Conception, Missouri

Conception
Census-designated place
Immaculate Conception High School
Conception Location within the state of Missouri
Coordinates: 40°14′28″N94°40′50″W / 40.24111°N 94.68056°W / 40.24111; -94.68056
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Nodaway
Township	Jefferson
Area [1]
• Total	0.76 sq mi (1.97 km2)
• Land	0.75 sq mi (1.94 km2)
• Water	0.012 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation [2]	1,063 ft (324 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	111
• Density	148.1/sq mi (57.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	64433 [3]
Area code	660
FIPS code	29-15886
GNIS feature ID	2587060 [2]

Conception is a census-designated place in southeastern Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. ^[4] The population was 111 at the 2020 Census. Conception is home to Conception Abbey, a Benedictine monastery and seminary. Conception has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names. ^[5]

History

Conception was built up chiefly by Irish Catholics. ^[6] The community was named for the Catholic dogma of Immaculate Conception. ^[7] A post office called Conception has been in operation since 1864 ^[8] and its abbey was founded in 1873 ^[9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	111		—
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2020 census

As of the census ^[11] of 2020, there were 111 people in the census-desginated place. The population density was 148.1 inhabitants per square mile (57.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 2.7% Asian, and 0.9% Two or more races. The gender makeup of the city was 68.5% male and 31.5% female, which is a significant outlier and is due to the male-only Catholic seminary.

There were 27 households, of which _% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together and 33.3% had a male householder with no wife present. The average household size was 4.11.

The median age in the city was 58.4 years. 12.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.1% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 38.7% were 65 years of age or older.

Geography

Conception is approximately 11 mi (18 km) southeast of Maryville on US 136 and about 6 miles northeast of Guilford. It is part of the Tri-C Area being 1.5 mi (2.4 km) miles south of Conception Junction and 2 mi (3.2 km) southwest of Clyde. The Platte River passes 1.5 mi (2.4 km) to the west.

Climate

Climate data for Conception, Missouri (1991–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	33.5 (0.8)	38.9 (3.8)	51.3 (10.7)	62.6 (17.0)	72.3 (22.4)	82.0 (27.8)	85.9 (29.9)	84.7 (29.3)	77.5 (25.3)	65.2 (18.4)	50.5 (10.3)	38.1 (3.4)	61.9 (16.6)
Daily mean °F (°C)	24.4 (−4.2)	29.1 (−1.6)	40.6 (4.8)	51.6 (10.9)	62.2 (16.8)	72.0 (22.2)	76.0 (24.4)	74.3 (23.5)	66.3 (19.1)	54.0 (12.2)	40.6 (4.8)	29.4 (−1.4)	51.7 (11.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	15.4 (−9.2)	19.3 (−7.1)	29.9 (−1.2)	40.6 (4.8)	52.2 (11.2)	62.0 (16.7)	66.1 (18.9)	63.8 (17.7)	55.1 (12.8)	42.9 (6.1)	30.7 (−0.7)	20.7 (−6.3)	41.6 (5.3)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.89 (23)	1.41 (36)	2.42 (61)	3.97 (101)	5.15 (131)	5.09 (129)	5.51 (140)	4.05 (103)	3.74 (95)	2.87 (73)	1.95 (50)	1.49 (38)	38.54 (980)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	5.8 (15)	5.1 (13)	2.1 (5.3)	1.1 (2.8)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	1.4 (3.6)	3.8 (9.7)	19.4 (49.65)
Source: NOAA [12]

Education

Conception is in the Jefferson C-123 School District which has an elemntary school and a high school located between Conception and Conception Junction in the center of Jefferson Township. ^[13] Additionally, a private catholic seminary is located in Conception at the Conception Abbey. ^[14]

Infrastructure

The Conception Wind Project is a small wind farm location around and south of Conception. ^[15]

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Conception, Missouri
3. "Conception MO ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Conception, Missouri
5. Parker, Quentin (2010). Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An insider's guide to 201 of the world's weirdest and wildest places. Adams Media. pp. ix. ISBN   9781440507397.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
6. Moyer, Armond; Moyer, Winifred (1958). The origins of unusual place-names. Keystone Pub. Associates. p. 27.
7. Eaton, David Wolfe (1917). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp.  336.
8. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
9. "History of Conception Abbey". Conception Abbey. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 12, 2025.
12. "NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". NOAA. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
13. "Jefferson C-123 Schools" . Retrieved June 12, 2025.
14. "Conception Seminary College" . Retrieved June 12, 2025.
15. "Conception Wind Project". Constellation. Retrieved June 12, 2025.