Mexico, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Mexico is a city in Audrain County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 11,543 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Audrain County
. The Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Audrain County. Mexico hosts the annual Miss Missouri
Pageant; the winner goes on to represent the state of Missouri in the Miss America pageant.
, the city has a total area of 11.7 square miles (30.3 km²), of which, 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (2.90%) is water.
(thus the name New Mexico), and became the county seat
under its present name in 1837. The word "New" was dropped after the Mexican-American War that saw Texas
become a part of the United States.
There is an apocryphal story concerning the name. When a University of Missouri
student, questioned on radio, was unable to give an account of her hometown's name, the question was put to L. Mitchell White, then editor and publisher of the Mexico Ledger: "'The first settlers found a wooden sign along the trail. It pointed southwest, and on it had been painted Mexico.'" To avoid unnecessary labor, the sign was left in place. "It was easier to call their town 'Mexico' than to take down the old sign."
Mexico was incorporated as a town in 1855, was entered by the Wabash road in 1858 and by the Alton in 1872, and was first chartered as a city in 1874. The city is situated in the blue grass region of Missouri, and was a shipping-point for horses and mules. Mexico was a one-time major source for the nation's fire brick
production, so much so, that it adopted the moniker "Fire Brick Capital of the World". However, the industry fell on hard times and both major refractory
plants in the area closed in 2002. There is currently no active quarrying for clay used in fire brick or refractories production in the area.
The historic downtown square, with the typical court house as the focal point, is surrounded by dozens of multi-story brick buildings—some dating to the founding of the community. In the late 1970s, Mexico began ripping up crumbling sidewalks and installing red paver bricks accented with turn-of-the-century lamp posts and park benches. In the 1980s, Mexico was one of six nationwide finalists for Saturn's new U.S. auto plant. Mexico lost out to winner Spring Hill, Tennessee
because Mexico was not served by a four-lane freeway. So as not to lose future development, Mexico officials quickly lobbied state and federal officials to secure funding for a new four-lane divided highway (U.S. Route 54
) which now serves the community from Interstate 70
. Formerly known as the "Saddle Horse Capital of the World," Mexico still hosts Hollywood celebrities and other visitors from around the world who come to purchase riding horses. The Simmons Stables, currently being revitalized, are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, a Baptist
college established in 1873 for young women, an institution founded and endowed by Charles H. Hardin (1820–1892), governor of the state in 1872–1874. Hardin College closed during the Great Depression
and never re-opened. Its 1200 seat auditorium has been painstakingly restored and is now used for community theater and concerts. The remainder of the college houses the Mexico Public Schools http://www.mexicoschools.net/ administrative offices which are located on South Jefferson Street.
Mexico is also home to the Missouri Military Academy
(1889).
Present public schools in the city include Mexico High School, Mexico Middle School, Hawthorne Elementary School, Eugene Field Elementary School, and McMillan Elementary School. Private schools include St. Brendan's Catholic School. The Davis H. Hart/Mexico Area Vocational-Technical School and the Advanced Technology Center are located here as well.
of 2010, there were 11,543 people, 4,804 households, and 3,021 families residing in the city. The population density
was 995.7 people per square mile (384.4/km²). There were 5,301 housing units at an average density of 466.3 per square mile (180.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.79% White, 9.19% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 4,804 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,714, and the median income for a family was $39,406. Males had a median income of $30,266 versus $21,190 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,845. About 10.0% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Audrain County, Missouri
Audrain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 25,529. Its county seat is Mexico. The county was organized in 1836. Audrain County was named for Col. James Hunter Audrain. Col. Audrain was Colonel of militia in the War of 1812. In 1830 Col...
, 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 11,543 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Audrain County
Audrain County, Missouri
Audrain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 25,529. Its county seat is Mexico. The county was organized in 1836. Audrain County was named for Col. James Hunter Audrain. Col. Audrain was Colonel of militia in the War of 1812. In 1830 Col...
. The Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Audrain County. Mexico hosts the annual Miss Missouri
Miss Missouri
The Miss Missouri competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Missouri in the Miss America pageant.-History:From 1935 to 1970, the Miss Missouri pageant was held in a number of locations, including St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield.In 1970, the pageant was held...
Pageant; the winner goes on to represent the state of Missouri in the Miss America pageant.
Geography
Mexico is located at 39°9′57"N 91°53′5"W (39.165814, -91.884761). N.E. of the centre of the state, and about 110 m. N.W. of St Louis. 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 11.7 square miles (30.3 km²), of which, 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (2.90%) is water.
History
Mexico was laid out as "New Mexico" in 1836 and was a major stop for settlers heading to the Republic of TexasRepublic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
(thus the name New Mexico), and became the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
under its present name in 1837. The word "New" was dropped after the Mexican-American War that saw Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
become a part of the United States.
There is an apocryphal story concerning the name. When a University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The 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...
student, questioned on radio, was unable to give an account of her hometown's name, the question was put to L. Mitchell White, then editor and publisher of the Mexico Ledger: "'The first settlers found a wooden sign along the trail. It pointed southwest, and on it had been painted Mexico.'" To avoid unnecessary labor, the sign was left in place. "It was easier to call their town 'Mexico' than to take down the old sign."
