The area where Raytown now lies was developed throughout the 19th century and early 20th century as pioneers moved westward along the Three Trails in search of available fertile lands and water.

The pioneers and travelers moving westward down the Three Trails discovered an area of high, wooded ridges, in the Raytown area, that reminded them of their former homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Rice-Tremonti Home, which still stands in Raytown today, was built on the Santa Fe Trail in 1844 by Archibald Rice and his family.

[4] William Ray established a blacksmith shop on the Santa Fe Trail in Jackson County in about 1848.

The settlement around the blacksmith shop was known first as "Ray's Town" and later as "Raytown" in 1854.

The result was Raytown Road, which led north from High Grove Road, crossed the Little Blue River at the "rockford" (now inundated by Longview Lake) and joined the Santa Fe Trail at William Ray's blacksmith shop.

[7] The 2020 United States census[8] counted 30,012 people, 12,720 households, and 7,019 families in Raytown.

There were 13,640 housing units at an average density of 1,373.6 per square mile (530.3/km2).

Of all households, 37.3% consisted of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13,276 housing units at an average density of 1,337.0 per square mile (516.2/km2).

30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13,309 housing units at an average density of 1,342.8 per square mile (518.5/km2).

30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.