Novinger, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Novinger is a city in Nineveh Township
, Adair County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 456 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kirksville
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.44%) is water. Novinger can be found on the north side of Missouri Highway 6, approximately seven miles west of Kirksville, Missouri. Missouri Highway 149 bisects the town on a north-south axis, while Adair County Route "O", travels through the main downtown business district.
Novinger versus Nature: Being a river town, Novinger was no stranger to frequent flooding of the Chariton River during the communitys early years. However a channelization of the Chariton by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s alleviated much of the threat. But in June 2008 a series of heavy rains led to flooding of the Chariton, and more significantly, left flash flood waters of Spring Creek and Davis Creek to back up from the river into Novinger. Several homes in the low-lying southwestern part of town were heavily damaged, as was the historic 1800s log homestead and Novinger Community Center. On May 13, 2009 a large tornado, estimated as a strong EF2 on the Fujita Scale, struck the southern edge of Novinger. At least six homes were destroyed, along with two brick buildings in the business district. The tornado caused moderate-to-severe damage to over fifty homes and businesses. Fortunately only minor injuries to residents were reported. Additionally, other homes and barns were also badly damaged or destroyed in rural Adair County southwest of Novinger. Adding insult to injury two days later on May 15 heavy rains once again caused severe flash flooding to Novinger’s low-lying areas, including once again the Novinger Community Center and log homestead -— both of which had only recently been repaired from damage suffered in the June 2008 flood. The combination of tornado and flood forced the first-ever cancellation of Novingers annual Coal Miner Days celebration as well as postponement of graduation ceremonies at Novinger R-1 High School.
Late on the night of September 11, 2010 a major fire swept through the Novinger business district. Five buildings, including the former city hall and senior citizen center were destroyed, as well as two businesses.
, boating and waterskiing at Thousand Hills State Park, four miles east of Novinger. There is a reconstructed historic log homestead and Coal Miners’ Museum. A community center hosts private functions and annual town celebrations. Novinger Renewal Inc., Novinger Planned Progress, and the Novinger Lions Club are three civic organizations.
of 2010, there were 456 people, 225 households, and 152 families residing in the city. The population density
was 662.7 people per square mile (254.5/km²). There were 246 housing units at an average density of 305.3 per square mile (117.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.25% White and 0.75% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population.
There were 225 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,990, and the median income for a family was $26,000. Males had a median income of $19,500 versus $17,625 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $10,586. About 14.9% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.
Nineveh Township, Adair County, Missouri
Nineveh Township is one of ten townships in Adair County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,369. The township is named for a German communistic colony that was established in the area in 1850.-Geography:...
, Adair County
Adair County, Missouri
Adair County is a county located in northeast Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 25,607. Its county seat is Kirksville. The county was organized in 1841 and is named in honor of Kentucky Governor John Adair....
, 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 456 at the 2010 census. It is part of the 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...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Kirksville micropolitan area
The Kirksville Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Missouri, anchored by the city of Kirksville...
.
Geography
Novinger is located at 40.233198°N 92.706504°W (40.233198, -92.706504).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.44%) is water. Novinger can be found on the north side of Missouri Highway 6, approximately seven miles west of Kirksville, Missouri. Missouri Highway 149 bisects the town on a north-south axis, while Adair County Route "O", travels through the main downtown business district.
