Weston, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Weston is a city in Platte County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 1,631 at the 2000 census.
of 1836 and was therefore also the farthest western settlement (thus, "West Town") in the United States until the admission of Texas
as a state in 1845. Another suggested origin is related to a story about a discharged US Army dragoon by the name of Joseph Moore. He bought the land and then had First Sergeant Tom Weston of D Company, First Dragoons, stationed at Fort Leavenworth across the Missouri River, lay out a town plan. It is this individual the town is named for.
William Buffalo Bill
Cody was at one time a resident of Weston, and the town was a major "jumping off" point for the Santa Fe Trail
, the Oregon Trail
and the California Gold Rush
.
Weston was at one time the second largest port on the Missouri river, surpassing both Kansas City and St. Joseph, however a flood in 1881 shifted the river into an old channel some 2 miles away.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,631 people, 676 households, and 459 families residing in the city. The population density
was 994.8 people per square mile (384.0/km²). There were 724 housing units at an average density of 441.6 per square mile (170.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.49% White, 0.67% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.49% from other races
, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.
There were 676 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,214, and the median income for a family was $53,015. Males had a median income of $36,466 versus $27,132 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,794. About 5.2% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
, producers of a large number of liquors, it was founded in 1856, and is the oldest whiskey distillery west of the Mississippi River and the oldest continuously operated distillery in the United States.
Weston was, prior to its cultivation being prohibited by the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act, the world's leading producer of industrial hemp
. It is the world's leading producer of twist tobacco.
Platte County, Missouri
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,781 people, 29,278 households, and 20,231 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile . There were 30,902 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
, 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 1,631 at the 2000 census.
History
Lewis and Clark Expedition camped out near the location of today's city hall. Weston was the oldest settlement in the Platte PurchasePlatte Purchase
The Platte Purchase was a land acquisition in 1836 by the United States government from Native American tribes all of which was east bank lands along the Missouri River that added to the northwest corner of the state of Missouri. The area acquired is almost as large as the states of Delaware and...
of 1836 and was therefore also the farthest western settlement (thus, "West Town") in the United States until the admission of 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...
as a state in 1845. Another suggested origin is related to a story about a discharged US Army dragoon by the name of Joseph Moore. He bought the land and then had First Sergeant Tom Weston of D Company, First Dragoons, stationed at Fort Leavenworth across the Missouri River, lay out a town plan. It is this individual the town is named for.
William Buffalo Bill
Buffalo Bill
William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a United States soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the Iowa Territory , in LeClaire but lived several years in Canada before his family moved to the Kansas Territory. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US...
Cody was at one time a resident of Weston, and the town was a major "jumping off" point for the Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
, the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
.
Weston was at one time the second largest port on the Missouri river, surpassing both Kansas City and St. Joseph, however a flood in 1881 shifted the river into an old channel some 2 miles away.
Geography
Weston is located at 39°24′48"N 94°53′52"W (39.413370, -94.897780).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 1.6 square miles (4.1 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 1,631 people, 676 households, and 459 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 994.8 people per square mile (384.0/km²). There were 724 housing units at an average density of 441.6 per square mile (170.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.49% White, 0.67% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.49% 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 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.
There were 676 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,214, and the median income for a family was $53,015. Males had a median income of $36,466 versus $27,132 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 $20,794. About 5.2% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
Industry
Weston is the home of McCormick Distilling CompanyMcCormick Distilling Company
The McCormick Distilling Company is an alcoholic beverage distilling and importing company in Weston, Missouri. Opened originally by Benjamin J. Holladay in 1856 under the name Holladay Distillery, its distillery has been registered in the National Register of Historic Places and has been operating...
, producers of a large number of liquors, it was founded in 1856, and is the oldest whiskey distillery west of the Mississippi River and the oldest continuously operated distillery in the United States.
Weston was, prior to its cultivation being prohibited by the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act, the world's leading producer of industrial hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
. It is the world's leading producer of twist tobacco.
External links
- Historic maps of Weston 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...