<Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Td> 30th MSA (2,087,471), 24th CSA (2,428,362) in the U.S. </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Density </Th> <Td> 260.0 / sq mi (100.4 / km) </Td> </Tr> <P> The Kansas City metropolitan area is a 15 - county metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri, that straddles the border between the U.S. states of Missouri and Kansas . With a population of 2,104,509, it ranks as the second largest metropolitan area with its core in Missouri (after Greater St. Louis). Alongside Kansas City, the area includes a number of other cities and suburbs, the largest being Overland Park, Kansas; Kansas City, Kansas; Olathe, Kansas; and Independence, Missouri; each over 100,000 in population . The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) serves as the Council of Governments and the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the area . </P> <P> The larger Kansas City Metropolitan Area as seen on a map can be visualized roughly as four quadrants: </P>

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