Living in Kansas City
Perceptive Software's state-of-the-art world headquarters is in suburban Kansas City — and we love it here! The rumors about Kansas City are true; the barbecue is tasty, the jazz is hot, the steaks are juicy and the people are friendly, but there's more to the city than that. Whether you like the bustling, lively atmosphere of the revitalized downtown, or the family-friendly suburban lifestyle, you can find your niche here in Kansas City.
With all the benefits of a metropolitan area combined with the affordability and charm of the Midwest, Perceptive Software employees enjoy a high quality of life at a lower cost than in many other cities. The National Association of Homebuilders consistently names the Kansas City metropolitan area one of the most affordable housing markets in the country.
Johnson County
Johnson County, Kan., is a vibrant residential and business community with a national reputation for excellence in educational, residential and cultural opportunities. It is a diverse and thriving county located in the southwestern Kansas City metropolitan area. With more than 500,000 residents, it is the fastest growing county in Kansas (average annual growth rate of over 10,000 people). The county is recognized nationally for the quality of its six school districts and two colleges. and according to a recent study, American City Business Journals, Inc., ranks Johnson County 7 out of 3,141 counties for best quality of life and 6 among most educated.
In fact, it's not uncommon to find Johnson County and its cities ranked nationally among the best places to live. In 2008, Forbes named Johnson County the third best place to raise a family in the United States for its affordability and accessibility. Earlier this year, Perceptive's hometown, Shawnee, was named Kansas' Best Affordable Suburb by BusinessWeek. The national study evaluated suburbs on affordability, lifestyle, the quality of schools and the strength of the local economy. Money Magazine ranked Lenexa (26) in its 2009 Top 100 Best Places to Live, and Overland Park was recently named one of the "10 Best Places to Grow Up" by U.S. News & World Report.
Entertainment
Whether you prefer sporting events, the arts, hitting the shops or dining out, there's a lot here to keep you busy.
Sports & Recreation
Sports fans can watch Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals games throughout the year at some of the best stadiums in the country. Arrowhead Stadium is one of the loudest in the NFL, with not a bad seat in the house, impressive tailgating spreads and intensely committed fans. Kauffman Stadium gives baseball fans a unique experience with an open, home-town feel, fountains and waterfalls beyond the outfield and great views of the field.
Opened in the fall of 2007, Sprint Center is Kansas City's newest sports and entertainment venue. Located in the city's revitalized downtown and across the street from the new Power & Light District, this 18,000-seat venue also features the College Basketball Experience, an interactive college basketball exhibit and home to the National College Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Kansas Speedway attracts thousands to its annual NASCAR and IndyCar races as well as other motor sports series hosted there throughout the year. For college sports and events, just a short drive gets you to the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and the University of Missouri, as well as a number of area colleges. Careful, the rivalries run deep here.
Arts and Culture
Whether you want a night of live Kansas City jazz or an evening at the symphony, you'll find plenty options among local theater companies, art galleries, museums and music venues. The Metropolitan Performing Arts Center, opening in 2007, will be home to the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera and Kansas City Symphony, as well as more than 65 performing arts organizations in the metro. In addition to more than 100 local art galleries, museums such as the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art offer viewing of some of the best collections in the Midwest.
What's more, you can take in a history lesson at every turn. Unique museums like the American Jazz Museum, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, National World War I Museum and Truman Presidential Museum & Library are just a few of the one-of-a-kind educational experiences around town.
Shopping
Kansas City offers a variety of shopping, from department stores to specialty boutiques. You can stroll through the old-world Spanish architecture and beautiful fountains on the Country Club Plaza or visit the numerous suburban shopping centers including the Legends at Village West, Town Center Plaza, Oak Park Mall or Zona Rosa for your choice of hundreds of stores and restaurants. Historic Westport and the Crossroads Arts District offer unique shopping and dining and a distinct Kansas City experience.
Dining
Kansas City may be known for delicious barbecue and the Kansas City strip, but you can experience more than that at award-winning fine and casual dining restaurants throughout the metro area. Local restaurants offer diverse flavors and talented chefs that serve up authentic Mexican dishes, savory Italian and other ethnic cuisine. And of course, there is no shortage of delicious barbecue joints and no end to arguments among Kansas Citians about who cooks it up best.
Quick Facts:
Kansas City Metro Population: 2 million
Major League City:
NFL - Kansas City Chiefs
MLB - Kansas City Royals
MLS - Kansas City Wizards
Northern League Baseball - Kansas City T-Bones
AFL - Kansas City Brigade
WTT - Kansas City Explorers
Did You Know?
- In a recent feature titled "Best Cities to Get Ahead," Forbes ranked Kansas City ninth among the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the US.
- Kansas City is among the top 10 percent of metropolitan areas in high tech GDP growth.
- In a study conducted by Bizjournals.com, Kansas City was ranked the 25th smartest metropolitan area out of the 100 largest metros in the U.S.
- Kansas City ranked as the second most ideal business relocation city for Americans, and the third most popular among Europeans.
- Fast Company selected Kansas City as one of twelve international cities to watch for innovation.
- According to Salary.com, Kansas City ranks 21st among the 69 major U.S. cities for most lifestyle bang for your salary buck.
- Kansas City was among the "Top 30 Most-Wired American Cities" in a 2008 report by Forbes.
- In 2008, USA Today named Kansas City one of five destinations to watch. The cities were recognized as destinations on the rise and locations that offer good value to travelers looking to vacation affordably.
- Kansas City was ranked the 15th fittest city in the 2008 "Fittest Cities in the U.S." report, published by Men’s Fitness.
- Kansas City is third in the nation for professional theaters per capita, with performances offered by a dozen companies.
- Kansas City International Airport was ranked the third least miserable airport in the United States, according to a study by U.S. News and World Report that evaluated figures about crowded planes and delayed flights.
- Kansas City is a bi-state metropolitan area which straddles the Missouri-Kansas state line. The region includes more than 136 cities including Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kan., Overland Park, Kan., and Independence, Mo.
- Named one of the nation's most logistically friendly cities, Kansas City's system of parks and boulevards led writers to call it "Paris on the Plains."
- Boasting more than 200 fountains, Kansas City has earned the moniker "The City of Fountains."
- Kansas City offers a continental climate with four distinct seasons, from the hot and humid days of summer to falling snowflakes in the winter.
Kansas City Links
Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association