Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
“The Jackson County Courthouse, also known as the Truman Courthouse, is a historic courthouse in Independence, Missouri.”
Wikipedia article Jackson County Courthouse (Independence, Missouri), CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 414 National Register listings published here for Jackson County · listed in 1972 · category: Building.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service · the Wikipedia article
The chapter on Blue Township in The History of Jackson County, Missouri, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., Biographical Sketches of Its Citizens, Jackson County in the Late War... History of Missouri, Map of Jackson County .., published 1881 names Independence. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.
There is considerable timber, especially along the creeks and the Missouri River. The land is high and rolling, some of the bluffs along the river attaining a height above the river of over three hundred feet. Limestone quarries are abundant in all parts of the township, furnishing superior advantages for building and other purposes. Rock Creek rises southwest of Independence and flows north, emptying into the Missouri near the mouth of Big Blue. Springs of pure water issue from the hills, and water courses are abundant in every locality.
Passage source: The History of Jackson County, Missouri, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., Biographical Sketches of Its Citizens, Jackson County in the Late War... History of Missouri, Map of Jackson County .., published 1881.
No more favored spot can be found than Blue township, especially for agricultural, stock raising, horticulture and the general requisities to a good home. The proximity to market, the excellent facilities for communication with the east and west, the fertility of the soil, the healthfulness of the surroundings, and the intelligence and moral culture of the citizens are combined in a greater degree, and exist to a more desirable extent than in any other locality in Jackson county. The Missouri Pacific, Chicago & Alton and the Narrow Gauge Railroads run through the very heart of the township, and connect Independence by the most complete arrangements with all the large cities in the State. The well cultivated farms, adorned with beautiful and costly homes, orchards, shade trees and lawns, furnish a picture perfectly grand.
Passage source: The History of Jackson County, Missouri, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., Biographical Sketches of Its Citizens, Jackson County in the Late War... History of Missouri, Map of Jackson County .., published 1881.
Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.
Read the whole chapter on Blue Township - 6,365 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 9 fires within 5 miles of Jackson County Courthouse between 1992 and 2020, burning about 13 acres in total. None started naturally. 1 was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 5 |
| Debris and open burning | 2 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 April 1992 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 7 March 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 176031-04834-03072018-1713 |
| 5 March 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 176030-04834-03052018-1638 |
| 13 March 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 176032-04834-03132018-2025 |
| 12 March 2018 | Debris and open burning | 9.4 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | 166065-04828-03122018-1717 |
| 6 February 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 165858-04834-02062018-1230 |
| 2 December 1997 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 9 November 2020 | Recreation and ceremony | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 241008-04828-11092020-1420 |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 30 workings within 5 miles of Jackson County Courthouse: 25 past producers, 5 producers. 5 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Clay, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sulfur. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Quarry | Clay, Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Sugar Creek Sulfur Plant | Sulfur | Producer | ||
| Unknown-S&G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown-S&G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Wren Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Alrok Mine and Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Alrok Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Bixley Mine | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Blue Valley Riprap Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Rock Acres Mine & Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Independence, the town this property stands in, in 63 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 35 hail, 24 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 heavy rain. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1993 | Hail | Independence | $5,000,000 | Large hail fell at various locations in the eastern Kansas City suburbs, including along Interstate 435, Highway 350, and near Blue Ridge Mall. Numerous car dealerships along Noland Road in Independence reported substantial damage to automobiles. Many city owned vehicles had damage, including broken windows and dents. |
| May 2007 | Heavy Rain | Independence | $200,000 | Total rainfall since this morning has been 3.79 inches. Many flooded basements and backed up sewers reported throughout Independence. |
| July 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $20,000 | no account filed |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $10,000 | Numerous power lines and trees down...in an area from 42nd Street to 44th Terrace near Noland Road. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $10,000 | A 40 foot tall tree was downed, damaging the roof of a home. |
| September 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | $3,000 | Semi trailer truck blown over on I-70. Several power poles reported down along with numerous trees. |
| April 2026 | Hail | Independence | - | Quarter sized hail reported in western Independence. |
| April 2025 | Hail | Independence | - | Half dollar sized hail reported. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Independence | - | EM relayed images of multiple trees snapped, downed over roadway, or on homes. This damage was likely tornado damage. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Independence | - | Several downed trees near Truman Road east of Route 291. |
| June 2025 | Tornado (EF1) | East Independence | - | Storm survey found evidence of a 3.7 mile long EF-1 tornado in Jackson County in the Independence area. Essentially all of the damage was uprooted trees and large tree branches snapped. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Independence | - | Several downed or snapped trees near Lees Summit Road in Independence. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Independence | - | Downed tree onto a boat at a residence near Jackson Drive. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Independence | - | Downed tree near Route 291 and U.S. Highway 24. |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Estimated 60 mph winds in Independence. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Measured gust of 80 mph with large oak trees downed just southwest of downtown Independence. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Several power poles were down in Independence. More than 2500 people were without power. |
| April 2019 | Hail | East Independence | - | This report was received via MPing. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Power outages across Kansas City were reported via Spotter Network after strong winds passed through. |
| June 2019 | Hail | East Independence | - | This report was received via MPing. |
| June 2019 | Flash Flood | East Independence | - | Water was over the roadway at HWY 291 and Gudgell. |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Independence | - | Multiple trees fell in this area. At least one tree fell on a power line, knocking out the power. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | A line of strong thunderstorms moved through the Kansas City metro, producing widespread reports of 70 mph winds and much tree damage. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph. |
| May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Independence | - | Large tree was blown down. |
| April 2008 | Hail | East Independence | - | Hail was observed at 31st Street and Blue Ridge. |
| April 2007 | Hail | Independence | - | Hail at the intersection of Interstate 470 and Woods Chapel Road. |
| May 2007 | Flash Flood | Independence | - | Up to 10 inches of water was flowing over intersection of Lee's Summit Road and 39th Street. |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Trees blown down on Noland Road. |
| October 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | 8 to 12 inch diameter tree downed. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | Thunderstorms produced wind damage, resulting in downed large tree limbs. |
| July 2018 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| March 2017 | Hail | East Independence | - | no account filed |
| March 2017 | Hail | East Independence | - | no account filed |
| May 2016 | Hail | East Independence | - | no account filed |
| May 2016 | Hail | East Independence | - | no account filed |
| August 2008 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| February 2007 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| February 2007 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | no account filed |
| April 2005 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| May 2005 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | no account filed |
| November 2005 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| June 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | no account filed |
| June 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Independence | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| February 2003 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| April 2003 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| August 2003 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| August 2003 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| April 2002 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Hail | Independence | - | no account filed |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Kritser House | 1.7 miles | 1985 |
 | Jackson County Jail and Marshal's House | 1.7 miles | 1970 |
 | Bryant, Dr. John S. Jr. and Harriet Smart, House | 1.8 miles | 1992 |
 | Trinity Episcopal Church | 1.8 miles | 1979 |
 | Mollie and Josephine Hughes House | 1.8 miles | 1994 |
| John and Adele Georgen House | 1.9 miles | 2000 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 72000713 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Jackson County | All 414 listed properties in this county. |
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