Chillicothe, Missouri

Image:Locust Street, Chillicothe, MO.jpg

This territory was originally settled by indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Osage and Missouri were in the territory at the time of earliest European contact, which was mostly by French explorers and traders. By 1800 the Shawnee and Iowa had migrated here. The Shawnee came from the Ohio Country, where they had been under pressure before the American Revolution from aggressive Iroquois and later encroaching European Americans. Displacing the Osage, the Shawnee had a major village known as Chillicothe about a mile from the present-day city, named after their historic capital in their traditional lands in Ohio. Chillicothe was also the name of a major band of the tribe. Other Native American tribes in the area were the Sauk and Meskwaki, and Potawatomi, all of whom hunted in the area.[http://www.livingstoncountylibrary.org/History/County/1886/1886toc.htm "History of Livingston County"], from The History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri, 1886; posted by Livingston County Library, accessed 23 Dec 2009

In the early 19th century, European-American migration to Missouri increased. The original survey of Chillicothe by United States citizens was filed for record August 31, 1837, and a resurvey of the same was filed August 5, 1859.{{cite news |work=The Chillicothe Constitution |title=Chillicothe, Old and New |url=http://www.livingstoncountylibrary.org/history_1916.htm |first=Harry W. |last=Graham |date=1916-06-24}} Chillicothe was incorporated as a city by an act of the General Assembly, approved March 1, 1855. It was selected as the County seat by commissioners and the first term of the county court began on May 7, 1838. In August of that year an order was made to erect the first Court House, the cost not to exceed $5,000, in the Public Square; The first circuit court for the trial of civil and criminal causes was held on the 3d of July 1887.[http://www.livingstoncountylibrary.org/history_1916.htm HARRY W. GRAHAM, " 'THE HIGHWAY CITY': CHILLICOTHE, MISSOURI"], "CHILLICOTHE AND LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MISSOURI", Compiled by J.D. Smith, The Chillicothe Constitution, 24 Jun 1916, accessed 23 Dec 2009

Livingston was settled by emigrants from the older counties and others from the Upper South states of Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as Ohio and other "Old Northwest" states, as the westward migration continued. Prior to completion of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad in 1859, the city was minimally developed with cheap frame houses, with little pretense of architectural beauty or design. The building materials being hewed and sawed from the oak and walnut timber surrounding the town, as timber originally covered the site.

The railroad gave an impetus for town improvements. Soon two and three-story brick business buildings were constructed in place of the former frame structures. From 1865 to 1870, the city improved rapidly, then a lull lasted until 1875, when the erection of the beautiful three-story, $36,000 school building was started, now known as "Middle School." From that time on Chillicothe made a slow, steady growth up to 1886, when the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was built through here. That year also saw the introduction of the "Water Works" and electric lights. The city continued to modernize in the early 20th century.

Chillicothe was located along the first railroad completed across the State of Missouri on February 13, 1859 by the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, later becoming the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The Wabash Railroad completed a line to Brunswick, Missouri in 1871. Passenger rail served the town for over a century. The last passenger train passed through Chillicothe in 1971, when the American Royal Zephyr between Chicago and Kansas City was discontinued. The tracks eastward toward Brookfield were abandoned in the early 1980s and have been mostly removed. The 1909 Depot was owned by the City of Chillicothe until 2016, when it was sold to Wabash BBQ to be used as a restaurant.{{cite web | url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/2016/07/14/city-sells-historic-wabash-railroad/27490815007/ | title=City sells historic Wabash Railroad Depot }} The restaurant has since closed.

The Missouri Training School for Girls (1889-1981) was the correctional facility of the Missouri Division of Youth Services. It opened in 1889. In 1956, the school received all of the black girls after the Missouri Training School for Negro Girls in Tipton closed."[http://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/dys/youth-services-annual-report-fy14.pdf Annual Report Fiscal Year 2014]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160202131403/http://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/dys/youth-services-annual-report-fy14.pdf Archive]). Missouri Division of Youth Services. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. p. 32. The school closed in 1981."[http://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/dys/youth-services-annual-report-fy14.pdf Annual Report Fiscal Year 2014]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160202131403/http://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/dys/youth-services-annual-report-fy14.pdf Archive]). Missouri Division of Youth Services. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. p. 34.

