October 4, 1814 – January 13, 1900) was an American businessman, who along with William Hepburn Russell and William B. Waddell founded the Pony Express, based in St. Joseph, Missouri. This was one of the westernmost point ...

House is another local landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Education

Waldo has a lending library, a branch of the

Kansas City Public Library The Kansas City Public Library is a public system headquartered in the Central Library in Kansas City, Missouri. The system operates its Central Library and neighborhood branches located in Kansas City, Independence, and Sugar Creek. Founde ...

. St. Elizabeth School is a parochial catholic school located in Waldo. It was founded in 1922, and serves students from pre-school through 8th grade. Hale Cook Elementary is a Kansas City public school located in Waldo. It was founded in 1912 and closed in 2009, but reopened as a neighborhood school in 2014. It serves students from pre-school through 6th grade. Kansas City Academy is an independent school serving students in 6th through 12th grade located in Waldo.

Area businesses

* Abbott Laboratories *

Black & Veatch Black & Veatch (BV) is the largest engineering firm in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Founded in 1915 in Kansas City, Missouri it is now headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas It is a global engineering, procurement, construction ( EPC) and ...

* Burns & McDonnell * Centriq Training * City Thrift * Classic Cookie * Crows Coffee * Everyday Produce Market * GlynnDevins * Irezumi Tattoo * K9 Closet * Pedego Electric Bikes * VeriShip * Waldo Bikes * Waldo Pizza

References

External links

A History of Waldo
* {{Coord, 38.99389, -94.59190, format=dms, display=title, type:city_region:US-MO
Alexander Majors House museums
Kansas City metropolitan area Neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri Populated places established in 1841 1841 establishments in Missouri

History

Education

Area businesses

See also

References

External links