Florida, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Florida is a village in Monroe County, Missouri, United States
, best known as the birthplace of writer Mark Twain
on November 30, 1835. Twain described Florida, his birthplace as a "nearly invisible village". While its maxiumum population reached 280 in 1880, it has steadily declined in its residents. The population was 9 at the 2000 census
and 0 at the 2010 census.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (whose nom de plume
was Mark Twain) was born in Florida in a clap boarded house. The original structure is now preserved inside the museum (also called "shrine") at the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site
. The historic site and surrounding Mark Twain State Park
stand as a tribute to the author-humorist. There is also a small aforementioned museum with interesting artifacts, including first editions of some of Twain's books.
In addition to being the birthplace of Clemens, Florida was felt to have the potential of being a "boom" town on its location at the confluence of the North, South, and Middle forks of the Salt River. Located 48 miles upstream from its mouth emptying into the Mississippi River
at Louisiana, Missouri
, this strategic location of Florida was felt to be a potential "growth center" in the settlement of Missouri
. Established the same year (1831) as Chicago, Illinois, the town initially flourished. When the shallow Salt River did not allow navigable waterways to the Mississippi River
. the village eventually floundered by failure in allowing waterway commerce nor in attracting railroad lines. For example, John Clemens, father of Mark Twain, along with other investors, had formed the Salt River Navigation Company in 1836 in hopes of developing this water commerce. When this enterprise failed, and the town would not grow fast enough to stimulate his general supply store, the Clemens family left Florida after five years of young Samuel's life, moving to Hannibal, Missouri
. Nonetheless, Samuel continued to visit Florida for extended summer vacations at his uncle John Quarles farm. Such summer memories and social interactions with Quarles house servants formed many of the sketches and perspectives that Clemens placed in his novels. The Quarles farmhouse remains as an active archeological project available to the public near Florida.
The village is now located along a man-made lake called Mark Twain Lake, originally the Salt River flowed near the bluff on which Florida stands. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), all land.
of 2010, the village of Florida, Missouri was uninhabited.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 9 people, 4 households, and 2 families residing in the village. The population density
was 86.4 people per square mile (34.8/km²). There were 21 housing units at an average density of 201.7/sq mi (82.1/km²). All residents were White.
There were 4 households out of which one had children under the age of 18 living with them, one was a married couple
living together, one had a female householder with no husband present, and two were non-families. One household was made up of an individual who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 3.
In the village the population was spread out with two under the age of 18 (both females), two from 18 to 25, two from 25 to 45, one from 45 to 65, and two who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. There were six females (including the two under 18) and three males.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, best known as the birthplace of writer Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
on November 30, 1835. Twain described Florida, his birthplace as a "nearly invisible village". While its maxiumum population reached 280 in 1880, it has steadily declined in its residents. The population was 9 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
and 0 at the 2010 census.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (whose nom de plume
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
was Mark Twain) was born in Florida in a clap boarded house. The original structure is now preserved inside the museum (also called "shrine") at the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site
Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site
Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site, located in Florida, Missouri in Monroe County, is maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as a state historic site.- See also:* Mark Twain* Mark Twain State Park...
. The historic site and surrounding Mark Twain State Park
Mark Twain State Park
Mark Twain State Park is a state park in the US state of Missouri consisting of located in Monroe County.- See also:* Mark Twain* Mark Twain Lake* Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site* List of Missouri state parks...
stand as a tribute to the author-humorist. There is also a small aforementioned museum with interesting artifacts, including first editions of some of Twain's books.
In addition to being the birthplace of Clemens, Florida was felt to have the potential of being a "boom" town on its location at the confluence of the North, South, and Middle forks of the Salt River. Located 48 miles upstream from its mouth emptying into the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
at Louisiana, Missouri
Louisiana, Missouri
Louisiana is a city in Pike County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,863 at the 2000 census, making it the largest city in Pike Couunty. Louisiana is located in northeast Missouri, on the Mississippi River south of Hannibal....
, this strategic location of Florida was felt to be a potential "growth center" in the settlement of 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...
. Established the same year (1831) as Chicago, Illinois, the town initially flourished. When the shallow Salt River did not allow navigable waterways to the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. the village eventually floundered by failure in allowing waterway commerce nor in attracting railroad lines. For example, John Clemens, father of Mark Twain, along with other investors, had formed the Salt River Navigation Company in 1836 in hopes of developing this water commerce. When this enterprise failed, and the town would not grow fast enough to stimulate his general supply store, the Clemens family left Florida after five years of young Samuel's life, moving to Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. Hannibal is located at the intersection of Interstate 72 and U.S. Routes 24, 36 and 61, approximately northwest of St. Louis. According to the 2010 U.S. Census the population was 17,606...
. Nonetheless, Samuel continued to visit Florida for extended summer vacations at his uncle John Quarles farm. Such summer memories and social interactions with Quarles house servants formed many of the sketches and perspectives that Clemens placed in his novels. The Quarles farmhouse remains as an active archeological project available to the public near Florida.
Geography
Florida is located at 39°29′30"N 91°47′23"W (39.491712, -91.789973).The village is now located along a man-made lake called Mark Twain Lake, originally the Salt River flowed near the bluff on which Florida stands. 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 village has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 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 2010, the village of Florida, Missouri was uninhabited.
As of the census
Census
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 9 people, 4 households, and 2 families residing in the village. 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 86.4 people per square mile (34.8/km²). There were 21 housing units at an average density of 201.7/sq mi (82.1/km²). All residents were White.
There were 4 households out of which one had children under the age of 18 living with them, one was a married couple
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, one had a female householder with no husband present, and two were non-families. One household was made up of an individual who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 3.
In the village the population was spread out with two under the age of 18 (both females), two from 18 to 25, two from 25 to 45, one from 45 to 65, and two who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. There were six females (including the two under 18) and three males.
Notable sites
Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) was born in Florida. In his autobiography, Twain wrote,"The village contained a hundred people and I increased the population by 1 per cent. It is more than many of the best men in history could have done for a town."