Macon, Missouri

File:Bird's eye view of Macon City, Macon County, Missouri 1869. LOC 73693483.jpg of Macon in 1869]]

Macon was platted in 1856.{{cite web | url =http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_macon.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624070636/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_macon.html | archive-date = June 24, 2016 | url-status = live | title=Macon County Place Names, 1928–1945 | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri| access-date= October 30, 2016}} Like the county, Macon was named for Nathaniel Macon.{{sfn|Eaton|1916|p=190}} A post office called "Macon City" was established in 1856, and the name was changed to Macon in 1892.{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Macon | title=Post Offices| publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=30 October 2016}}

In May 1898, there was a string of break-ins in the area of Macon.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/generalhistoryof00whit|title=General History of Macon County Missouri|last=White|first=Edgar|publisher=Henry Taylor & Company|year=1910|pages=[https://archive.org/details/generalhistoryof00whit/page/217 217]–220}} The break-ins included the theft of food and items, as well as assaults on women. In late June, there was a break-in at the home of John Koechel, a blind broom maker.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3671260/42724273maconrepublican/|title=Henry Williams, Supposed Invader of Macon Homes, Comes to His Death at the Hands of Unknown Parties, So Says the Coroner's Jury|date=1 July 1898|work=The Macon Republican|access-date=15 Jan 2020}} During this break-in, there were references to previous assaults, an attempted assault, and a theft of two sacks of flour. Police officers followed a trail of tiny white specks to the home of Henry Williams, a 30-year-old African American man, who was later arrested with no resistance. The night of Williams' arrest, crowds formed at the courthouse, while a local pastor, Rev. G. A. Robbins, pled for the crowd to allow the law to take its proper course. The crowd moved on to the jail, and demanded Sheriff A. J. Glenn give up Williams. Glenn and his deputies refused the crowd's demands. A man called Mr. McVicker made a speech to attempt to pacify the crowd, but was knocked out by a thrown brick. The crowd knocked down the fence, stole the key, and unlocked Williams' cell, confronting the cowering man. The mob of 200-300 men decided they would hang him from a bridge instead of electrical lights, so they would not offend the women and children in the morning. In the early morning hours of June 30, 1898, Henry Williams was lynched on the Wabash bridge; he maintained his innocence when asked if he wanted to say anything.

In November 1919 four African-Americans were arrested for allegedly robbing a white farmer.{{sfn|South Bend News-Times, November 18,|1919|p=6}} They were held at the Macon prison but on Saturday, November 15, 1919, a white mob drove into town and demanded that the sheriff hand them over.{{sfn|South Bend News-Times, November 18,|1919|p=6}} At first he refused but when the mob threatened to use dynamite to destroy the prison the four black men were handed over and they were then driven to Moberly, Missouri and lynched.{{sfn|South Bend News-Times, November 18,|1919|p=6}}

Macon was located along the first railroad built across the State of Missouri, completed by the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad on February 13, 1859. Passenger rail served the town for over a century. The last daytime train passed through the town on April 9, 1968, when the Kansas City Zephyr between Chicago and Kansas City was discontinued. The overnight variation, the American Royal Zephyr was subsequently discontinued in 1971. The depot, located between Rollins and Rubey streets, was later demolished.

The Blees Military Academy, Macon County Courthouse and Annex, and Wardell House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

Macon is in southeastern Macon County. Two US highways cross in the city. U.S. Route 36, passing through the northern side of the city, leads east {{convert|62|mi}} to Hannibal and west {{convert|33|mi}} to Brookfield, while U.S. Route 63 passes through the city as Missouri Street, leading north {{convert|34|mi}} to Kirksville and south {{convert|23|mi}} to Moberly.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Macon has a total area of {{convert|6.37|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|6.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|0.30|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 4.78%, are water. Macon Lake is in the northwest part of the city. The west side of the city drains toward the East Fork of the Little Chariton River, a tributary of the Missouri River, while the east side drains toward the Middle Fork of the Salt River, a direct tributary of the Mississippi.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Macon, Missouri (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1899–present)

