Nevada, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Nevada is a city in Vernon County, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 8,327 at the 2011 census. It is the county seat
of Vernon County. Nevada is the home of Cottey College
, a junior
college for women
operated by the P.E.O. Sisterhood
.
as a post office name. The town's name was changed to Nevada after Nevada City, California
by circuit and county clerk DeWitt C. Hunter, who had tried his luck in the California Gold Rush
of 1849. The first "a" rhymes with hay, making the pronunciation "Nuh-VAY-duh" nəˈveɪdə.
, and the entire town of Nevada was burned to the ground by a large group from nearby Cedar County
on May 23, 1863. Men from Cedar County stormed the Nevada Courthouse
, and were killed. Their bodies were left on the town square until they were taken to the undertaker. When the men didn't return home to Cedar County after a few days, a large group made its way to Nevada. They told every household that they had 15 minutes to gather any items they wanted to save before their house would be set on fire. Only the jail and a few other houses survived the fire.
For many years Nevada has been a home for the Moore's Opera House, built by Colonel Harry Moore and located on the corner of Cherry and Washington Streets. It was built in May 1882 and burned after just five days. It was rebuilt in 10 months. It hosted plays, moving pictures and various traveling shows. The second Opera House building also burned down in April 1907.
, the city has a total area of 9.0 square miles (23.3 km²), of which 8.9 square miles (23.1 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) (0.67%) is water.
of 2000, there were 8,607 people, 3,463 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density
was 964.1 people per square mile (372.1/km²). There were 3,857 housing units at an average density of 432.0 per square mile (166.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.79% White, 1.03% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 3,463 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 38.5% 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 2.22 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,774, and the median income for a family was $36,639. Males had a median income of $28,939 versus $17,424 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,118. About 13.7% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
Patrick Brophy 1934 - July 8, 2010
Known far and wide as the town historian, Patrick Brophy was considered to be the keeper of Vernon County history. He was the editor of the Bushwhacker Musings, an award-winning newsletter, and very well known for his his writings. He wrote a weekly newspaper column, many history books and even a novel. All of his writings were on behalf of the Bushwhacker Historical Society and brought many people into contact with him. He was the curator and corresponding secretary of the historical society, and was the editor of the Bushwhacker Musings for more than 40 years.
A life-long resident of Nevada Missouri Brophy was born in 1934 to Joseph Patrick Brophy and Dixie Virginia Thomas Brophy. He was an active member of Vernon County Historical Society, and the Colonel John T. Coffey Camp 1934 Son's of Confederate Veterans.
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 8,327 at the 2011 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Vernon County. Nevada is the home of Cottey College
Cottey College
Cottey College, located in Nevada, Missouri is a private, two-year women's college that also offers select baccalaureate degree programs. It was founded by Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard in 1884, and is currently owned and supported by the P.E.O...
, a junior
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
college for women
Women's college
Women's colleges in higher education are undergraduate, bachelor's degree-granting institutions, often liberal arts colleges, whose student populations are composed exclusively or almost exclusively of women...
operated by the P.E.O. Sisterhood
P.E.O. Sisterhood
The P.E.O. Sisterhood is an international women's organization of about 250,000 members with a primary focus on providing educational opportunities for female students worldwide. The Sisterhood is organized with chapters throughout the United States and Canada, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa....
.
Origin of name
Before its incorporation in 1855, the small community was known as both Fair View and Hog-Eye. The latter name was considered crude, and the former had already been takenFairview, Missouri
Fairview is a city in Newton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 383 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Fairview is located at ....
as a post office name. The town's name was changed to Nevada after Nevada City, California
Nevada City, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 White, 26 African American, 28 Native American, 46 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 40 from other races,...
by circuit and county clerk DeWitt C. Hunter, who had tried his luck in the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
of 1849. The first "a" rhymes with hay, making the pronunciation "Nuh-VAY-duh" nəˈveɪdə.
History
Vernon County suffered greatly during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and the entire town of Nevada was burned to the ground by a large group from nearby Cedar County
Cedar County, Missouri
Cedar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 13,733. Its county seat is Stockton.- Origin of name :...
on May 23, 1863. Men from Cedar County stormed the Nevada Courthouse
Vernon County Courthouse (Nevada, Missouri)
Vernon County Courthouse in Nevada, Missouri was built in 1908. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.The current Vernon County Courthouse was the third one to be built in Nevada; the first was a two story building one block west of the present day courthouse...
, and were killed. Their bodies were left on the town square until they were taken to the undertaker. When the men didn't return home to Cedar County after a few days, a large group made its way to Nevada. They told every household that they had 15 minutes to gather any items they wanted to save before their house would be set on fire. Only the jail and a few other houses survived the fire.
