Pierce City, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Pierce City is a city in Lawrence County, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 1,385 at the 2000 census. In 2010, the town annexed down Missouri Route 97 into Barry County to a point just north of US Route 60.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,385 people, 574 households, and 378 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,133.3 people per square mile (438.3/km²). There were 646 housing units at an average density of 528.6 per square mile (204.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.46% White, 0.22% African American, 1.08% Native American, 0.22% from other races
, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 574 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,186, and the median income for a family was $34,219. Males had a median income of $23,429 versus $17,857 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,310. About 18.3% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 29.5% of those age 65 or over.
to write the essay The United States of Lyncherdom
. A 2007 PBS
documentary, Banished
, featured the incident.http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080206/BREAKING01/80206021
was the one that hit in Pierce City. According to reports, nearly all of the buildings in the town were damaged, destroyed, or liable to collapse. Published and repeatedly broadcast reports of "all" or "nearly all" of the town's buildings sustaining severe damage were false. Approximately 90 percent of the historic downtown business district and homes nearby were severely damaged and later torn down. A nearby National Guard Armory, also known as the town's storm shelter in which several dozen people had fled to, sustained heavy damage, killing one person, J. Dale Taunton. Raging Winds... However, outside the main path of the tornado, many Pierce City structures, including homes and the Harold Bell Wright Museum sustained little or no damage.
The Pierce City tornado was an F-3 on the Fujita scale
.
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 1,385 at the 2000 census. In 2010, the town annexed down Missouri Route 97 into Barry County to a point just north of US Route 60.
Geography
Pierce City is located at 36°56′49"N 94°0′9"W (36.946996, -94.002430).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 1.2 square miles (3.1 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 2000, there were 1,385 people, 574 households, and 378 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 1,133.3 people per square mile (438.3/km²). There were 646 housing units at an average density of 528.6 per square mile (204.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.46% White, 0.22% African American, 1.08% Native American, 0.22% 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 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 574 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% 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, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,186, and the median income for a family was $34,219. Males had a median income of $23,429 versus $17,857 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 $12,310. About 18.3% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 29.5% of those age 65 or over.
1901 lynching incident
In 1901 a white lynch mob killed several African Americans in Pierce City and the rest of the black community fled the town. This incident prompted Mark TwainMark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
to write the essay The United States of Lyncherdom
The United States of Lyncherdom
The United States of Lyncherdom was an essay by Mark Twain written in 1901. He was prompted to do so after the lynching of Will Godley, his grandfather French Godley, and Eugene Carter . They were accused in the rape and murder of Gazelle Wild on August 19, 1901 in Pierce City, Missouri, located...
. A 2007 PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
documentary, Banished
Banished (film)
Banished is a 2007 documentary film about four U.S. cities, which were part of many communities that violently forced African American families to flee in post-reconstruction America. In incidents which took place in Texas, Missouri, Georgia and Indiana between 1886 and 1923...
, featured the incident.http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080206/BREAKING01/80206021
May 2003 tornado
One of the most notable tornadoes of the May 2003 tornado outbreak sequenceMay 2003 tornado outbreak sequence
The May 2003 tornado outbreak sequence in the United States was a series of tornado outbreaks that occurred from May 3 to May 11, 2003. Tornadoes began occurring over the affected area on April 30, but the most prolific continuous period was the seven day period of May 4–10...
was the one that hit in Pierce City. According to reports, nearly all of the buildings in the town were damaged, destroyed, or liable to collapse. Published and repeatedly broadcast reports of "all" or "nearly all" of the town's buildings sustaining severe damage were false. Approximately 90 percent of the historic downtown business district and homes nearby were severely damaged and later torn down. A nearby National Guard Armory, also known as the town's storm shelter in which several dozen people had fled to, sustained heavy damage, killing one person, J. Dale Taunton. Raging Winds... However, outside the main path of the tornado, many Pierce City structures, including homes and the Harold Bell Wright Museum sustained little or no damage.
The Pierce City tornado was an F-3 on the Fujita scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
.
External links
- Pierce City R-VI Schools
- USA Today - Pierce City rebuilds
- Tornadoes take father and son 50 years apart
- Harold Bell Wright Museum
- Historic maps of Pierce City 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...