Missouri is the second largest metro area in the state spanning four counties – Clay, Cass, Platte and Jackson – the latter of which holds one of the two county seats. The city was founded in 1838  and played an integral role in the Civil War, particularly with the Battle of Westport. Over the years, it’s become known for life’s finer things, like jazz and blues music and of course, arguably the best barbecue in the world. Kansas City is a hot tourist destination. But thanks to its irresistible charm and beauty, many who visit only return later to make it their home. With its big city conveniences and small town sensibilities, Kansas City welcomes many new residents every year.

The Kansas City metropolitan area is houses several Fortune 500 companies including H R Block, Sprint-Nextel and others. Numerous Fortune 100 companies also make this city their home from Great Plains Energy to AMC Theatres and Russell Stover Candies.

Agriculture plays a significant role in the local economy and the city is has the largest dairy co-op in the United States, the Dairy Farmers of America. Education, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology also make up a large portion of the city’s diverse economy.

Kansas City has a humid continental climate which produces extremes of hot and cold with a moderate amount of annual precipitation. With winds rising up out of the Gulf of Mexico, the weather can get quite humid and hot in the summertime with temperatures occasionally breaking the 100-degree mark. Winters in the city can get blustery and cold, with temperatures dipping below zero a few times over the season. Because of its proximity to the broad plains, the city does lie in the tornado zone known as “Tornado Alley.” With the cold air from the Rockies colliding with the warm air from the Gulf, the city is occasionally prone to severe storms.

Renting an apartment in Kansas City places you in the heart of a very culturally diverse part of the country. The city is a cultural hub for the state where the arts take center stage, housing the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Kansas City Ballet and the Civic Opera of Kansas City.

World-renowned for its jazz and blues music, there are hundreds of clubs in the area where you can find live music being performed on any given night. The city celebrates its musical contribution with the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival.

Riverboat casinos provide a fun and interesting alternative to those who like to gamble. And for the sports lover, the city is has the Chiefs in the NFL, the Royals in the MLB and Sporting Kansas City in professional soccer. It also has a host of minor league teams across a wide array of sports.

Of course no renter in Kansas City will be able to pass up the world famous steak and barbeque found in and around the city. Virtually every restaurant here claims that theirs is the best. So there’s no harm in trying them all.

The city has plenty of landmarks and museums to satisfy just about anyone. Check out the Kansas City Museum, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, The National World War I Museum, the American Royal Museum, the American Jazz Museum? and many others.

Kansas City is made up of 178 constituent neighborhoods and has a diverse workforce of both blue- and white-collar workers. The city has apartment rentals to suit just about everyone’s needs.

Rental properties can be found in abundance in the city’s interior with cheap apartments available in neighborhoods like Centropolis, Dodson, Melville and the surrounding areas. It can be surprising though, because in Kansas City an affordable neighborhood is often right up against a more affluent one. This is the case with such areas like Leeds, Unity Village, Knobtown and Vale. Another good example can be found in the southernmost part of the city. This is where expensive apartments can be found in New Santa Fe, while a short drive away affordable apartments are more prevalent in Martin City.