Pilot Grove, Missouri

Pilot Grove was platted in 1873.{{cite web| url=http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_cooper.html| title=Cooper County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)| publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri| accessdate=24 September 2016| url-status=bot: unknown| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071003/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_cooper.html| archivedate=24 June 2016}} The city was named from an old-growth grove of hickory trees, which once served as a local landmark or "pilot" to travelers.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n49 281]}}File:1915 Map Pilot Grove p12.jpg

On April 2, 2025, an EF2 tornado struck the city of Pilot Grove. There were no weather related injuries reported but there was damage to structures. The local tornado sirens didn't activate.{{Cite web |last=Weather |first=KOMU 8 News & First Alert |date=2025-04-03 |title=No injuries reported in Pilot Grove EF2 tornado; warning sirens did not sound |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/no-injuries-reported-in-pilot-grove-ef2-tornado-warning-sirens-did-not-sound/article_7be33fa0-07aa-5b86-95f8-2edd1c26ad88.html#:~:text=The%20National%20Weather%20Service%20confirmed,lasted%20until%208:40%20a.m. |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Columbia Missourian |language=en}}

Pilot Grove is located along Missouri Route 135 and is four miles south of I-70. It is approximately eleven miles southwest of Boonville. The Petite Saline Creek flows past about two miles to the east of the town.Missouri Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 1998, First edition, pp. 36-7, {{ISBN|0-89933-224-2}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.42|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{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|accessdate=2012-07-08|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archivedate=2012-07-02}}

{{US Census population

|1880= 209

|1890= 560

|1900= 631

|1910= 554

|1920= 753

|1930= 654

|1940= 748

|1950= 635

|1960= 680

|1970= 701

|1980= 745

|1990= 714

|2000= 723

|2010= 768

|2020= 665

|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|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2012-07-08}} of 2010, there were 768 people, 304 households, and 193 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1828.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 334 housing units at an average density of {{convert|795.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 1.3% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 304 households, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.5% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 43.4 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 21.9% were from 45 to 64; and 25.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.7% male and 55.3% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 723 people, 287 households, and 187 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,724.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 317 housing units at an average density of {{convert|756.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.37% White, 0.97% African American, 0.69% Native American, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.

There were 287 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,354, and the median income for a family was $37,143. Males had a median income of $29,318 versus $20,313 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,857. About 4.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

• Edward H. Harte, journalist

Tornado outbreak and floods of April 2–7, 2025

• Historic maps of Pilot Grove in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138933 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the University of Missouri

{{Cooper County, Missouri}}

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Category:Cities in Cooper County, Missouri

Category:Cities in Missouri

Category:Columbia metropolitan area (Missouri)