The Namesake for Raytown

January 18, 1808: William Ray is born.

The name of William Ray may not be recognizable to most people, although the bustling town on the outskirts of Kansas City that was named in his honor sure is. Ray moved to Jackson County from Ohio to open a blacksmith shop along the Santa Fe Trail. He picked a spot where several additional trails all crossed, making it an early hub of commerce. (Note: Some historical records have his birthday as January 8th, others as January 18th.)

His shop became so well-known as the area around Kansas City grew that locals began to refer to that area as “Ray’s Town”, even though there wasn’t much of a town there at all. Eventually, the area officially became Raytown, which is now a bustling city of around 30,000 residents.

Biggest Employers

Famous People from Raytown