Centralia, Missouri

Centralia, Missouri
City
Chatol, the A.B. Chance Guest House
Nickname(s): Anchor City or Prairie Queen
Location of Centralia, Missouri
Coordinates: 39°12′35″N 92°8′11″W / 39.20972°N 92.13639°W / 39.20972; -92.13639Coordinates: 39°12′35″N 92°8′11″W / 39.20972°N 92.13639°W / 39.20972; -92.13639
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Counties	Audrain, Boone
Area[1]
• Total	2.84 sq mi (7.36 km2)
• Land	2.84 sq mi (7.36 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	883 ft (269 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	4,027
• Estimate (2012[3])	4,136
• Density	1,421/sq mi (548.5/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	65240
Area code(s)	573
FIPS code	29-12898[4]
GNIS feature ID	0715695[5]
Website	www.centraliamo.org

Centralia is a city in Audrain and Boone counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 4,027 at the 2010 census,^[6] with an estimated population of 4,136 in 2012.^[7]

The Boone County portion of Centralia (by far the majority of the city) is part of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Audrain County portion is part of the Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Centralia is located at 39°12′35″N 92°8′11″W / 39.20972°N 92.13639°W / 39.20972; -92.13639 (39.209657, -92.136300)^[8]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.84 square miles (7.36 km²), all of it land.^[1]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 4,027 people, 1,601 households, and 1,063 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,418.0 inhabitants per square mile (547.5 /km²). There were 1,755 housing units at an average density of 618.0 per square mile (238.6 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 1.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 1,601 households of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 38 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 23% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 66 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.5% male and 53.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 3,774 people, 1,505 households, and 1,032 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,492.0 people per square mile (575.9/km²). There were 1,648 housing units at an average density of 651.5 per square mile (251.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.11% White, 1.14% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 1,505 households out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% 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 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,475, and the median income for a family was $40,671. Males had a median income of $30,399 versus $21,115 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,583. About 2.8% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Centralia R-IV School District operates four schools: Chance Elementary (grades K-2), Centralia Intermediate (grades 3-5), Chester Boren Middle School (grades 6-8), and Centralia High School (grades 9-12).^[9] Centralia Intermediate School is the newest building of the four, having opened for classes in August 2009. It was constructed in order to deal with the district's increasing enrollment. This new technology-rich building contains 15 classrooms, each with 12 computers.^[10]

History

On September 27, 1864, 22 unarmed Union soldiers returning home on leave were pulled from a train in Centralia and executed by Confederate bushwhackers under William T. "Bloody Bill" Anderson. A Union force pursuing the guerrillas was ambushed, and about 150 were killed; some were executed, and some were tortured first. Many of the bodies were mutilated, then stuffed with the remains of rotting cattle bones. The incident came to be known as the Centralia Massacre.

Registered Historic Places

The following Centralia locations have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

• Albert Bishop Chance House and Gardens
• Chatol

References

External links

• City of Centralia official website
• Centralia Area Chamber of Commerce
• PBS American Experience site
• Historic maps of Centralia in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri
• CREDI (Centralia Regional Economic Development, Inc.)

v t e Municipalities and communities of Audrain County, Missouri, United States County seat: Mexico Cities Centralia‡ Farber Laddonia Martinsburg Mexico Vandalia‡ Villages Benton City Rush Hill Vandiver Townships Cuivre Linn Loutre Prairie Saling Salt River South Fork Wilson Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v t e Municipalities and communities of Boone County, Missouri, United States County seat: Columbia Cities Ashland Centralia‡ Columbia Hallsville Rocheport Sturgeon Villages Harrisburg Hartsburg Huntsdale McBaine Pierpont Townships Bourbon Cedar Centralia Columbia Katy Missouri Perche Rock Bridge Rocky Fork Three Creeks Unincorporated communities Claysville Easley Hinton Midway Perche Providence Riggs Shaw Two Mile Prairie Wilton Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties