[5] A post office called Bates City has been in operation since 1879.

[6] Bates City is located just south of I-70 approximately ten miles east of Blue Springs.

20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The racial makeup of the city was 98.37% White, 0.82% African American, and 0.82% from two or more races.

17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

About 14.3% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.