We are Kansas City natives - but not according to Google
When Dorothy realized she was no longer in Kansas, it was probably because she had taken a trip to Kansas City. What is the source of this confusion? Lots of states have a city that shares the name. New York City is in New York, Iowa City is in Iowa, Oklahoma City is in Oklahoma. There is even a Missouri City in Missouri. So, obviously, Kansas City is in … Missouri?
Most people in the Midwest know the story. There are two Kansas Cities - one in Missouri and one in Kansas - with only a street and a few legal quirks distinguishing one from the other. Both cities, and of course the state of Kansas, were named for the Kansa Native Americans who lived in the area when the European settlers began arriving. The city in Missouri was the first to claim the name. Jackson County, Missouri incorporated the original city area as the town of Kansas, Missouri in 1850 and the state of Missouri subsequently incorporated the area as the City of Kansas in 1853, with the name changed to Kansas City in 1889. The area which became the state of Kansas in 1861 was opened as the Kansas Territory in 1854, after which settlers immediately began pouring over the border, and the confusion about where Kansas City is located began.
Being born and raised in what we always considered “Kansas City” - but in neither Kansas City, Missouri nor in Kansas City, Kansas in our cases - we were never bothered much by this anomaly. We natives generally consider Kansas City to be the greater metropolitan area. But, having lived in many other places as an adult we do realize people outside the Midwest are quite perplexed about “where is Kansas City located?”. When we lived on the East Coast we were amused to find the residents believed that there is a vast wasteland between Pittsburgh and the West Coast, which creates a time warp when flying over on their way to California. For those who consider the Midwest to be that fly over wasteland, I wish to point out that Kansas City is actually among the forty largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Yes, it is only 10% of the population of the New York City Metropolitan Area, but it is about the same size as Pittsburgh - that city you consider to be on the Western frontier of the civilized world.
I’m thinking this indifference to geography explains why the young geniuses at Google, who help us all understand and navigate our wonderful and confusing world, don’t understand where Kansas City is. Here’s the simple problem. If you google anything “in Kansas City”, the results will be only what is located within the boundaries of Kansas City, Missouri. Maybe a bit of spillover of a mile or so. But, that misses two-thirds of the population of people who believe they live in Kansas City, as well as two-thirds of the area, which as it happens includes our wonderful restaurant. For a bit of a nudge to the all-powerful Google search algorithm: please note, Wandering Vine at the Castle was just included in the “15 Romantic KANSAS CITY Restaurants” by In Kansas City Magazine (https://www.inkansascity.com/eat-drink/restaurants/15-romantic-kansas-city-restaurants/).
So, when you are looking for a great dining experience “in Kansas City”, come to the Castle, where we make every dinner a celebration with phenomenal food and beverage, and legendary ambiance and hospitality (https://www.wanderingvine.com).
