Kingdom City, Missouri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kingdom City is a village in Callaway County, Missouri, United States. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 121 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Local History
4 Sources
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Kingdom City is located at 38°56′58″N, 91°56′13″W (38.949313, -91.936825)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.74% is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 121 people, 51 households, and 36 families residing in the village. The population density was 34.6/km² (89.3/mi²). There were 54 housing units at an average density of 15.4/km² (39.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.91% White, 6.61% African American, 0.83% Native American, and 1.65% from two or more races.

There were 51 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the village the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $35,417, and the median income for a family was $34,583. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $17,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,978. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.

[edit] Local History

The name "Kingdom of Callaway" was well-known certainly by 1876. According to local tradition, the town refused to choose a side when Missouri was divided in the Civil War. Instead, they declared their independence and became a small kingdom.

A more elaborate version has it that the "Kingdom of Callaway" phrase was coined by Col. Jefferson F. Jones in October, 1861. According to one version of the legend, as 600 Union troops were gathering at Wellsville in nearby Montgomery County, Jones, who had organized an ill-equipped rebel force, constructed "Quaker cannon" (logs painted black and fitted with wagon wheels) and aimed them at the advancing federals. Under flag of truce, he notified US Colonel T.J.C. Fagg and General John B. Henderson that he would not permit an invasion of Callaway County; that necessary passage would be granted, but that fair value would be given for all supplies; moreover that the constitutional protections of persons and property would be observed. The Union leaders accepted the terms, and the confrontation ended without violence.

According to another story, the phrase came from southern-leaning legislator John Sampson. The Callawegian sat in the state legislature at Jefferson City in 1862, after the abortive Missouri Secession, and was accused of disloyalty on the basis of having once chaired a meeting where secession was discussed. He is said to have shouted "I am from the Kingdom of Callaway--6 feet, 4 1/2 inches tall, and all South, by God!" He was dismissed from the legislature.

At the end of the war, Kingdom City quietly rejoined the Union. Each July, the town celebrates the legend with its "Kingdom Days" festival.

From 1871, the village was also known as "McCredie" (railroad/postal name).

[edit] Sources

"A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri, with numerous

sketches, anecdotes, adventures, etc., relating to Early Days in Missouri" by William S. Bryan and Robert Rose, Published by Bryan, Brand & Co., St. Louis Missouri, 1876.