La Plata, Missouri
Encyclopedia
La Plata is a city in Macon County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 1,366 at the 2010 census.
According to local tradition, the name resulted from a lottery: the townsfolk were invited to put a proposed name into a hat, and "La Plata" was the one drawn; it had been Dr. Moore's choice, under the mistaken impression that it was French for "the silver river."
The North Missouri (later known as the Wabash Railroad
) came to town in 1867, and the Santa Fe Railroad twenty years later, passing through La Plata on its route from Chicago
to Kansas City
. The Wabash railroad no longer exists, but the Amtrak station is still running on the Santa Fe rail system, and the town is served by the Southwest Chief
.
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2010, there were 1,366 people, 630 households, and 388 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,219.0 people per square mile (470.3/km²). There were 702 housing units at an average density of 575.9 per square mile (222.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.65% White, 0.13% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.27% from other races
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.68% of the population.
There were 630 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,583, and the median income for a family was $36,071. Males had a median income of $26,438 versus $17,880 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,675. About 9.0% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
Macon County, Missouri
Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 15,566. Its county seat is Macon. The county was organized in 1837 and named for Nathaniel Macon, a North Carolina politician...
, 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 1,366 at the 2010 census.
History
On March 17, 1827, Drury Davis established a trading post about a half-mile west of what would become La Plata. The town would develop as the intersection of north and south stagecoach roads. The town was surveyed by Henry O. Clark in 1855. Clark presented a plat to settlers Louis Gex, Theodore Saunders and Dr. W. W. Moore. The men accepted the plan, and named the streets surrounding the city park for themselves (Clark chose a street one block south of the square, along his father's land). The streets Moore (on the North side), Gex , and Sanders (to the South) make up three sides of the square. The town prospered as a small farming center, like Kirksville 13 miles to the North.According to local tradition, the name resulted from a lottery: the townsfolk were invited to put a proposed name into a hat, and "La Plata" was the one drawn; it had been Dr. Moore's choice, under the mistaken impression that it was French for "the silver river."
The North Missouri (later known as the Wabash Railroad
Wabash Railroad
The Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including trackage in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Ontario. Its primary connections included Chicago, Illinois, Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit,...
) came to town in 1867, and the Santa Fe Railroad twenty years later, passing through La Plata on its route from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. The Wabash railroad no longer exists, but the Amtrak station is still running on the Santa Fe rail system, and the town is served by the Southwest Chief
Southwest Chief
The Southwest Chief is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 2256-mile BNSF route through the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. It runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, passing through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California...
.
Geography
La Plata is located at 40°1′26"N 92°29′32"W (40.024013, -92.492279). 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 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 2010, there were 1,366 people, 630 households, and 388 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 1,219.0 people per square mile (470.3/km²). There were 702 housing units at an average density of 575.9 per square mile (222.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.65% White, 0.13% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.27% 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 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.68% of the population.
There were 630 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,583, and the median income for a family was $36,071. Males had a median income of $26,438 versus $17,880 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 $19,675. About 9.0% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
- La Plata (Amtrak station)La Plata (Amtrak station)The La Plata Amtrak station is a train station in La Plata, Missouri, United States, served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. La Plata Station was built in 1945 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad as a replacement for an 1887-built passenger and freight depot that was in...
provides passenger train service. Kirksville Regional AirportKirksville Regional AirportKirksville Regional Airport is a public airport located southeast of the central business district of Kirksville, a city in Adair County, Missouri, United States. The airport is located in unincorporated Adair County and is owned by the City of Kirksville. It is mostly used for general aviation,...
, six miles north of La Plata, provides commuter airline connector flights to larger cities and airlines. U.S. Highway 63 has been expanded to four lanes in the last decade, meaning easy highway access to larger cities like ColumbiaColumbia, MissouriColumbia 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...
.
Notable people & events
- Lester DentLester DentLester Dent was a prolific pulp fiction author, best known as the creator and main author of the series of novels about the superhuman scientist and adventurer, Doc Savage. The 159 novels written over 16 years were credited to the house name Kenneth Robeson.-Early years:Dent was born in 1904 in...
, author, Doc Savage books. - Thomas L. RubeyThomas L. RubeyThomas Lewis Rubey was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.Born in Lebanon, Missouri, Rubey attended the common schools. He graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri in 1885 and served as Superintendent of schools of Lebanon from 1886 to 1891...
, Missouri's 25th Lieutenant Governor & former U.S. Congressman. - 1999 - La Plata R-2 High School won the Missouri Class 1-A Softball Title.
- May, 2010 - La Plata R-2 girls 4x100 relay team win 1st place in the Missouri Class 1-A Track & Field competition
- June, 2011 - La Plata R-2 High School won the Missouri Class 1 Baseball State Championship, defeating Liberal High SchoolLiberal, MissouriLiberal is a city in Barton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 779 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Liberal is located at ....
7-6.