Sarcoxie, Missouri

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sarcoxie, Missouri
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Sarcoxie, Missouri


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Missouri
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Jasper
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 2.8
area_land_km2 = 2.8
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.1
area_land_sq_mi = 1.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1354
population_density_km2 = 484.4
population_density_sq_mi = 1254.6

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 332
elevation_ft = 1089
latd = 37 |latm = 4 |lats = 7 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 7 |longs = 21 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 64862
area_code = 417
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 29-65990GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0729960GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Sarcoxie is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,354 at the 2000 census.

History

The earliest named occupant was Chief Sarcoxie. His name has been said to mean "As Tall As He Is"--a reference to his position and perhaps also his height. It is said he settled by a spring at the base of a steep hill near what is now the town square, selecting the spot because it was never struck by tornados. A cavern at that spot in the limestone bluff is called "Chief Sarcoxie's Cave", and was large enough for boys to crawl into as recently as 1910; however, as limestone was quarried from the bluff, the roof of the cave gradually subsided and the entrance closed. European-American settlement began in the 1830s with the town being platted in 1840. It is the only town in the US with the name Sarcoxie and is also the oldest town in the county. It was once the strawberry capital of the world and still is the peony capital of the world. Sarcoxie once had its own currency that had a picture of a strawberry on one side. The town's weekly newspaper, The Sarcoxie Record, was one of the better newspapers in the state in the 1930's. Barney Finn, the editor, also served as Sarcoxie mayor for two terms.

The town was a minor flashpoint in the US Civil War with the largest Confederate flag flying in town for a time.

In 1887 it became perhaps the first town in southwest Missouri to have electric lighting.

Geography

Sarcoxie is located at coor dms|37|4|7|N|94|7|21|W|city (37.068490, -94.122450)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,354 people, 559 households, and 359 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,254.6 people per square mile (484.1/km²). There were 635 housing units at an average density of 588.4/sq mi (227.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.94% White, 0.07% African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.07% from other races, and 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.

There were 559 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 80.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $34,519. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $20,547 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,531. About 10.7% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

*G. Lloyd Spencer-US Senator for Arkansas.
*Gene Taylor - US House of Representatives [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000075]

References

External links

* [http://www.lasr.net/pages/city.php?City_ID=MO0705050 Lasr.net]