Charleston, Missouri

For other uses, see Charleston (disambiguation).

Charleston, Missouri
City
Main Street
Nickname:  "Flower of the Bootheel" [1]
Location in Mississippi County and the state of Missouri
Coordinates: 36°55′17″N89°20′47″W / 36.92139°N 89.34639°W / 36.92139; -89.34639
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Mississippi
Area [2]
• Total	4.85 sq mi (12.56 km2)
• Land	4.80 sq mi (12.42 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2)
Elevation [3]	322 ft (98 m)
Population  (2020) [4]
• Total	5,056
• Density	1,054.21/sq mi (407.07/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	63834
Area code	573
FIPS code	29-13366 [5]
GNIS feature ID	2393804 [3]
Website	www.charlestonmo.us

Charleston is a city in Mississippi County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,056 at the 2020 census, ^[6] down from 5,947 in 2010. It is the county seat of Mississippi County ^[7] and is home to the Southeast Correctional Center.

History

Charleston is the largest town on the Missouri side near the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Its history has been tied to traffic on the rivers.

Settlement initially occurred on the north side, in what in 1805 was called "Matthews Prairie".

After purchasing 22.5 acres (91,000 m²) for $337, Joseph Moore laid out Charleston in 1837. ^[8] Some say the community derives its name from nearby Charles Prairie, ^[9] while others believe the name is a transfer from Charleston, South Carolina. ^[10] In 1845, it was selected as the county seat. A post office named Charleston has been in operation since 1847. ^[11]

The Civil War Battle of Charleston was fought on August 19, 1861. Killed in the battle were one Union soldier and thirteen Missouri State Guard soldiers. ^[12]

On September 1, 1861, Confederate General M. Jeff Thompson robbed the Union Bank of Charleston. Thompson, who handed the cashier a note, gave the cashier an hour to get approval from superiors to give him keys to the vault. After receiving the money, he left a receipt for $57,000 and discovered later that only $56,000 was in the bags. ^[13]

The city was the epicenter of the October 31, 1895, 5.9 M_fa earthquake on the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The quake damaged virtually every building in Charleston, creating sand volcanoes and cracking a pier on the Cairo Rail Bridge. Chimneys toppled as far away as St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; and Evansville, Indiana. The fate of specific buildings may also be traced by Sanborn maps that were produced of the town during this period. ^[14] This was the largest quake since the 1812 New Madrid earthquake, which measured at 8.3 and was the biggest recorded quake in the contiguous United States. ^[15] One of the most visible signs of the quake is located south of Charleston at Henson Lake, which was greatly expanded by the quake.

In 1901, the county courthouse was built. It was designed by J.B. Legg, who designed numerous buildings throughout Missouri, including the Gasconade and St. Charles County courthouses. On February 10, 1997, the courthouse was damaged by fire and was subsequently torn down.

The Southeast Correctional Center, is a maximum security state prison for men, and is located on the southernmost edge of the city.

Just south of Charleston is Missouri's largest American Flag mural. It was completed in 2024 by artist Ray Harvey of New Haven, Missouri. The mural is located on the property of Delta Growers Association and can be easily seen from Route 105.

The Hearnes Site, Missouri Pacific Depot, Moore House, McCutchen Theatre, and Jacob Swank House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[16]

Geography

Charleston is situated in northern Mississippi County, 12 miles (19 km) west-southwest of the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers at Bird's Point. Interstate 57 passes through Charleston, connecting it with southern Illinois across the Mississippi River to the northeast, and Interstate 55 near Sikeston to the west. U.S. Route 62 and Missouri Route 105 intersect near downtown Charleston.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Charleston has a total area of 4.85 square miles (12.56 km²), of which 4.80 square miles (12.43 km²) are land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²), or 1.15%, are water. ^[2]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	273		—
1870	635		132.6%
1880	1,028		61.9%
1890	1,381		34.3%
1900	1,893		37.1%
1910	3,144		66.1%
1920	3,410		8.5%
1930	3,357		−1.6%
1940	5,182		54.4%
1950	5,501		6.2%
1960	5,911		7.5%
1970	5,131		−13.2%
1980	5,230		1.9%
1990	5,085		−2.8%
2000	4,732		−6.9%
2010	5,947		25.7%
2020	5,056		−15.0%
source: [17]

