Raytown is a city in Jackson County, Missouri and is also considered a suburb of Kansas City. The City of Raytown is 10.4 square miles located southeast of downtown Kansas City with a proximity that serves as a crossroads to the surrounding communities. Raytown has easy access to I-435, I-470 and I-70 which means that this city is only minutes away from downtown Kansas City, the Country Club Plaza, and several major sports venues.Raytown began as a Santa Fe Trail stop just eight miles south of Independence, and is likely the second oldest town in Jackson County. Originally home to the Osage Indians, several tradesmen eventually established businesses along the trail including a blacksmith named William Ray who built his shop on the Santa Fe Trail. Ray’s blacksmith shop was located at a junction of several trails making this town a meeting place and a vital connection to the west. The settlement around the blacksmith shop was known first as "Ray's Town" and later as "Raytown." Raytown was incorporated as a city on July 17, 1950.Raytown is home to many local, national and international businesses including KCP&L, GE Energy, USA 800, Inc., and Ken-A-Vision Manufacturing Co., Inc. The residents are able to take advantage of a central location to the KC Metro area, a low tax base, and an economy strong in redevelopment and growth.