Lykins is a neighborhood in the Historic Northeast section of Kansas City, Missouri. The land has a continuous human history of nearly two millennia, first as a major center for the Hopewell tradition around 0 CE and later as part of the vast territory of the Osage Nation since at least the 1600s. The Osage Treaty of 1825 forced the Osage Nation to cede its claims and leave. This opened the area to the territorial evolution of the United States, which led to the founding of the town of Kansas, Missouri, which became Kansas City.
As the city grew, it progressively annexed the land that would become Lykins, and the area was platted in the 1880s as a classic streetcar suburb. This early development was shaped by George Kessler's plan within the nationwide City Beautiful movement, including Lykins Square Park in the city's first Parks and Boulevards system. The Lykins School, then Lykins Square Park, and then the Lykins neighborhood, are the namesakes of Johnston Lykins, the famous missionary to the native tribes, who pioneered the wide area, cofounded Kansas City, and became its first legal mayor and a major civic booster.
In the mid-20th century, the neighborhood was part of the severe decline of the city's east side due to redlining, white flight, disinvestment, and the fragmenting construction of federal highways. In the 21st century, Lykins became a recognized exemplar of community-led revitalization, spearheaded by the Lykins Neighborhood Association in visionary partnerships with nonprofit design groups like the Hoxie Collective and Eco Abet. This includes the redevelopment of the Hardesty Federal Complex, a former World War II military depot, into a sustainable, walkable community. The neighborhood is one of Kansas City's most diverse, as a primary destination for immigrants and refugees. Diversity is in its global culture, restaurants, and schools. Over 20 languages are spoken at Whittier Elementary. According to the school, the student body at Northeast High School is exceptionally diverse, with students who speak over 50 languages and represent more than 60 countries.