Archie, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Archie is a city in Cass County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 890 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 890 people, 360 households, and 249 families residing in the city. The population density
was 868.8 people per square mile (336.9/km²). There were 390 housing units at an average density of 380.7 per square mile (147.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.99% White, 0.79% Native American, and 0.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.34% of the population.
There were 360 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,944, and the median income for a family was $42,404. Males had a median income of $37,583 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,051. About 3.5% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
Archie also hosts the longest running high school basketball tournament in the state, which is nearing the 80th year.
The railroad reached the new town in August 1880, and the town boomed with new construction and new businesses. H. T. Carr had the first store open and was the first postmaster
. In August there was a grocery store, drug store, lumber yard and 2 saloons. The lumber yard sold a large quantity of lumber for, by September, a restaurant, livery stable, drug store, harness shop, grain elevator blacksmith shop 2 dry goods stores and 2 grocery stores.
Two towns, Austin and Everett, had previously served the farming community of the south central Cass County. A few of the merchants and townsmen of these two towns moved to Archie, but Austin maintained a viable economic center for a number of years.
The population of the town grew amid a boom in the mid 1880s but by the 1890 census the population had fallen to 278 and remained in that range for decades. The population in the 1960 census shows moderate growth to 348. Steady growth since that time has led to the population of 799.
The early postmasters combined their government jobs with ownership of a store where the post office was located. The post office moved about depending on which merchant was awarded this political plum.
The churches of Archie have played an important role in the history of the community. Four Churches have long histories in the town.
Archie began as a trade point, connecting by means of the railroad, the outside world with the local farmers in south Cass County. The town did not grow substantially beyond this initial purpose. In the early 19th century two businesses existed in town that gave some hope for more substantial growth: a steam powered flour mill and a coal mine. The town did see economic and demographic growth in the mid 1880s, but the two businesses ceased to exist later in the decade and the boom died.
There have been very few manufacturing businesses in Archie that could have led to more complex and viable economy. As transportation technology allowed easier travel, the number and profitability of local businesses declined, and the town became a bedroom community. As the business community declined in importance, the school had become the focus of the community.
On August 10, 1932 a meteorite fell near Archie that received national attention. A fragment is on display in the Smithsonian' s National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. The name of the meteor is "Archie". http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1936PA.....44...93N
Cass County, Missouri
Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 99,478. Its county seat is Harrisonville. The county was organized in 1835 as "Van Buren County", renamed in 1848 after Michigan U.S...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 890 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Archie is located at 38°28′57"N 94°21′9"W (38.482566, -94.352586).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 890 people, 360 households, and 249 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 868.8 people per square mile (336.9/km²). There were 390 housing units at an average density of 380.7 per square mile (147.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.99% White, 0.79% Native American, and 0.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.34% of the population.
There were 360 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,944, and the median income for a family was $42,404. Males had a median income of $37,583 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,051. About 3.5% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
Attractions
Archie hosts an annual tractor pull in September, which is now in its 28th year.Archie also hosts the longest running high school basketball tournament in the state, which is nearing the 80th year.
History
The Town of Archie was founded in 1880, being platted in July of that year; the town owes its existence to the railroad that was being constructed through the middle of Cass County. The Archie Town Company and R.T. Railey, the agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, sold lots through their trustee, William H. Barrett. The railroad superintendent, H.C. Talmage, named the depot and town for his youngest son, Archie Talmage.The railroad reached the new town in August 1880, and the town boomed with new construction and new businesses. H. T. Carr had the first store open and was the first postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
. In August there was a grocery store, drug store, lumber yard and 2 saloons. The lumber yard sold a large quantity of lumber for, by September, a restaurant, livery stable, drug store, harness shop, grain elevator blacksmith shop 2 dry goods stores and 2 grocery stores.
Two towns, Austin and Everett, had previously served the farming community of the south central Cass County. A few of the merchants and townsmen of these two towns moved to Archie, but Austin maintained a viable economic center for a number of years.
The population of the town grew amid a boom in the mid 1880s but by the 1890 census the population had fallen to 278 and remained in that range for decades. The population in the 1960 census shows moderate growth to 348. Steady growth since that time has led to the population of 799.
The early postmasters combined their government jobs with ownership of a store where the post office was located. The post office moved about depending on which merchant was awarded this political plum.
The churches of Archie have played an important role in the history of the community. Four Churches have long histories in the town.
Archie began as a trade point, connecting by means of the railroad, the outside world with the local farmers in south Cass County. The town did not grow substantially beyond this initial purpose. In the early 19th century two businesses existed in town that gave some hope for more substantial growth: a steam powered flour mill and a coal mine. The town did see economic and demographic growth in the mid 1880s, but the two businesses ceased to exist later in the decade and the boom died.
There have been very few manufacturing businesses in Archie that could have led to more complex and viable economy. As transportation technology allowed easier travel, the number and profitability of local businesses declined, and the town became a bedroom community. As the business community declined in importance, the school had become the focus of the community.
On August 10, 1932 a meteorite fell near Archie that received national attention. A fragment is on display in the Smithsonian' s National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. The name of the meteor is "Archie". http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1936PA.....44...93N