Mexico was incorporated as a town in 1855, was entered by the Wabash road in 1858 and by the Alton in 1872, and was first chartered as a city in 1874. The city is situated in the blue grass region of Missouri, and was a shipping-point for horses and mules. Mexico was a one-time major source for the nation's fire brick
Fire brick
A fire brick, firebrick, or refractory brick is a block of refractory ceramic material used in lining furnaces, kilns, fireboxes, and fireplaces. A refractory brick is built primarily to withstand high temperature, but will also usually have a low thermal conductivity for greater energy efficiency...
production, so much so, that it adopted the moniker "Fire Brick Capital of the World". However, the industry fell on hard times and both major refractory
Refractory
A refractory material is one that retains its strength at high temperatures. ASTM C71 defines refractories as "non-metallic materials having those chemical and physical properties that make them applicable for structures, or as components of systems, that are exposed to environments above...
plants in the area closed in 2002. There is currently no active quarrying for clay used in fire brick or refractories production in the area.
The historic downtown square, with the typical court house as the focal point, is surrounded by dozens of multi-story brick buildings—some dating to the founding of the community. In the late 1970s, Mexico began ripping up crumbling sidewalks and installing red paver bricks accented with turn-of-the-century lamp posts and park benches. In the 1980s, Mexico was one of six nationwide finalists for Saturn's new U.S. auto plant. Mexico lost out to winner Spring Hill, Tennessee
Spring Hill, Tennessee
Spring Hill is a city in Maury and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, located approximately south of Nashville. The population was 7,715 at the 2000 census...
because Mexico was not served by a four-lane freeway. So as not to lose future development, Mexico officials quickly lobbied state and federal officials to secure funding for a new four-lane divided highway (U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54 is an east–west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 1,197 miles from western Illinois to El Paso, Texas. It enters and leaves Texas twice...
) which now serves the community from Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
. Formerly known as the "Saddle Horse Capital of the World," Mexico still hosts Hollywood celebrities and other visitors from around the world who come to purchase riding horses. The Simmons Stables, currently being revitalized, are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Education
Mexico was the home of Hardin College and Conservatory of MusicHardin College and Conservatory of Music
Hardin College and Conservatory of Music, often simply Hardin College, was a women's college and conservatory located in Mexico, Missouri. The state's first junior college, it was associated with the Missionary Baptist Church of Missouri and operated from 1858 to 1931.A successor of the Audrain...
, a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
college established in 1873 for young women, an institution founded and endowed by Charles H. Hardin (1820–1892), governor of the state in 1872–1874. Hardin College closed during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and never re-opened. Its 1200 seat auditorium has been painstakingly restored and is now used for community theater and concerts. The remainder of the college houses the Mexico Public Schools http://www.mexicoschools.net/ administrative offices which are located on South Jefferson Street.
Mexico is also home to the Missouri Military Academy
Missouri Military Academy
The Missouri Military Academy is an all-boy college prep military school in the United States. The Academy is mainly a boarding school but also offers a day program, a summer school and a summer leadership camp...
(1889).
Present public schools in the city include Mexico High School, Mexico Middle School, Hawthorne Elementary School, Eugene Field Elementary School, and McMillan Elementary School. Private schools include St. Brendan's Catholic School. The Davis H. Hart/Mexico Area Vocational-Technical School and the Advanced Technology Center are located here as well.
Notable residents
- Howard L. BickleyHoward L. BickleyHoward Lee Bickley was an American lawyer and judge. Originally from Missouri, he relocated to New Mexico and became Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court....
, Chief JusticeChief JusticeThe Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the New Mexico Supreme CourtNew Mexico Supreme CourtThe New Mexico Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is established and its powers defined by Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution... - Christopher "Kit" BondKit BondChristopher Samuel "Kit" Bond is a former United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, he defeated Democrat Harriett Woods by a margin of 53%-47%. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004...
, Missouri's former United States Senator and Governor. - Jason BrookinsJason BrookinsJason Arnaz Brookins is a former professional American football running back who played one season for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He played college football at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee....
, former running back for the NFL Baltimore RavensBaltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his... - Charles Henry HardinCharles Henry HardinCharles Henry Hardin was one of the eight founders of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Born in 1820 in Trimble County, Kentucky, he graduated from Miami University in 1840 and received his LL.D. from William Jewell College in 1890. He later became the 22nd Governor of Missouri between 1875 and 1877 and...
, Missouri governor served a two-year term (1875–1877). - Edward D. "Ted" Jones, son of Edward D. JonesEdward D. JonesEdward D. Jones, Sr. was an investment banker born in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Bellefontaine High School in Bellefontaine, Ohio in 1913, then from New York University in 1916....
, opened Edward Jones InvestmentsEdward Jones InvestmentsEdward D. Jones & Co., L.P., since 1995 simplified as Edward Jones is a financial services firm headquartered in Des Peres, Missouri which serves investment clients in the United States and Canada, through its branch network of more than 12,000 locations. The firm focuses solely on individual...
' first single broker office in Mexico. - Howard KindigHoward KindigHoward Wayne Kindig, Jr. is a former American football defensive end who played ten seasons in the American Football League and the National Football League, mainly with the Buffalo Bills.-See also:...
, NFL football player - Tyronn LueTyronn LueTyronn Jamar Lue is a former American professional basketball player who last played for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association...
, a NBA basketball player who played on the 2000 and 2001 Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, NBA Championship team
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 11,543 people, 4,804 households, and 3,021 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 995.7 people per square mile (384.4/km²). There were 5,301 housing units at an average density of 466.3 per square mile (180.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.79% White, 9.19% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% 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 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 4,804 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% 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, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,714, and the median income for a family was $39,406. Males had a median income of $30,266 versus $21,190 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 $17,845. About 10.0% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- City of Mexico
- Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce
- Historic maps of Mexico 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...