Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, USA

Independence is a city in western Missouri, near the south bank of the Missouri River in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Founded in 1827, it developed as an outfitting center for travelers on the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails. Its historic square, museums and surviving buildings reflect that role in westward migration. The city is also closely associated with Harry S. Truman, who made his home there. Independence extends from more urban neighborhoods in the west to a more rural landscape in the east.