Neosho, Missouri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Neosho, Missouri | |
| Nickname: The Flower Box City | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Newton |
| Founded | 1839 |
| Incorporated | 1878 |
| Government | |
| - City Manager | Jan Blase |
| Area | |
| - Total | 14.93 sq mi (38.67 km²) |
| - Land | 14.93 sq mi (38.67 km²) |
| - Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,037 ft (316 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 10,505 |
| - Density | 703.55/sq mi (271.64/km²) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 64850, 64853 |
| Area code(s) | 417 |
| FIPS code | 29-51572[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0723172[2] |
| Website: http://www.neoshomo.org/ | |
Neosho is a city in and the county seat of Newton County, Missouri, United States. Incorporated in 1878, it lies at the western edge of the Missouri Ozarks. The population was 10,505 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
In 1839, Neosho was designated the county seat for Newton County. In 1846 the courthouse square was laid out during a survey by F. M. Duncan. In 1861, during the Civil War, Missouri Governor Claiborne Jackson set up a provisional capital which convened in Neosho; the group voted in favor of Missouri's secession from the Union. Debate flourishes to this day regarding the legitimacy of these actions.
In 1863, during the Civil War, much of the original downtown was burned to the ground by retreating Confederate forces. In 1878, the first courthouse was built in the center of the square and Neosho was incorporated. The Neosho National Fish Hatchery, the oldest operating Federal Fish Hatchery, was built in 1888. The original courthouse was razed in 1936 to make way for the current Art Deco court house, which was completed later that same year.
Neosho made national news in the United States following the August 12, 2007 shooting at a downtown church, where a disgruntled parishioner entered the First Congregational Church during the Sunday afternoon service for the local Micronesian community and took the occupants hostage. After releasing the children from the church he opened fire on the remaining occupants, killing three including two fellow parishioners and the pastor and wounding several others before being apprehended by members of the local police.
[edit] Name Origins
The name Neosho (pronounced /niːˈoʊʃoʊ/; originally IPA: [niˈoʒo] or [niˈoʒu]) is generally accepted to be of Native American (most likely Osage) derivation, meaning "clear, cold water", referring to the nine natural springs found within the original city limits. One of Neosho's largest and most well-known springs is located near the historic downtown in the city's main park, the aptly-named Big Spring Park. Many other springs can still be found throughout the city including Bell's Iron Spring and Hobo Springs. Legend suggests that Confederate gold is buried somewhere within the town, as well. Some believe that a cave holds both the remains of the soldiers as well as the gold itself. Others contend that the cave, adjacent to Big Spring Park, was closed after a number of local children were lost forever while exploring the cave in the early 20th century.
[edit] Timeline
- 1839 - Designated county seat, Newton County, Missouri.
- 1846 - The courthouse square is laid out during a survey by F. M. Duncan.
- 1861 - Missouri Governor, Claiborne Jackson set up a provisional capital and convened in Neosho, where the group voted in favor of Missouri's secession from the Union. Debate flourishes to this day regarding the legitimacy of these actions.
- 1863 - Much of the original downtown is burned by retreating Confederate forces during the Civil War.
- 1870 - the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad reaches Neosho.
- 1878 - First county courthouse is built in the center of the downtown square. Neosho is incorporated.
- 1887 - Kansas City-Fort Smith and Southern Railroad reaches Neosho.
- 1888 - Neosho National Fish Hatchery is built and telephone service comes to town.
- 1892 - E. R. Matters establishes his jewelry store - today, one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the state of Missouri.
- 1936 - The original courthouse is razed to make way for the current Art Deco court house, which was completed later the same year.
- 1938 - Scenes from the 1939 film Jesse James, starring Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda are filmed at the Kansas City Southern railroad depot, with many locals serving as extras.
- 1957 - Recipient of the All-America City Award from National Municipal League and Look Magazine
- 1963 - Neosho Junior College (currently Crowder College) is established.
- 1966 - The landmark Big Spring Inn burns to the ground. Arson is suspected, but never proven.
- 1975 - A major tornado causes massive destruction on April 24, 1975 with three killed, many injured. A motel, apartment complex, and mobile home park were all destroyed along with dozens of homes and businesses.
- 1978 - Neosho is named recipient of the All-Missouri Certified City Award.
- 2006 - Neosho is announced as one of ten cities selected as first annual inductees into Missouri Governor Matt Blunt's DREAM Initiative, a state-funded downtown revitalization and economic assistance program. Other 2006 cities were Cape Girardeau, Excelsior Springs, Hannibal, Hermann, Kennett, Sedalia, St. Joseph, Washington, and West Plains.
- 2007 - 3 people are killed and at least 5 others injured when a gunman takes about 30 people hostage at First Congregational Church.[1]
- 2007 - The body of a girl is found in a cave near Neosho. Six days later, her stepfather and one of his close friends were arrested and charged in her death.
[edit] Attractions
- Neosho National Fish Hatchery - oldest operating Federal Fish Hatchery
- Big Spring Park
- Morse Park
[edit] Cultural institutions
- Newton County Historical Society Museum
- Longwell Museum
- Thomas Hart Benton Collection
[edit] Historic District
A large portion of downtown Neosho, described as the Neosho Commercial Historic District, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Also listed in the register is the Second Baptist Church, located several blocks north of downtown and built in the Victorian Gothic style of 1896. Since around 2001, in an ongoing effort to revitalize downtown Neosho, through both private and public means portions of the historic district have undergone restoration & renovation efforts including new street lights, renovated storefronts and new sidewalks.
