According to multiple sources, Halford Mackinder, a British geographer, coined the term “heartland” in 1904 to refer to the heart of the Eurasian landmass: a strategic center of industry, natural resources and power. The use of the term "heartland" to apply to the American Midwest became common sometime in the 20th century, and Kansas City was one of the first Midwestern towns to embrace the idea of being located in the “heart” of America.

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The heart has a long history in Kansas City culture. The railroads wore KC Heart pins in the early 1900s, the Country Club Plaza shopping district had KC Hearts engraved in steel on its light poles in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and the Kansas City Monarchs Negro Leagues baseball team had a heart patch on their 1942 championship jersey.

Over the last 100+ years, a long line of festivals, organizations and corporate brand campaigns have capitalized on the Heartland title and all it stands for. Enter Charlie Hustle and a t-shirt that came to represent a resurgence of pride felt by those living in or connected to the KC region.

Read more at KC.org.