The Platte County R-3 School District’s second middle school has its name.
The board of education approved the name Platte Purchase Middle School for the school, which is currently under construction and is located on the southern end of the district on Platte Purchase Road.
The district accepted suggestions late last year and early this year, receiving 73 submissions. The field was narrowed to three finalists, including Platte Landing and Cardinal Point.
Of the three names, Platte Purchase was chosen due to the historical significance of the name. In 1836, the area was acquired by the U.S. Government from American Indian tribes. The Platte Purchase added 3,149 square miles along the Missouri River to the state. The deal was made near Liberty in 1835 and presented to Congress by Sen. Thomas Hart Benton in 1836. District officials felt the name provided an opportunity to teach students about local history and helped tie the three secondary schools together.