For many years Nevada has been a home for the Moore's Opera House, built by Colonel Harry Moore and located on the corner of Cherry and Washington Streets. It was built in May 1882 and burned after just five days. It was rebuilt in 10 months. It hosted plays, moving pictures and various traveling shows. The second Opera House building also burned down in April 1907.
Geography
Nevada is located at 37°50′27"N 94°21′20"W (37.840930, -94.355576). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 9.0 square miles (23.3 km²), of which 8.9 square miles (23.1 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) (0.67%) is water.
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 8,607 people, 3,463 households, and 1,973 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 964.1 people per square mile (372.1/km²). There were 3,857 housing units at an average density of 432.0 per square mile (166.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.79% White, 1.03% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 3,463 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% 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, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 38.5% 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 2.22 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,774, and the median income for a family was $36,639. Males had a median income of $28,939 versus $17,424 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 $15,118. About 13.7% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Eva BowringEva BowringEva Kelly Bowring was a U.S. Senator from Nebraska. Bowring was born in Nevada, Missouri. In 1928, she married Arthur Bowring. They made their home at the Bowring Ranch near Merriman in Cherry County, Nebraska....
– United States Senator for Nebraska - Patricia BreckenridgePatricia BreckenridgePatricia Breckenridge is a Judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri. She was born in Nevada, Missouri, and received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri. Governor Kit Bond appointed her as a judge in Vernon County, Missouri in 1982. She was subsequently elected to the...
– current Associate JusticeAssociate JusticeAssociate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of Supreme Court of MissouriSupreme Court of MissouriThe Supreme Court of Missouri is the highest court in the state of Missouri. It was established in 1820, and is located in Jefferson City, Missouri. Missouri voters have approved changes in the state's constitution to give the Supreme Court exclusive jurisdiction- the sole legal power to hear -... - Frank BucklesFrank BucklesFrank Woodruff Buckles was the last surviving American veteran of World War I. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1917 and served with a detachment from Fort Riley, driving ambulances and motorcycles near the front lines in Europe.During World War II, he was captured by Japanese forces...
– America's last surviving World War I veteran when he died in 2011. Buckles attended elementary and high school in Nevada. - Forrest DeBernardiForrest DeBernardiForrest S. "Red" DeBernardi was a well-known collegiate basketball player in the 1920s. Standing 6 ft. 1 inches tall, DeBernardi was one of the best centers of his era, but played all five positions. Born in Nevada, Missouri, he attended University of Kansas from 1920 to 1921, but transferred to...
– member of the Basketball Hall of FameBasketball Hall of FameThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide... - John HustonJohn HustonJohn Marcellus Huston was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He wrote most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics: The Maltese Falcon , The Treasure of the Sierra Madre , Key Largo , The Asphalt Jungle , The African Queen , Moulin Rouge...
– actor, director, and producer (born there) - Frank JamesFrank JamesAlexander Franklin "Frank" James was a famous American outlaw. He was the older brother of outlaw Jesse James.-Childhood:...
– guerrilla and outlaw, brother of Jesse JamesJesse JamesJesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary... - Joshua Person – subject of the novel Generation Kill and the HBO mini-seriesGeneration Kill (TV series)Generation Kill is a 2008 HBO television miniseries based on the book of the same name by Evan Wright about his experience as an embedded reporter with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion of the United States Marine Corps during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It was adapted for television by David Simon,...
based on the book - Bill PhelpsBill PhelpsWilliam C. Phelps is a Republican politician and lawyer from Missouri. Phelps was born and raised in Nevada, Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri and graduated with a degree in economics in 1956 and a law degree in 1959...
– former lieutenant governor of Missouri - Sue ThompsonSue ThompsonSue Thompson is an American pop and country music singer. She is best known for the million selling hits "Sad Movies " and "Norman", both pop hits for her in the 1960s.-Early life:...
– Country and pop singer, born Eva Sue McKee
Patrick Brophy 1934 - July 8, 2010
Known far and wide as the town historian, Patrick Brophy was considered to be the keeper of Vernon County history. He was the editor of the Bushwhacker Musings, an award-winning newsletter, and very well known for his his writings. He wrote a weekly newspaper column, many history books and even a novel. All of his writings were on behalf of the Bushwhacker Historical Society and brought many people into contact with him. He was the curator and corresponding secretary of the historical society, and was the editor of the Bushwhacker Musings for more than 40 years.
A life-long resident of Nevada Missouri Brophy was born in 1934 to Joseph Patrick Brophy and Dixie Virginia Thomas Brophy. He was an active member of Vernon County Historical Society, and the Colonel John T. Coffey Camp 1934 Son's of Confederate Veterans.
External links
- City of Nevada
- Chamber of Commerce
- Nevada Daily Mail
- Nevada Public Library
- Nevada R-5 School District
- Historic maps of Nevada in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...