Parkville began as a Missouri River landing

Parkville’s official history says the city began as a steamboat landing, then took shape after George S. Park purchased the site and formally platted the town in 1844.

Parkville is a Missouri River town with a bluff, landing, early plat, and older commercial story, not merely a riverfront suburb.

The landing and bluff connect Parkville to the river geography that shaped Platte County’s south edge.

It also explains why downtown Parkville turns toward the river.

The old landing story connects the riverfront, bluff, college, and downtown blocks instead of leaving them as separate attractions.