Today, Main Street in Blue Springs is a place where people gather. It’s home to local shops, community events and businesses owners who give downtown its character. But long before parades, restaurants and well-known coffee shops, this stretch of town was where Blue Springs began to take shape.
Reflecting on his move to Blue Springs almost 50 years ago, Galen Ericson recalled walking down Main Street during a snowfall, “It just left like home. That was the moment we decided to stay.”
In our July issue, we sat down with Blue Springs Historical Society Archivist Kay Burrus and explored the community's earliest years, from the first settlers to Blue Springs officially becoming a city in 1880. This month, we're continuing that journey and looking at how a quiet town grew into a thriving community so many of us call home.
A Growing Community
For many years, Blue Springs was shaped by farming, family businesses, and familiar faces. But more families settled here and the community grew. In 1903, telephones arrived and by 1905, the Blue Springs Public School District built its first brick schoolhouse at 16th and Vesper. “This was the schoolhouse for almost 20 years,” Kay shared.
Businesses were also growing with the community and establishing themselves here. One well-known local dairy business was Adams Dairy, established by E.C. Adams in 1917. For more than 50 years, Adams Dairy was a familiar name, serving families and becoming part of the town's story.
Life around the community was starting to look different. Electricity became available in 1920, and new forms of entertainment soon followed. “The Roxy Theater on Main Street became a popular spot for a night out,” Kay noted.
While Blue Springs was still a close-knit community, these changes were signs of what was ahead. The town was beginning to grow beyond its original boundaries, creating new opportunities while still holding onto the community connections.
Strength Through Hard Times
Like many communities, Blue Springs faced seasons of change and hardship. The Great Depression brought difficult years for many local families, but neighbors found ways to support one another. Residents created “community grab bags,” sharing food and necessities with those in need.
Not long after, many local men and women served as World War II began, while others supported the war effort closer to home. The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant opened in 1941, creating jobs for residents while producing supplies for troops. Even through challenging times, Blue Springs came together and continued moving forward.
Growth Comes to Blue Springs
After the war, Blue Springs entered a period of rapid growth. With the completion of Interstate 70 in 1967, the community was directly connected to surrounding areas, helping bring more families to Blue Springs.
“In 1960, there were approximately 2,500 people living in Blue Springs,” Kay shared. “By 1970, that number had more than doubled to nearly 7,000. It continued to grow, reaching approximately 25,000 residents by 1980. The population exploded, and that is when we became a ‘bedroom community.’”
While many residents commuted elsewhere for work, they chose Blue Springs to settle down and raise their children. New neighborhoods were built, schools expanded, and more local businesses opened their doors.
The phrase "bedroom community" became part of Blue Springs' identity, but it never told the whole story. Behind the growing neighborhoods were small businesses, teachers, coaches, volunteers, and families who helped shape the community. “What hasn’t changed is the friendliness. That spirit still runs through this community,” Galen shared. Blue Springs was never just a spot to sleep at the end of the day—it was the place where people built their lives.
Photo and historical information provided by the Blue Springs Historical Society.