The mayor and council of such city, with the consent of a majority of the legal voters of such city voting at an election thereof, shall have power to extend the limits of the city over territory adjacent thereto, and to diminish the limits of the city by excluding territory therefrom, and shall, in every case, have power, with the consent of the legal voters as aforesaid, to extend or diminish the city limits in such manner as in their judgment and discretion may redound to the benefit of the city.

(RSMo 1939 § 6866, A. 1949 H.B. 2027)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 6720; 1919 § 8207; 1909 § 9144

CROSS REFERENCES:

Extension of limits of special charter city to include another city, procedure, RSMo 81.080

Procedure for annexation of area to which objection is made, RSMo 71.015

(1955) Question of necessity for extension of boundaries is for the council and voters and where such question is debatable or of such nature that reasonable men could differ, the courts cannot interfere with the decision made by the council and voters. Waller v. City of Macon (A.), 277 S.W.2d 886.

(1957) In determining the necessity for the annexation of land, city has broad discretion which will not be interfered with unless arbitrary and unreasonable. Lands used for agricultural purposes held properly annexed. Faris v. City of Caruthersville (A.), 301 S.W.2d 63.

(1959) Tests or guides which aid in determining whether an annexation has a reasonable basis stated and applied. City of Fulton v. Dawson (A.), 325 S.W.2d 505.