Illmo, Missouri

Last updated
Illmo
Former town
USA Missouri location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Illmo
Location within the state of Missouri
Coordinates: 37°13′11″N89°30′32″W / 37.21972°N 89.50889°W / 37.21972; -89.50889
Country United States
State Missouri
County Scott
Township Kelso

Illmo a former town in the northeast corner of Kelso Township, Scott County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its name is a portmanteau of "Illinois" and "Missouri".

Contents

History

Illmo had its start in 1905 with construction of the nearby Thebes Bridge which connects Illinois and Missouri. [1] The name Illmo is a contraction of Illinois and Missouri . [2] A post office called Illmo was established in 1904, and remained in operation until 1982. [3] Illmo was annexed by Scott City in 1980. [4]

When Scott City and Illmo consolidated, the residents participated in a referendum where they selected the name "Scott City". The Daily Journal stated that the name was "overwhelmingly" selected. [5]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1910 976
1920 1,27530.6%
1930 1,129−11.5%
1940 1,2248.4%
1950 1,2471.9%
1960 1,174−5.9%
1970 1,2324.9%
1980 1,36811.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

The US census measured the population of Illmo during its eight-decade stretch of incorporation. [7]

Geography

Illmo was located in the northern portion of Scott County about a mile west and three miles south of the Mississippi River. The municipalities of Fornfelt and Ancell border it to the west and the village of Commerce lies 5 miles southeast. [8]

Education

In 1905 the Illmo School District began operations. [9] There was an Illmo High School and an Illmo Elementary School. In 1947 the Illmo school district and the Fornfelt school district combined. This district then combined with Ancell, [10] and reorganized, in 1954, to an R-1 status, becoming the Illmo-Fornfelt-Ancell School District. [9]

In September 1957, [11] a new high school for that district had opened. [12] Previously, Illmo had its own elementary school, but with the opening of the new high school, the previous three elementary schools were to consolidate into the former high school building. [13]

The Daily Standard stated that the new Illmo-Fornfelt-Ancell high school building was the most expensive of the circa 15 new schools to open in the area in the 1957-1958 school year. [14]

After Fornfelt and Ancell consolidated into Scott City, the district's name changed to the Illmo-Scott City School District. [10]

References

  1. "Scott County Place Names, 1928–1945". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  2. Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 363.
  3. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  4. "Scott City, Missouri: History". Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  5. "Folks favor Scott City: What's in a name?". The Daily Journal . Flat River, Missouri. March 5, 1980. p.  2 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  7. "Missouri Population 1900-1990" (PDF). Missouri Census Data Center. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  8. "Plat book of Scott County, Missouri 1930". Hixson (W. W.) and Company. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "County towns center on RR and farming". The Daily Standard . Sikeston, Missouri. July 4, 1970. pp.  5-6, 8-9-10-11 via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "Four County area schools". The Daily Standard . Sikeston, Missouri. July 29, 1977. p.  26-27-28-29, 31 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "New School for Illmo-Fornfelt-Ancell Area Under Construction". The Daily Standard . Sikeston, Missouri. February 23, 1957. p.  44 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Ray Clinton Construction Had Big Year In 1957". The Daily Standard . Sikeston, Missouri. February 28, 1958. p.  16 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Bond Issues In 2 Districts Pass 2 to 1". The Daily Standard . Vol. 44, no. 111. Sikeston, Missouri. February 1, 1956. p.  1 via Newspapers.com.
  14. "1957 Was Unusual Year For School Building". Daily Sikeston Standard . Vol. 47, no. 129. Sikeston, Missouri. February 22, 1958. p.  1 via Newspapers.com.