2020 census

Charleston, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [18]	Pop 2010 [19]	Pop 2020 [20]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	2,493	2,777	2,159	52.68%	46.70%	42.70%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,136	2,983	2,639	45.14%	50.16%	52.20%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	2	2	9	0.04%	0.03%	0.18%
Asian alone (NH)	13	14	13	0.27%	0.24%	0.26%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	1	8	25	0.02%	0.13%	0.49%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	35	57	122	0.74%	0.96%	2.41%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	52	106	89	1.10%	1.78%	1.76%
Total	4,732	5,947	5,056	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

As of the census ^[21] of 2010, there were 5,947 people, 1,705 households, and 1,107 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,239.0 inhabitants per square mile (478.4/km²). There were 1,883 housing units at an average density of 392.3 per square mile (151.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 47.55% White, 50.45% Black or African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.

There were 1,705 households, of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 61.3% male and 38.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[5] of 2000, there were 4,732 people, 1,834 households, and 1,228 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,011.8 inhabitants per square mile (390.7/km²). There were 1,957 housing units at an average density of 418.5 per square mile (161.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.11% White, 45.60% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.

There were 1,834 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 24.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,812, and the median income for a family was $28,178. Males had a median income of $25,908 versus $17,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,876. About 21.2% of families and 26.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.3% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

• List of Charleston mayors

Education

Charleston R-I School District operates one elementary school, one middle school, and Charleston High School. ^[22] Charleston High School has won 12 state boys basketball championships, the most recent being in 2022. ^[23]

Charleston has a public library, a branch of the Mississippi County Library District. ^[24]

Notable people

• Charlie Babb, former NFL player for the Miami Dolphins ^[25]
• Lanie Black, Missouri state legislator
• William H. Danforth, businessman
• Ricky Frazier, former basketball player ^[26]
• Betty Cooper Hearnes, Missouri politician ^[27]
• Warren E. Hearnes, former Missouri governor
• James Boon Lankershim, Los Angeles area landowner and real estate developer
• James Naile, baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals
• Ernie Nevel, baseball player ^[28]
• Kenny Rollins, basketball player
• Joseph J. Russell, former member of the State house of representatives in 1886–1890
• John E. Scott, former state senate president pro tempore ^[29]
• Samuel "Bay" Taylor, Negro league baseball player ^[30]
• Matt Whiteside, baseball player ^[31]

References

1. "Welcome to Charleston, Missouri!". City of Charleston. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
2. "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Missouri". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Charleston, Missouri
4. "P1. Race – Charleston city, Missouri: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
7. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
8. "City of Charleston MO - Home". www.charlestonmo.net. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
9. "Mississippi County Place Names, 1928–1945". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
10. Eaton, David Wolfe (1917). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp.  208.
11. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
12. Lawler, Michael K. (August 21, 1861). Congressional Series of United States Public Documents, Volume 3114. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 136.
13. Doris Land Mueller (2007). M. Jeff Thompson: Missouri's Swamp Fox of the Confederacy . University of Missouri Press. p.  41. ISBN   978-0-8262-6590-6.
14. Sanborn Maps for Missouri: Charleston, from the University of Missouri Digital Library. Accessed 2011-03-14.
15. Historic Earthquakes: Near Charleston, Mississippi County, Missouri - usgs.gov - Retrieved August 27, 2009 Archived July 7, 2012, at archive.today
16. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
17. "Missouri Population 1900 - 1990" (PDF). Missouri Census Data Center. Archived from the original (CSV) on July 4, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
18. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Charleston city, Missouri". United States Census Bureau .
19. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Charleston city, Missouri". United States Census Bureau .
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Charleston city, Missouri". United States Census Bureau .
21. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 8, 2012.
22. "Charleston R-I School District". Greatschools. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
23. "Show-Me Showdown schedule & results". Mo. State High School Activities Assn. website. March 17, 2012. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
24. "Homepage". Mississippi County Library District. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
25. "Charlie Babb". databseFootball.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
26. "Mizzou Basketball All-Century Team Revealed". mutigers.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
27. Standard Democrat (July 23, 2017). "Charleston church to honor Betty Hearnes' 90th birthday with music celebration". seMissourian.com. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
28. "Ernie Wyre Nevel". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
29. "Senator John E. Scott - Member Biography". www.senate.mo.gov. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
30. Obituary: Samuel "Bay" Taylor (1929-2019). R.I.P. Baseball website. Retrieved on May 8, 2019.
31. "Matt Whiteside Stats". Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.

External links

• Media related to Charleston, Missouri at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri