Excelsior Springs

Excelsior Springs: Hall of Waters

Excelsior Springs, city, astride the Ray-Clay county line, western Missouri, U.S., 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Kansas City. Founded in 1880, it developed as a health resort noted for its mineral waters. Today, while mainly residential, it still maintains ties with its past through its Hall of Waters (1938), which claims to have the world’s longest mineral-water bar, and through the sale of bottled waters. Other economic activities are agriculture (corn [maize], livestock, hay, soybeans, and wheat) and light manufactures (chiefly plastic). The Watkins Woolen Mill (1860), a national historic landmark, and the birthplace of the outlaw Jesse James are just north. Inc. village, 1881; city, 1886. Pop. (2000) 10,847; (2010) 11,084.