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MISSOURI 6 : Northwest - St. Joseph

A mixture of Kansas City suburbanites and farmers, the 6th is bordered by Iowa to the north, Nebraska and Kansas to the west, and the Missouri River to the west and south.

Kansas City's suburban boom in the 1980s provided steady growth for the middle-class residents of Platte, Clay, Jackson and Ray counties who work in the city's steel, transportation and communications companies. The export facilities at the Kansas City International Airport - key for international agricultural transportation - and Trans World Airlines' operation there also provide steady employment for suburban dwellers. The 6th's second largest city, St. Joseph, has attracted some insurance, financial services and agribusiness companies after losing people to Kansas City for decades.

Corn, soybean and livestock pervade the rest of the district, which is still suffering from agricultural crises in the 1980s and a series of natural disasters in the '90s. Many farmers who remained in the northern and eastern counties now moonlight for manufacturers.

The 6th is the state's most politically marginal district, and the parties alternated control throughout the 20th century, although the same Democrat has held the congressional seat since 1993. Clinton took both 1990s elections, but GOP Senate candidates did well during the same period. Republican candidates for state office have fared better in recent elections, especially in the northern, rural areas.

Major Industry
Agriculture, international shipping, manufacturing

Population
569,131 (1990)

Cities
Kansas City (pt.), 93,925 (1990); St. Joseph, 70,208 (1997); Blue Springs (pt.), 29,294 (1990)

People
48% urban, 37% rural; 14% age 65+ (ranks fifth of nine in state; top third nationally); 62% married couples, 29% married couples with children; 16% college educated (ranks sixth of nine in state; middle third nationally); 54% white collar (ranks fifth of nine in state; middle third nationally), 28% blue collar (ranks fifth of nine in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
96% white, 2% black, 1% Asian; 2% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$27,165 (ranks third of nine in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Plattsburg memorial honors former Sen. David Rice Atchison, who served as president for one day on March 4, 1849, in between the terms of Presidents Polk and Taylor.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company