Rock Port, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Rock Port is a city in Clay Township
, Atchison County
, Missouri
, United States
and the county seat of Atchison County. The population was 1,318 at the 2010 census. The city, which is 8 miles east of the Missouri River
in the Loess Hills
bluffs above the river, derives its name from Rock Creek which flows through it.
. Rock Port, which uses about 13 million kWh a year, has its power generated by the Loess Hills
Wind Farm. The farm has four Suzlon 1.25-megawatt wind turbines. Excess power is sold to the Missouri Public Utility Alliance in Columbia, Missouri
. The idea for the wind turbines came from the town's former mortuary worker, Eric Chamberlain. The farm was built by Wind Capital Group
and is by far the company's smallest wind farm developed through January 2009. Wind Capital in 2008 built the bigger 50.4MW Cow Branch Wind Farm between Rock Port and Tarkio. Jeffrey Seaman is the mayor.
The original city is off of the interstate but an additional area is built that is a travel hub. Truck stops, motel
s, fast food and firework stands are located along the interstate hosting a large amount of day time visitors, despite the city's small size and otherwise slow population growth.
, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), all land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,395 people, 647 households, and 368 families residing in the city. The population density
was 488.5 people per square mile (188.3/km²). There were 714 housing units at an average density of 250.0 per square mile (96.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.35% White, 0.07% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 647 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples
living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,571, and the median income for a family was $41,625. Males had a median income of $27,639 versus $19,653 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,322. About 7.2% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Clay Township, Atchison County, Missouri
Clay Township is one of eleven townships in Atchison County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,852.-Geography:Clay Township covers an area of and contains one incorporated settlement, Rock Port...
, Atchison County
Atchison County, Missouri
Atchison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 5,685. Its county seat is Rock Port. The county was organized in 1845 and named for David Rice Atchison, U.S...
, 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...
and the county seat of Atchison County. The population was 1,318 at the 2010 census. The city, which is 8 miles east of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
in the Loess Hills
Loess Hills
The Loess Hills are a formation of wind-deposited loess soil in the westernmost part of Iowa and Missouri along the Missouri River.-Geology:The Loess Hills are generally located between 1 and east of the Missouri River channel...
bluffs above the river, derives its name from Rock Creek which flows through it.
Wind power and economy
The city of Rock Port has become completely energy self-sufficient. In April 2008 Rock Port claimed to be the first community in the United States to have its electricity 100 percent generated by wind powerWind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
. Rock Port, which uses about 13 million kWh a year, has its power generated by the Loess Hills
Loess Hills
The Loess Hills are a formation of wind-deposited loess soil in the westernmost part of Iowa and Missouri along the Missouri River.-Geology:The Loess Hills are generally located between 1 and east of the Missouri River channel...
Wind Farm. The farm has four Suzlon 1.25-megawatt wind turbines. Excess power is sold to the Missouri Public Utility Alliance in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
. The idea for the wind turbines came from the town's former mortuary worker, Eric Chamberlain. The farm was built by Wind Capital Group
Wind Capital Group
The wind power developer Wind Capital Group was founded in 2005 by Missouri native Tom Carnahan.- Blue Grass Ridge Wind Farm:On January 31st 2006, Wind Capital Group announced the planned construction of Blue Grass Ridge Wind Farm near King City in Gentry County, Missouri. Construction of the 27...
and is by far the company's smallest wind farm developed through January 2009. Wind Capital in 2008 built the bigger 50.4MW Cow Branch Wind Farm between Rock Port and Tarkio. Jeffrey Seaman is the mayor.
The original city is off of the interstate but an additional area is built that is a travel hub. Truck stops, motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
s, fast food and firework stands are located along the interstate hosting a large amount of day time visitors, despite the city's small size and otherwise slow population growth.
Geography
Rock Port is located at 40°24′44"N 95°31′11"W (40.412268, -95.519792). 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 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the 2010 Census Rock Port had a population of 1,318 people. 1,274 of these reported being non-Hispanic whites alone on the census, 4 reported on Native American or Alaskan Native ancestry (not Hispanic or Latino), 15 reported more than one race who reported themselves as not being Hispanic or Latino, and 25 people identified as being Hispanic or Latino.As of the census
Census
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 1,395 people, 647 households, and 368 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 488.5 people per square mile (188.3/km²). There were 714 housing units at an average density of 250.0 per square mile (96.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.35% White, 0.07% African American, 0.14% 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 0.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 647 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% 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, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,571, and the median income for a family was $41,625. Males had a median income of $27,639 versus $19,653 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 $18,322. About 7.2% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Rock Port, MO Official Web Site
- Historic maps of Rock Port 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...