Chillicothe is located in central Livingston County. The Grand River flows past approximately one mile south of the city and the confluence of the Thompson River with the Grand is about three miles to the southwest. The city is served by U.S. Route 36, U.S. Route 65 and Missouri Route 190.Chillicothe, MO, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1984

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|7.03|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2012-07-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}

{{Weather box

|location = Chillicothe 2S, Missouri (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1980–present)

|single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 74

| Feb record high F = 77

| Mar record high F = 86

| Apr record high F = 93

| May record high F = 98

| Jun record high F = 108

| Jul record high F = 110

| Aug record high F = 109

| Sep record high F = 100

| Oct record high F = 95

| Nov record high F = 81

| Dec record high F = 75

| year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 59.0

|Feb avg record high F = 65.3

|Mar avg record high F = 77.3

|Apr avg record high F = 84.1

|May avg record high F = 89.6

|Jun avg record high F = 94.4

|Jul avg record high F = 98.2

|Aug avg record high F = 97.7

|Sep avg record high F = 92.1

|Oct avg record high F = 85.7

|Nov avg record high F = 73.7

|Dec avg record high F = 62.9

|year avg record high F = 99.9

| Jan high F = 34.5

| Feb high F = 39.8

| Mar high F = 52.0

| Apr high F = 63.5

| May high F = 73.5

| Jun high F = 83.1

| Jul high F = 87.3

| Aug high F = 85.7

| Sep high F = 78.3

| Oct high F = 66.1

| Nov high F = 51.4

| Dec high F = 39.2

| year high F =

| Jan mean F = 25.4

| Feb mean F = 30.2

| Mar mean F = 41.4

| Apr mean F = 52.4

| May mean F = 63.3

| Jun mean F = 73.1

| Jul mean F = 77.2

| Aug mean F = 75.1

| Sep mean F = 66.7

| Oct mean F = 54.5

| Nov mean F = 41.3

| Dec mean F = 30.5

| year mean F =

| Jan low F = 16.3

| Feb low F = 20.6

| Mar low F = 30.8

| Apr low F = 41.4

| May low F = 53.2

| Jun low F = 63.1

| Jul low F = 67.1

| Aug low F = 64.4

| Sep low F = 55.1

| Oct low F = 42.8

| Nov low F = 31.2

| Dec low F = 21.7

| year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -3.1

|Feb avg record low F = 2.0

|Mar avg record low F = 12.0

|Apr avg record low F = 27.7

|May avg record low F = 39.3

|Jun avg record low F = 51.1

|Jul avg record low F = 57.4

|Aug avg record low F = 54.9

|Sep avg record low F = 40.6

|Oct avg record low F = 28.2

|Nov avg record low F = 16.1

|Dec avg record low F = 2.9

|year avg record low F = -7.7

| Jan record low F = −20

| Feb record low F = −17

| Mar record low F = −6

| Apr record low F = 11

| May record low F = 31

| Jun record low F = 44

| Jul record low F = 50

| Aug record low F = 41

| Sep record low F = 30

| Oct record low F = 19

| Nov record low F = −9

| Dec record low F = −26

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour= green

| Jan precipitation inch = 1.26

| Feb precipitation inch = 1.80

| Mar precipitation inch = 2.90

| Apr precipitation inch = 3.75

| May precipitation inch = 5.36

| Jun precipitation inch = 5.21

| Jul precipitation inch = 4.71

| Aug precipitation inch = 4.61

| Sep precipitation inch = 4.39

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.22

| Nov precipitation inch = 2.29

| Dec precipitation inch = 1.69

| year precipitation inch =

| Jan snow inch = 4.7

| Feb snow inch = 4.5

| Mar snow inch = 1.6

| Apr snow inch = 0.3

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.0

| Nov snow inch = 0.4

| Dec snow inch = 2.4

| year snow inch =

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 6.3

| Feb precipitation days = 7.3

| Mar precipitation days = 9.2

| Apr precipitation days = 11.3

| May precipitation days = 13.1

| Jun precipitation days = 10.9

| Jul precipitation days = 9.3

| Aug precipitation days = 9.6

| Sep precipitation days = 8.6

| Oct precipitation days = 9.3

| Nov precipitation days = 7.4

| Dec precipitation days = 6.6

| year precipitation days =

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 2.8

| Feb snow days = 2.4

| Mar snow days = 0.9

| Apr snow days = 0.1

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.5

| Dec snow days = 2.1

| year snow days =

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=eax

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 2, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00231580&format=pdf

| title = Station: Chillicothe 2S, MO

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 2, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1860= 994

|1870= 3978

|1880= 4078

|1890= 5717

|1900= 6905

|1910= 6265

|1920= 6772

|1930= 8177

|1940= 8012

|1950= 8694

|1960= 9236

|1970= 9519

|1980= 9089

|1990= 8804

|2000= 8968

|2010= 9515

|2020= 9107

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

The 2020 United States census{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-12-17 |website=data.census.gov}} counted 9,107 people, 3,608 households, and 2,044 families in Chillicothe. The population density was 1,277.3 per square mile (492.8/km{{sup|2}}). There were 4,114 housing units at an average density of 577.0 per square mile (222.6/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 90.63% (8,254) white, 3.38% (308) black or African-American, 0.32% (29) Native American, 0.83% (76) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.55% (50) from other races, and 4.27% (389) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 2.3% (212) of the population.

Of the 3,608 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18; 40.0% were married couples living together; 34.4% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 35.5% consisted of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.8.

18.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 67.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 60.9 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-12-17|website=data.census.gov}} estimates show that the median household income was $45,496 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,506) and the median family income was $56,488 (+/- $8,384). Males had a median income of $34,937 (+/- $3,959) versus $25,867 (+/- $3,033) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $30,715 (+/- $1,036). Approximately, 14.1% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under the age of 18 and 16.3% of those ages 65 or over.

