Novelty, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Novelty is a village in Knox County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 139 at the 2010 census.
Novelty played a small part in the American Civil War
, but did indeed see armed conflict. On March 25, 1862 a group of Confederate partisan "bushwhacker
s" attacked a Union patrol near Novelty. Later, in September 1864, a group of Confederate guerillas under Jim Jackson attacked the town and made off with supplies and money from the villages businesses and citizens.
Following the Civil War, Novelty and Knox County as a whole saw a substantial increase in population. In 1884 a group of forty Novelty area farmers formed an association and constructed the Novelty Creamery
.
One of the biggest changes came in 1876 when Oaklawn College was founded by Dr. W. N. Doyle. Oaklawn had humble beginnings, occupying the second floor of the Novelty schoolhouse, but rapidly outgrew that facility. A new campus on ten acres on the east side of Novelty was established in 1877 and finished by 1881. Several courses of study were offered, but most classes focused on business and teaching. An average of 105 students attended each school term, split almost evenly between women and men. For a variety of reasons—bad economic times, a fire that destroyed the mens dormotory in 1896, and most of all the growth of the First District Normal School in Kirksville
(now Truman State University
) led Oaklawn to close in 1899.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2010, there were 139 people, 57 households, and 38 families residing in the village. The population density
was 430.2 people per square mile (164.1/km²). There were 66 housing units at an average density of 238.6 per square mile (91.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 100.00% White.
There were 57 households out of which 15.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples
living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.53.
In the village the population was spread out with 11.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,583, and the median income for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $17,046. There were no families and 9.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 29.6% of those over 64.
Knox County, Missouri
As of the census of 2010, there are 4,131 people in the county, organized into 1,791 households and 1,217 families. The population density is 9 people per square mile . There are 2,317 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
, 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 139 at the 2010 census.
History
The land that would eventually become the town of Novelty was first claimed and homesteaded in October, 1838 by Cleng Pierson. The town wasn't laid out until nearly twenty years later however, as founder Nars W. Hunter did so in June 1857. Two further additions were made in 1860 and 1877 by Nars Hunter and Mary Hunter respectively.Novelty played a small part in the American Civil War
American 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...
, but did indeed see armed conflict. On March 25, 1862 a group of Confederate partisan "bushwhacker
Bushwhacker
Bushwhacking was a form of guerrilla warfare common during the American Revolutionary War, American Civil War and other conflicts in which there are large areas of contested land and few Governmental Resources to control these tracts...
s" attacked a Union patrol near Novelty. Later, in September 1864, a group of Confederate guerillas under Jim Jackson attacked the town and made off with supplies and money from the villages businesses and citizens.
Following the Civil War, Novelty and Knox County as a whole saw a substantial increase in population. In 1884 a group of forty Novelty area farmers formed an association and constructed the Novelty Creamery
Creamery
In a dairy, the creamery is the location of cream processing. Cream is separated from whole milk; pasteurization is done to the skimmed milk and cream separately. Whole milk for sale has had some cream returned to the skimmed milk....
.
One of the biggest changes came in 1876 when Oaklawn College was founded by Dr. W. N. Doyle. Oaklawn had humble beginnings, occupying the second floor of the Novelty schoolhouse, but rapidly outgrew that facility. A new campus on ten acres on the east side of Novelty was established in 1877 and finished by 1881. Several courses of study were offered, but most classes focused on business and teaching. An average of 105 students attended each school term, split almost evenly between women and men. For a variety of reasons—bad economic times, a fire that destroyed the mens dormotory in 1896, and most of all the growth of the First District Normal School in Kirksville
Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
(now Truman State University
Truman State University
Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri, United States and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. About 6,000 students attend Truman, pursuing degrees in 43 undergraduate and 9 Graduate programs. It is located in Kirksville in...
) led Oaklawn to close in 1899.
Geography
Novelty is located at 40°0′44"N 92°12′27"W (40.012209, -92.207594).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it 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, there were 139 people, 57 households, and 38 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 430.2 people per square mile (164.1/km²). There were 66 housing units at an average density of 238.6 per square mile (91.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 100.00% White.
There were 57 households out of which 15.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% 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, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.53.
In the village the population was spread out with 11.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,583, and the median income for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $20,833 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 village was $17,046. There were no families and 9.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 29.6% of those over 64.