Altenburg, Missouri

Altenburg, Missouri
City
Altenburg
Location of Altenburg, Missouri
Coordinates: 37°37′50″N89°35′09″W / 37.63056°N 89.58583°W / 37.63056; -89.58583
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Perry
Township	Brazeau
Incorporated	1870 [1]
Area [2]
• Total	1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2)
• Land	1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [3]	584 ft (178 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	341
• Density	324.76/sq mi (125.41/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	63732
Area code	573
FIPS code	29-00928 [4]
GNIS feature ID	2393934 [3]

Altenburg is a city in Perry County, Missouri, United States. The population was 341 at the 2020 census.

History

Altenburg (German for "Old Castle") was laid out and platted in 1839 by a colony of Lutherans. ^[5] It was named after the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg from where many of its settlers came, and not the city of Altenburg which does not seem to have sent a single colonist. ^[6]

Altenburg is one of seven towns and villages in the area founded by German Lutheran immigrants in 1839. Altenburg and the other communities—Dresden, Frohna, Johannisberg, Paitzdorf, Seelitz, and Wittenberg—were all named by settlers for towns in the Saxony region of their native country. ^[7] These settlers would form the backbone of what would later become the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Trinity Lutheran Church was established in 1839 in a log cabin, and was later replaced by a limestone, and then a frame church. Soon after arriving, the immigrants constructed a school in Altenburg. Made of native timber, this "Log Cabin College" introduced the new idea of a co-educational school, a rarity at the time. ^[7] Today, Altenburg is home to the Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum, established in 1985. Tourists can explore several mid-19th century buildings that remain in the community as well as the Heritage Center's exhibition hall as well as the reading room and research library. ^[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.05 square miles (2.72 km²), all land. ^[9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	200		—
1880	234		17.0%
1890	183		−21.8%
1900	222		21.3%
1910	279		25.7%
1920	313		12.2%
1930	289		−7.7%
1940	264		−8.7%
1950	272		3.0%
1960	260		−4.4%
1970	277		6.5%
1980	280		1.1%
1990	307		9.6%
2000	309		0.7%
2010	352		13.9%
2020	341		−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 2020 [11]

2010 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2010, there were 352 people, 138 households, and 97 families living in the city. The population density was 335.2 inhabitants per square mile (129.4/km²). There were 152 housing units at an average density of 144.8 per square mile (55.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.15% White, 0.28% Black or African American, and 0.57% from two or more races.

There were 138 households, of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.7% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 37 years. 27% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.5% were from 25 to 44; 23% were from 45 to 64; and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, there were 309 people, 126 households, and 86 families living in the city. The population density was 323.4 inhabitants per square mile (124.9/km²). There were 140 housing units at an average density of 146.5 per square mile (56.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.35% White, and 0.65% from two or more races.

There were 126 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 108.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,417, and the median income for a family was $46,136. Males had a median income of $33,125 versus $20,208 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,174. None of the families and 5.0% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteen and 13.0% of those over 64.

Public School District 48

Education

Altenburg Public School District #48 operates one public elementary school, Altenburg Elementary School. ^[13]

Altenburg has a public library, a branch of the Riverside Regional Library. ^[14]

Arts and culture

The East Perry Community Fair is held annually on the fair grounds each September. ^[15]

Nearby communities

Nearby communities

Altenburg

Gorham (8 miles)

Grand Tower (4.3 miles)

Frohna (1.9 miles)

Old Appleton (7.4 miles)

Pocahontas (9.3 miles)

References

1. "The Missouri Roster 2007–2008" (PDF). Missouri Office of the Secretary of State. pp. 156–179. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2023.
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Altenburg, Missouri
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. Earngey, Bill (1995). Missouri Roadsides: The Traveler's Companion. University of Missouri Press. p. 4. ISBN   9780826210210.
6. Perry County, Missouri Place Names, 1928-1945 - The State Historical Society of Missouri http://shs.umsystem.edu/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_perry.html Archived March 31, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
7. McMillen, Margot Ford (1994). Paris, Tightwad and Peculiar: Missouri Place Names. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. pp. 55–56. ISBN   0-8262-0972-6.
8. "Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum". Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "2020 Census Data". data.census.gov.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 8, 2012.
13. "Altenburg 48 School District". GreatSchools. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
14. "Altenburg branch". Riverside Regional Library. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
15. "Home". East Perry Community Fair.