Jackson County Public Water Supply District No. 1 has the distinction of being the oldest and largest public water supply district in Missouri.

In 1931, the South Jackson County Water Company was organized. This privately-owned corporation was formed to furnish water in conjunction with the City of Grandview. Although the Company was privately owned, it was a not-for-profit corporation. In 1933, South Jackson County Water made application to the Public Works Administration, a depression creation of the Roosevelt administration, for a loan and grant. Missouri law at that time did not provide for such public water supply districts, until September 1, 1935. However, a district could not be formed until the people of the district approved the formation by a vote.

On October 28, 1935, the people of the District voted and approved to ratify the Circuit Court’s Order incorporating the Jackson County Public Water Supply District No. 1.  With $85,000 in general obligation bonds and $85,000 in revenue bonds, the District began the construction of the water distribution system. In its first year of operation, the District planned to serve 480 customers.

The first Board of Directors of the District consisted of H. T. Abernathy, President; J. V. Truman, Vice President; J. W. Majors, Lucien Kemper and Phil C. Lee. The first Clerk of the District was R. D. Barry.

The District now serves basically the City of Grandview consisting of approximately 15 square miles with 9,000 connections. The District is governed by a five member Board of Directors that over sees all phases of the District’s operation.