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-07-08}} of 2010, there were 9,515 people, 3,612 households, and 2,146 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1355.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,108 housing units at an average density of {{convert|585.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 3.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 3,612 households, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.6% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 39.6 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 41.3% male and 58.7% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,968 people, 3,608 households, and 2,197 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,370.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,060 housing units at an average density of {{convert|620.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.86% White, 3.69% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 3,608 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. school districts.

The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,053, and the median income for a family was $40,163. Males had a median income of $29,070 versus $19,745 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,172. About 9.6% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

The Chillicothe R-II School District provides preschool through 12th grade education as well as some other educational programs to students in and around Chillicothe.{{cite web|url=http://www.chillicotheschools.org/|title=Chillicothe R-II School District|access-date=2015-11-28}} {{official website}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chillicotheschools.org/forms/Chillicothe%20R2%20District%20Map.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211032401/http://chillicotheschools.org/forms/Chillicothe%20R2%20District%20Map.pdf |archive-date=2015-02-11 |url-status=live|title=Chillicothe R2 District Map|access-date=2015-11-28}}

;PK-12th grade:

• Chillicothe Early Learning Center (PK)
• Chillicothe Elementary School (K-05)
• Chillicothe Middle School (06-08)
• Chillicothe High School (09-12)

;Other programs and campuses:

• Hornet Academy
• Grand River Technical School{{cite web|url=http://www.grts.org/|title=Grand River Technical School|access-date=2015-11-28}}{{official website}}
• Litton Agri-Science Learning Center

;Private schools

• Bishop Hogan Memorial School (PK-8), operated by St. Columban Catholic Church, Chillicothe{{cite web|url=http://www.bishophogan.org/|title=Bishop Hogan Memorial School|access-date=2015-11-28}} {{official website}}

;Public library

The town has a lending library, the Livingston County Library.{{cite web | url=http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610012728/http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 June 2017 | title=Missouri Public Libraries | publisher=PublicLibraries.com | access-date=25 March 2018}}

The town has a children library, the Lillian DesMarias Youth Library.

• Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune, established in 1889
• KCHI Radio- KCHI-AM transmission on 1010 kHz and KCHI-FM on 102.5 MHz.
• KRNW Radio (88.9-an FM repeater station which co-broadcasts Northwest MO State University's flagship station KXCV's programming-NPR affiliated)
• KULH Radio (105.9 The Wave) Christian Radio station

• Chillicothe is known as "The Home of Sliced Bread".{{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Suzanne |title=A Missouri town almost forgot it invented the greatest thing since anything: sliced bread |url=https://www.kcur.org/history/2022-07-06/chillicothe-missouri-sliced-bread |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=KCUR |date=6 July 2022 |language=en}} On July 7, 1928, the Chillicothe Baking Company began selling pre-sliced bread "at quality grocers in the area", marking the first time sliced bread was available commercially in the world. They used the Rohwedder Bread Slicer, a machine created by Iowa inventor, Otto Frederick Rohwedder.{{cite web |url=http://www.chillicothecity.org/bread.html |title=The Home of Sliced Bread |work=Chillicothe History |access-date=2008-01-15 |archive-date=2007-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024172021/http://www.chillicothecity.org/bread.html |url-status=dead }}

==Notable people==

• Shawn Ryan, Navy SEAL and podcaster
• Moses Alexander, 11th governor of Idaho
• Bower Slack Broaddus, judge
• Courtney W. Campbell, congressman
• Ray and Faye Copeland, serial killers
• William Lincoln Garver, architect, author, and socialist politician
• Claude B. Hutchison, botanist and politician
• Mike Lair, politician and teacher
• Jerry Litton, congressman
• Charles H. Mansur, congressman
• Shirley Collie Nelson, country music artist/actress
• Henry Moses Pollard, congressman
• John Quinn, politician
• William Y. Slack, Civil War general and politician
• Stephen J. Stein, American historian of religion
• Clarence Edwin Watkins, publisher
• Caleb Hearon, comedian, writer, and actor

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Chillicothe, Missouri}}

• {{Official website|https://www.chillicothecity.org/}}
• [http://www.livingstoncountylibrary.org/history.htm "Livingston County History"], Livingston County Library
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060407015216/http://www.missouribeautiful.com/northwest-missouri-tourism/9-grand-river-historical-society-museum-chillicothe-missouri.html Grand River Historical Society Museum], Official Website
• [http://www.idcide.com/citydata/mo/chillicothe.htm Chillicothe, Missouri profile]
• Historic maps of Chillicothe in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138753 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the University of Missouri

{{Livingston County, Missouri}}

{{Missouri county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Missouri

Category:Cities in Livingston County, Missouri

Category:County seats in Missouri

Category:Populated places established in 1855

Category:1855 establishments in Missouri

Category:Missouri placenames of Native American origin