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Elevation

Elevation of Independence

1,035ft

above sea level · 315 m

Independence is a city in Missouri with 121,675 people, the 5th most populous in the state. Of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people, it’s the 54th highest.

By the Mapsfera Team

Elevation profile

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Place facts

Coordinates
39.09° N · 94.42° W
In degrees, minutes and seconds: 39° 5′ 28″ N · 94° 24′ 56″ W
UTM coordinates
15S · 377,584 E · 4,327,842 N
Zone 15 · NAD83, the official US datum
County
Jackson County
The city spans 2 counties; its reference point is in this one
State
Missouri
MO · capital: Jefferson City
Time zone
Central Time
UTC−6 · UTC−5 in summer (daylight saving time)
Population (2025)
121,675 people
78.0 sq mi of land · 1,560 people/sq mi
Elevation model
USGS 3DEP, 1 m grid
Lidar from August 2020: the ground height at the city’s reference point.

Population

Independence had 121,675 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 1.0% fewer than in April 2020, when it had 122,954. Its 78.0 sq mi of land work out to 1,560 people/sq mi; the state average is 91 people/sq mi.

It’s the 5th most populous of the 1,081 places the Census counts in Missouri (cities, towns and CDPs), after Kansas City (521,220), and holds 1.9% of the state’s population.

The city spreads across 2 counties. By population: Jackson County (121,675); no one lives in its part of Clay County. Its reference point, where we measure the elevation, is in Jackson County.

Compared with US cities of 100,000 to 250,000

Independence sits at 1,035 ft (315 m) above sea level. Of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people, the highest is Lakewood (5,520 ft) and the lowest is Fort Lauderdale (3 ft). The average is 862 ft: Independence is 173 ft above it.

The state capital, Jefferson City, is 126 mi away in a straight line and 405 ft lower than Independence.

The nearest city with more than 250,000 people is Kansas City, 8.8 mi away in a straight line and 137 ft lower.

Of the 7 cities in Missouri with a page, Independence is the 3rd highest: the highest is Springfield (1,303 ft) and the lowest is St. Louis (464 ft).

The highest point in Missouri is Taum Sauk Mountain, at 1,772 ft according to the USGS: 737 ft above Independence, 226 mi away in a straight line.

  1. 52 San Bernardino 1,051 ft
  2. 53 Lee's Summit 1,039 ft
  3. 54 Independence 1,035 ft
  4. 55 Olathe 1,035 ft
  5. 56 Rochester 1,024 ft

Each color band is 500 m (1,640 ft), the same colors as the map. See the full list

Nearest cities with a page

Tools for this place

Elevation profile Draw a route from Independence and see how much it climbs and drops. Elevation of a point Compare the elevation of Independence with any other point on the map. Map of Jackson County The county on the map with all its cities and towns, ready to print or download. Time zone The time right now in Independence and its clock changes. What county am I in? See which county, city and ZIP code you’re in, from your location. Blank map of Missouri counties Print it blank, with names or to color in.

Frequently asked questions

What people most often ask about the elevation of Independence.

What is the elevation of Independence?

Independence is 1,035 feet (315 m) above sea level. That’s the ground height from the USGS 3DEP elevation model at the city’s reference point in the official gazetteer (GNIS). The city doesn’t have a single elevation: it rises and falls from one neighborhood to another.

What are the coordinates of Independence?

Latitude 39.09112 and longitude -94.41551, in decimal degrees (39° 5′ 28″ N · 94° 24′ 56″ W). In UTM, zone 15: 377,584 E and 4,327,842 N, on NAD83.

How does Independence rank among the highest US cities of its size?

It’s the 54th highest of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people. The highest is Lakewood (5,520 ft) and the lowest is Fort Lauderdale (3 ft).

What county is Independence in?

Several: Jackson County and Clay County. Most of its people live in Jackson County.

Which is higher, Independence or Jefferson City?

Independence. Independence sits at 1,035 ft and Jefferson City at 630 ft: a difference of 405 ft, 126 mi apart in a straight line.

How is elevation measured?

Elevation is the height above mean sea level. In the US the official reference is the NAVD88 vertical datum. Summits are surveyed on the ground, with leveling and precise GPS. The USGS 3DEP is an elevation model of the whole country, largely from 1-meter lidar: it gives the ground height at every point. That’s why it can differ by a few feet from the official figure of a sharp summit.

Sources

  • USGS 3DEP (EPQS service) The elevation: the ground height at the reference point. Public domain.
  • USGS GNIS (official gazetteer) The city’s reference point (“Populated Place”). Public domain.
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates Population, land area (2025 Gazetteer) and counties. Public domain.
  • TIGERweb (U.S. Census Bureau) Which county and city the point falls in. Public domain.
  • timezone-boundary-builder The point’s time zone (ODbL, © OpenStreetMap contributors).
  • Terrain Tiles, OpenStreetMap and OpenFreeMap The relief shading and the base map (ODbL).

Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know