Neosho is the home of Camp Crowder (formerly Fort Crowder), a Signal Corps training camp built by the United States Army just before World War II. It also served as a prisoner-of-war camp. Some of the soldiers stationed at Camp Crowder went on to find greater fame, including Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke, Mort Walker, Tillman Franks, and Jean Shepherd. Camp Crowder was well-known to its residents for being muddy and swampy during the rainy season and served as a model for Mort Walker's fictional "Camp Swampy" in his long-running newspaper comic strip, Beetle Bailey.
[edit] Nickname, "The Flower Box City"
Neosho is locally well-known as "The Flower Box City", a name gained after the city earned the All-America City Award in the 1950's. In 1955 the town applied for and received a $5,000 grant from The New York Community Trust for a civic beautification project. Local companies provided lumber at cost, and Junior Chamber of Commerce members formed an assembly line to build more than 200 wooden flower boxes. Pet Milk Company donated 400 used, wooden barrels for container gardens, and town nurseries supplied plants at reduced rates. The town even dressed up trash cans and parking meters around the square with flower baskets.
The effort earned Neosho a coveted All-America City Award from Look magazine and the National Municipal League in 1957. The Flower Box Promotion Committee has supported beautification ever since, awarding 'Beauty Spot' prizes each spring and summer to homes and businesses with outstanding yards, flower gardens, and flower boxes.
[edit] Famous sons
Neosho is the birthplace of:
- Thomas Hart Benton - painter and Regionalist muralist
- Donn Clendenon - Major League Baseball first baseman; World Series Most Valuable Player for the 1969 champion New York Mets
- Hugh Armstrong Robinson - aviation pioneer
- James Scott - ragtime composer and pianist
The Neosho area was also home to several notables, including:
- George Washington Carver - celebrated African-American inventor & botanist
- John Q. Hammons - hotel magnate & philanthropist
- H. Waldo Hatler - World War I hero and Medal of Honor recipient
- Hermann Jaeger - Missouri wine pioneer & French Legion of Honor recipient
Neosho also served as a stopover in the lives of other celebrated individuals, including: cowboy philosopher and humorist Will Rogers who, as a young man, briefly attended Scarritt College; Dick Van Dyke who was stationed at Camp Crowder during World War II, inspiring fictionalized events portrayed in The Dick Van Dyke Show, episode #6, November 6, 1961 on CBS; and Billy James Hargis, a sometimes controversial Christian evangelist. Also stationed at Camp Crowder was cartoonist Mort Walker who used Camp Crowder as the inspiration for Camp Swampy in His cartoon series Beetle Bailey. Noted writer Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy currently makes her home in Neosho.
[edit] Historic resources
Neosho currently has three properties listed with the National Register of Historic Places:
[edit] Government
Neosho's municipal organization provided for under the city charter shall is a home rule council-manager government.
[edit] Geography & climate
[edit] Geography
Neosho, elevation 1035 feet, is located in the extreme southwest corner of Missouri.
[edit] Climate
See also: Geography of Missouri, Ozark Plateau, karst topography
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 10,505 people, 4,136 households, and 2,725 families residing in the city. The population density was 703.6 people per square mile (271.7/km²). There were 4,510 housing units at an average density of 302.0/sq mi (116.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.99% White, 1.04% African American, 1.61% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 1.00% Pacific Islander, 2.73% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.23% of the population.
There were 4,136 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 29.6% 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 2.44 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,225, and the median income for a family was $37,790. Males had a median income of $27,672 versus $20,632 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,847. About 8.7% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Industry
- BASF
- La-Z-Boy Incorporated - Recliner and sofa assembly plant
- Premier Turbines - Aircraft engine repair and overhaul facility
- Jarden Consumer Solutions
- Leggett & Platt-Talbot Division - Diversified wire products manufacturer
[edit] Media & entertainment
[edit] Radio
- KBTN, 1420 AM - country, news
- KNEO, 91.7 FM - Christian
[edit] Newspapers
- Neosho Daily News
- Neosho Post
- Newton County News
[edit] Education
[edit] Public Schools
- Neosho R-5 School District
- Crowder College (A.A., A.A.S., A.S.) (N.C.A.C.S., Regional Accreditation)
[edit] Private Schools
- Neosho Beauty College
- Neosho Christian Schools (K-12)
- Ozark Bible Institute and College (B.B.L., B.B.S., B.C.E.)
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- Newton County Historical Society - Official Website
- Neosho-Missouri Facts and Data
[edit] Further reading
- Neosho, the First Century, 1839-1939, by Larry A. James
- Neosho: The story of a Missouri town; a short history, by Mary Cozad
- Neosho, Missouri, Under the impact of army camp construction: A dynamic situation, by Lucille Tremlet Kohler
- Historical Atlas of Newton County, Missouri, by John P. Edwards
- Pioneers of the Six Bulls: The Newton County, Missouri, saga volume X pioneer families, by Larry A. James
[edit] External links
- Neosho, Missouri is at coordinates Coordinates:
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