| Jan record high F = 75

| Feb record high F = 79

| Mar record high F = 89

| Apr record high F = 93

| May record high F = 105

| Jun record high F = 108

| Jul record high F = 116

| Aug record high F = 114

| Sep record high F = 107

| Oct record high F = 96

| Nov record high F = 87

| Dec record high F = 71

| year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 60.1

|Feb avg record high F = 65.0

|Mar avg record high F = 76.4

|Apr avg record high F = 83.8

|May avg record high F = 88.8

|Jun avg record high F = 93.7

|Jul avg record high F = 97.5

|Aug avg record high F = 98.0

|Sep avg record high F = 92.7

|Oct avg record high F = 85.3

|Nov avg record high F = 73.2

|Dec avg record high F = 63.0

|year avg record high F = 99.1

| Jan high F = 35.3

| Feb high F = 41.0

| Mar high F = 52.7

| Apr high F = 64.2

| May high F = 74.1

| Jun high F = 83.3

| Jul high F = 87.5

| Aug high F = 86.3

| Sep high F = 79.1

| Oct high F = 66.8

| Nov high F = 52.2

| Dec high F = 40.2

| year high F = 63.6

| Jan mean F = 27.1

| Feb mean F = 32.1

| Mar mean F = 42.9

| Apr mean F = 53.8

| May mean F = 64.4

| Jun mean F = 73.6

| Jul mean F = 77.8

| Aug mean F = 76.0

| Sep mean F = 68.1

| Oct mean F = 56.1

| Nov mean F = 43.1

| Dec mean F = 32.1

| year mean F = 53.9

| Jan low F = 18.9

| Feb low F = 23.1

| Mar low F = 33.2

| Apr low F = 43.5

| May low F = 54.7

| Jun low F = 63.9

| Jul low F = 68.1

| Aug low F = 65.8

| Sep low F = 57.1

| Oct low F = 45.4

| Nov low F = 33.9

| Dec low F = 24.0

| year low F = 44.3

|Jan avg record low F = -3.0

|Feb avg record low F = 3.3

|Mar avg record low F = 12.2

|Apr avg record low F = 28.3

|May avg record low F = 38.6

|Jun avg record low F = 49.9

|Jul avg record low F = 56.4

|Aug avg record low F = 55.2

|Sep avg record low F = 41.2

|Oct avg record low F = 28.0

|Nov avg record low F = 16.7

|Dec avg record low F = 2.2

|year avg record low F = -6.6

| Jan record low F = -22

| Feb record low F = -27

| Mar record low F = -10

| Apr record low F = 9

| May record low F = 28

| Jun record low F = 39

| Jul record low F = 47

| Aug record low F = 41

| Sep record low F = 26

| Oct record low F = 7

| Nov record low F = -7

| Dec record low F = -28

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 1.56

| Feb precipitation inch = 2.07

| Mar precipitation inch = 2.90

| Apr precipitation inch = 4.32

| May precipitation inch = 5.44

| Jun precipitation inch = 5.50

| Jul precipitation inch = 4.25

| Aug precipitation inch = 3.82

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.87

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.45

| Nov precipitation inch = 2.74

| Dec precipitation inch = 2.01

| year precipitation inch = 41.93

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 6.7

| Feb precipitation days = 6.1

| Mar precipitation days = 8.5

| Apr precipitation days = 10.8

| May precipitation days = 12.4

| Jun precipitation days = 11.5

| Jul precipitation days = 9.0

| Aug precipitation days = 8.9

| Sep precipitation days = 7.7

| Oct precipitation days = 8.5

| Nov precipitation days = 7.3

| Dec precipitation days = 7.0

| year precipitation days = 104.4

| source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=eax

|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = November 20, 2023}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00235050&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = November 20, 2023}}

{{cite web

|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = xmACIS2

|access-date = November 20, 2023

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1860= 837

|1870= 3678

|1880= 3046

|1890= 3371

|1900= 4068

|1910= 3584

|1920= 3549

|1930= 3851

|1940= 4206

|1950= 4152

|1960= 4547

|1970= 5301

|1980= 5680

|1990= 5571

|2000= 5538

|2010= 5471

|2020= 5457

|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}}

}}

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 5,471 people, 2,369 households, and 1,357 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|911.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,727 housing units at an average density of {{convert|454.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.8% White, 5.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 2,369 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.7% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 42.7 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,538 people, 2,434 households, and 1,448 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|903.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,723 housing units at an average density of {{convert|444.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.78% White, 5.36% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.

There were 2,434 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,738, and the median income for a family was $36,633. Males had a median income of $30,069 versus $18,217 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,679. About 8.6% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

Radio station KLTI is licensed to Macon.

Public education in Macon is administered by Macon County R-I School District.{{cite web | url=http://www.macon.k12.mo.us | title=Homepage | publisher=Macon County R-I School District | access-date=4 June 2019}}

Macon has a lending library, the Macon Public 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=2 June 2019}}

• Frederick W. V. Blees (1860–1906), Macon benefactor, founder of Blees Military Academy
• Frank P. Briggs (1894–1982), U.S. senator and Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Interior
• Henderson Forsythe (1917–2006), actor
• James P. Kem (1890–1965), U.S. senator from Missouri, 1947–1953
• Butch Patrick (b. 1953), television actor best known for his role as Eddie Munster on CBS's The Munsters
• Milton A. Romjue (1874–1968), long-time US congressman for Missouri's 1st district

{{reflist|2}}

• {{cite book |last=Eaton|first=David Wolfe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfAuAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA190| title = How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named|year=1916| publisher = The State Historical Society of Missouri}}
• {{cite news |ref={{SfnRef|South Bend News-Times, November 18,|1919}}|date= 1919|title= Attempt To Kill Four Negroes|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87055779/1919-11-18/ed-1/seq-6/|newspaper=South Bend News-Times|publisher=News-Times Print. Co.|location=South Bend, Saint Joseph, Indiana|issn=2377-7095|oclc=15568606|pages=1–16|access-date= November 17, 2019 }}

{{commons category}}

• {{Official|cityofmacon-mo.gov}}
• {{Whmc stl photodb|keywords=Macon+Centennial|title=1956 Macon Centennial}}
• Historic maps of Macon in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138871 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the University of Missouri

{{Macon County, Missouri}}

{{Missouri county seats}}

{{authority control}}

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Category:Cities in Macon County, Missouri

Category:County seats in Missouri

Category:Cities in Missouri

Category:1856 establishments in Missouri