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Goodbye New York, Hello Kansas City — More Americans Than Ever Are Moving To Smaller Cities

Mobile coffee shop owner Jackie Nguyen relocated during the coronavirus pandemic to Kansas City from New York City.
Courtesy of Jackie Nguyen
Mobile coffee shop owner Jackie Nguyen relocated during the coronavirus pandemic to Kansas City from New York City.

During the pandemic, about 5% of urban dwellers across the country have picked up sticks and left the big city.

Will the trend continue? Today, we asked a former resident of New York City and San Diego-native what drew her to the middle of the map during a global health crisis.

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When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As senior podcast producer for KCUR Studios and a host of A People’s History of Kansas City, I interview everyday people and dig through old newspaper articles to unearth stories of the visionaries and renegades who created this region. I focus on bringing the past to life, so we can all better understand the city we live in today. Email me at mackenzie@kcur.org.
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