History
Key events in Novinger history include the arrival of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific railroad and filing of the town plat by founder John C. Novinger in 1878, the establishment of a U.S. Post Office the next year, and the first shaft coal mine in 1883. A turn-of-the-century coal mining boom saw Welsh, Germans, Scots-Irish, Italians, natives of the Balkan countries and many others and their families immigrate from all over the world. It was this boom that finally saw Novinger incorporated as a city in 1901 as the population swelled into the thousands. However, the Great Depression, a post-World War Two switch to mostly natural gas and electric heat in American homes, and heavy industry’s lessening coal use doomed the area coal fields. The railroads had pulled out by 1950, and the last mine, Billy Creek Coal Mine southwest of Novinger, closed in January 1966. At the time of its closing Billy Creek was the last operating deep shaft mine in Missouri.Novinger versus Nature: Being a river town, Novinger was no stranger to frequent flooding of the Chariton River during the communitys early years. However a channelization of the Chariton by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s alleviated much of the threat. But in June 2008 a series of heavy rains led to flooding of the Chariton, and more significantly, left flash flood waters of Spring Creek and Davis Creek to back up from the river into Novinger. Several homes in the low-lying southwestern part of town were heavily damaged, as was the historic 1800s log homestead and Novinger Community Center. On May 13, 2009 a large tornado, estimated as a strong EF2 on the Fujita Scale, struck the southern edge of Novinger. At least six homes were destroyed, along with two brick buildings in the business district. The tornado caused moderate-to-severe damage to over fifty homes and businesses. Fortunately only minor injuries to residents were reported. Additionally, other homes and barns were also badly damaged or destroyed in rural Adair County southwest of Novinger. Adding insult to injury two days later on May 15 heavy rains once again caused severe flash flooding to Novinger’s low-lying areas, including once again the Novinger Community Center and log homestead -— both of which had only recently been repaired from damage suffered in the June 2008 flood. The combination of tornado and flood forced the first-ever cancellation of Novingers annual Coal Miner Days celebration as well as postponement of graduation ceremonies at Novinger R-1 High School.
Late on the night of September 11, 2010 a major fire swept through the Novinger business district. Five buildings, including the former city hall and senior citizen center were destroyed, as well as two businesses.
Novinger Today
The Novinger business community is but a fraction of its size during the coal boom days. The town proper and surrounding area offer two beauty salons, two construction companies, a convenience store, catering business, farm supply store, heating & cooling repair, and auction service. Most Novinger residents, however, must travel to the larger city of Kirksville to the east or Milan to the west, to find employment, thus making Novinger a "bedroom community" of sorts. Novinger still has an active K-12 school. Recent improvements include storm warning capability, water system, and community grounds. Fire protection is provided by a well equipped volunteer fire department as well. Recreation activities include deer and turkey hunting, along with fishing in the nearby lakes, ponds and the Chariton RiverChariton River
The Chariton River is a tributary to the Missouri River in southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri.It has been called Missouri's "Grand Divide" because streams west of the Chariton flow into the Missouri and streams east of it flow into the Mississippi River....
, boating and waterskiing at Thousand Hills State Park, four miles east of Novinger. There is a reconstructed historic log homestead and Coal Miners’ Museum. A community center hosts private functions and annual town celebrations. Novinger Renewal Inc., Novinger Planned Progress, and the Novinger Lions Club are three civic organizations.
Annual events
- Each Memorial Day weekend Coal Miner Days includes a parade, games, food, and entertainment.
- Each Labor Day weekend the Novinger Lions Club hosts a celebration with parade, food and games.
- At the Novinger Renewal Christmas Country Crafts Fair held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, artisans from across the tri-state area display their work.
- The week after Thanksgiving includes the annual Novinger Invitational basketball tournament.
Notable residents
- Zachary WyattZachary WyattZachary Wyatt is a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Wyatt represents the 2nd District, encompassing Adair county, Putnam county, and a part of Sullivan county.-Personal life:...
, 2nd District Representative, Missouri House of RepresentativesMissouri House of RepresentativesThe Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
. - Brent Truitt, Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning music producer, recording engineer and musician. - Sally (Sandker) Berry and Tensel Sandker, members of Bluegrass musicBluegrass musicBluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
group Next Best Thing. Both attended Novinger R-1 schools for elementary and most of high school.
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 456 people, 225 households, and 152 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 662.7 people per square mile (254.5/km²). There were 246 housing units at an average density of 305.3 per square mile (117.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.25% White and 0.75% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population.
There were 225 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% 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, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,990, and the median income for a family was $26,000. Males had a median income of $19,500 versus $17,625 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 $10,586. About 14.9% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Historic maps of Novinger 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...