Sarcoxie, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Sarcoxie is a city in Jasper County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 1,330 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
with the same name
. Sarcoxie is also the oldest town in the county.
It was once the strawberry capital of the world and still is the peony capital of the world, and home to Gilbert H. Wild, one of America's largest growers of daylilies, iris, and peonies. Sarcoxie once had its own currency that had a picture of a strawberry on one side. The town's weekly newspaper, the Sarcoxie Record, was one of the better newspapers in the state in the 1930s. Barney Finn, the editor, also served as Sarcoxie mayor for two terms.
The town was a minor flash point in the American Civil War
with the largest Confederate flag flying in town for a time.
In 1887, it became perhaps the first town in southwest Missouri to have electric lighting.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,354 people, 559 households, and 359 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,254.6 people per square mile (484.1/km²). There were 635 housing units at an average density of 588.4 per square mile (227.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.94% White, 0.07% African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.07% from other races
, and 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 559 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 80.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $34,519. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $20,547 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,531. About 10.7% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
Jasper County, Missouri
Jasper County is a county located in the US state of Missouri. It is included in the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2010 total population of Jasper County was 117,404. It is the ninth most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Carthage, making it one of the few...
, 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 1,330 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Area
The Joplin Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – Jasper and Newton – in southwest Missouri, anchored by the city of Joplin...
.
History
The earliest named occupant was Chief Sarcoxie. His name has been said to mean "As Tall As He Is"--a reference to his position and perhaps also his height. It is said he settled by a spring at the base of a steep hill near what is now the town square, selecting the spot because it was never struck by tornadoes. A cavern at that spot in the limestone bluff is called "Chief Sarcoxie's Cave", and was large enough for boys to crawl into as recently as 1910; however, as limestone was quarried from the bluff, the roof of the cave gradually subsided and the entrance closed. European-American settlement began in the 1830s with the town being platted in 1840. It is the only town in the US with the name Sarcoxie— though there is a township in Jefferson County, KansasJefferson County, Kansas
Jefferson County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 19,126. Its county seat is Oskaloosa, and its most populous city is Valley Falls...
with the same name
Sarcoxie Township, Jefferson County, Kansas
Sarcoxie Township is a township in Jefferson County, Kansas, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 958.-Geography:Sarcoxie Township covers an area of 31.03 square miles ; of this, 0.14 square miles or 0.45 percent is water...
. Sarcoxie is also the oldest town in the county.
It was once the strawberry capital of the world and still is the peony capital of the world, and home to Gilbert H. Wild, one of America's largest growers of daylilies, iris, and peonies. Sarcoxie once had its own currency that had a picture of a strawberry on one side. The town's weekly newspaper, the Sarcoxie Record, was one of the better newspapers in the state in the 1930s. Barney Finn, the editor, also served as Sarcoxie mayor for two terms.
The town was a minor flash point 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...
with the largest Confederate flag flying in town for a time.
In 1887, it became perhaps the first town in southwest Missouri to have electric lighting.
Geography
Sarcoxie is located at 37°4′7"N 94°7′21"W (37.068490, -94.122450).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 1.1 square miles (2.8 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 1,354 people, 559 households, and 359 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 1,254.6 people per square mile (484.1/km²). There were 635 housing units at an average density of 588.4 per square mile (227.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.94% White, 0.07% African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.07% 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 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 559 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% 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, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 80.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $34,519. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $20,547 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 $13,531. About 10.7% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- G. Lloyd SpencerG. Lloyd SpencerGeorge Lloyd Spencer was a Democratic United States Senator from the State of Arkansas.G. Lloyd Spencer was born in Sarcoxie, Missouri on March 27, 1893. Spencer moved to Okolona, Arkansas in 1902. Spencer attended public schools including the Peddie School at Hightstown, New Jersey...
- US Senator for Arkansas. - Gene TaylorGene Taylor (Missouri)Gene Taylor was a Republican U.S. representative from Missouri.He was born near Sarcoxie, Missouri, where Taylor attended local public schools....
- US House of Representatives http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?
External links
- Lasr.net
- Historic maps of Sarcoxie 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...
- http://www.census.gov/