Santa Fe Trail-Santa Fe Trail Park, Independence Trail Segments

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

From the record

One of 414 National Register listings published here for Jackson County · listed in 1994 · category: Site.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

Listed as. Santa Fe Trail--Santa Fe Trail Park, Independence Trail Segments - the National Register files a house under its owner's surname.
Address. Santa Fe Rd., Independence, 64055
When was it listed? April 1994
Category. site
Also known as. Santa Fe Trail MPS
Township. Blue township
National Register reference number. 94000322 - assigned by the National Park Service when the property was listed.

The ground it stands on

6,365 words

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.

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.

Fires near this property

22 since 2007

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 22 fires within 5 miles of Santa Fe Trail-Santa Fe Trail Park, Independence Trail Segments between 2007 and 2018, burning about 122 acres in total. 2 started naturally. 3 were 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	14
Arson/incendiarism	3
Debris and open burning	2
Natural	2
Recreation and ceremony	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
4 September 2007	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named
27 September 2007	Arson/incendiarism	100 acres	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named
24 September 2007	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named
2 September 2007	Natural	under an acre	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named
16 September 2007	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.2 acres	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named
1 September 2007	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.0 acres	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named
9 August 2008	Debris and open burning	1.0 acres	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named
8 August 2007	Natural	under an acre	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named

Every fire recorded in Jackson County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 32 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 32 workings within 5 miles of Santa Fe Trail-Santa Fe Trail Park, Independence Trail Segments: 26 past producers, 6 producers. 6 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Sulfur. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Sugar Creek Sulfur Plant	Sulfur	Producer
Unknown-S&G	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown-S&G	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
Centropolis Crusher Mine	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Deity Hill Development Company Mine	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Kansas City Quarries	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Jackson County

Storms near this property

60 of 63 shown

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

Every storm recorded in Jackson County

Map coverage status

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.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

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.

Property	Distance	Listed
John and Adele Georgen House	1.2 miles	2000
Smallwood V. Noland House	1.2 miles	1994
Bingham-Waggoner House and Estate	1.4 miles	1980
Mollie and Josephine Hughes House	1.4 miles	1994
Missouri Pacific Depot	1.5 miles	1979
Woodson-Sawyer House	1.5 miles	1986

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 94000322 in Record Group 79.
Jackson County	All 414 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.