Noel, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Noel is a city in McDonald County
, Missouri
, United States
, along the Elk River
. The population was 1,615 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Area.
Noel is one of a few "Christmas Cities" in America, along with North Pole, Alaska
, Christmas, Michigan
, Santa Claus, Indiana
and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
. Each year, tens of thousands of Christmas cards and letters are sent to the USPS
Noel Post Office during the holiday season to be stamped with a postmark reading, "Noel, Mo. - 'The Christmas City in the Ozark Vacation Land.'" This practice became popular by the late 1940s when Kate Smith
, a radio and television singer, began telling the "Noel Story" during her broadcasts.
In 1925 Marx Cheney bought a club house and changed the name to Shadow Lake. He brought in bands and the place blossomed with business. Shadow lake established a national reputation in 1938 when the movie "Jesse James" was filmed here in McDonald County. Shadow Lake was the headquarters for stars: Henry Fonda, Tyrone Power, Nancy Kelly and Randolph Scott.
The area is also known for beautiful Ozarks geography, and cliffs that overhang sections of US Highway 71.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.91%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,480 people, 566 households, and 354 families residing in the city. The population density
was 739.7 people per square mile (285.7/km²). There were 630 housing units at an average density of 314.9 per square mile (121.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.42% White, 0.34% African American, 2.16% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 22.97% from other races
, and 2.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.49% of the population.
There were 566 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 109.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,386, and the median income for a family was $32,159. Males had a median income of $18,819 versus $16,848 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,166. About 15.4% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.
McDonald County, Missouri
McDonald County is a county located in Southwest Missouri in the United States of America. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 23,083. Its county seat is Pineville...
, 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...
, along the Elk River
Elk River (Oklahoma)
The Elk River is a tributary of the Neosho River in southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. Its tributaries also drain a small portion of northwestern Arkansas...
. The population was 1,615 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Area.
Noel is one of a few "Christmas Cities" in America, along with North Pole, Alaska
North Pole, Alaska
North Pole is a small city in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Fairbanks, Alaska metropolitan statistical area. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population as of July 1, 2009 at 2,226. The name "North Pole" is often applied to the entire area covered...
, Christmas, Michigan
Christmas, Michigan
Christmas is an unincorporated community in Au Train Township of Alger County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located on M-28 a few miles northwest of Munising at . Christmas is located near the Bay Furnace campgrounds on Lake Superior in the Hiawatha National Forest...
, Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus is a town in Carter, Clay and Harrison townships, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana, between Interstate 64 and the Ohio River. The population was 2,041 at the 2000 census.Santa Claus was established in 1854...
and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
. Each year, tens of thousands of Christmas cards and letters are sent to the USPS
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
Noel Post Office during the holiday season to be stamped with a postmark reading, "Noel, Mo. - 'The Christmas City in the Ozark Vacation Land.'" This practice became popular by the late 1940s when Kate Smith
Kate Smith
Kathryn Elizabeth "Kate" Smith was an American Popular singer, best known for her rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America". Smith had a radio, television, and recording career spanning five decades, which reached its pinnacle in the 1940s.Smith was born in Greenville, Virginia...
, a radio and television singer, began telling the "Noel Story" during her broadcasts.
In 1925 Marx Cheney bought a club house and changed the name to Shadow Lake. He brought in bands and the place blossomed with business. Shadow lake established a national reputation in 1938 when the movie "Jesse James" was filmed here in McDonald County. Shadow Lake was the headquarters for stars: Henry Fonda, Tyrone Power, Nancy Kelly and Randolph Scott.
The area is also known for beautiful Ozarks geography, and cliffs that overhang sections of US Highway 71.
Geography
Noel is located at 36°32′36"N 94°29′10"W (36.543361, -94.486238).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 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.91%) 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 1,480 people, 566 households, and 354 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 739.7 people per square mile (285.7/km²). There were 630 housing units at an average density of 314.9 per square mile (121.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.42% White, 0.34% African American, 2.16% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 22.97% 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 2.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.49% of the population.
There were 566 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% 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, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 109.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,386, and the median income for a family was $32,159. Males had a median income of $18,819 versus $16,848 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 $11,166. About 15.4% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.