Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 16,988 at the 2000 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman State University and A. T. Still University.
Geography
Kirksville is located at 40°11′37″N 92°34′58″W / 40.19361°N 92.58278°W / 40.19361; -92.58278 (40.19368958, -92.58285181). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27.2 km²), of which, 10.5 square miles (27.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.38%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,988 people, 6,583 households, and 2,975 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,624.0 people per square mile (627.1/km²). There were 7,303 housing units at an average density of 698.2/sq mi (269.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.38% White, 1.73% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 6,583 households out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.8% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.6% under the age of 18, 37.6% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,836, and the median income for a family was $36,772. Males had a median income of $26,776 versus $22,309 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,388. About 14.4% of families and 30.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
The first permanent settlement in Adair County began in 1828. Most of the settlers were from Kentucky. This was twenty-five years after the Louisiana Purchase, seven years after Missouri was granted statehood, and four years after the Sac and Fox Indians surrendered their claims to the land. The original settlement was called "Cabins of White Folks" or simply "The Cabins", and was located six miles (10 km) west of present-day Kirksville, along the Chariton River. The area was named after John Adair who was governor of Kentucky at the time. In Violette's History of Adair County the town has been identified with "Long Point" and "Hopkinsville." However, a small block-house is distinctly cited as being built in 1832 "on the ridge at Long Point, just outside the city limits of Kirksville."
Origin of Name
According to tradition, Jesse Kirk, Kirksville's first postmaster, shared a dinner of turkey and whisky with surveyors working in the area on the condition that they would name the town after him. Not only the first postmaster, Kirk was also the first to own a hotel and a tavern in Kirksville (contrary to popular belief, the name of the city has no connection to John Kirk, onetime president of Truman State University). However, the grandson of Jesse Kirk reported that the town was named for Kirk's son John, a figure of local legend credited with killing two deer with a single bullet. "Hopkinsville" was explained as a joking reference to the peculiar gait of John Kirk's lame father-in-law, David Sloan; the jocular name was discarded when the village was selected for the seat of justice in Adair County.
The Big Neck War
"Cabins of White Folks", a very small settlement near what is now Kirksville, had been established for one year in July 1829, when a large party of Iowa (or Ioway), led by Chief Big Neck, returned to their former hunting grounds, in violation of treaty. One of the Ioway's dogs killed a pig, and they threatened (or according to some sources insulted) the white women. The settlers sent messengers south to Randolph County. Captain William Trammell led a party north to help, and engaged the Indians. Routed, they returned to the cabins, got the women, and headed for Huntsville. Four of the Randolph men, including Trammell, were killed in the fight. A group of militia under General John B. Clark pursued and apprehended Big Neck and his braves, Big Snake, Young Knight, and One-that-Don't-Care. The Ioway tribesmen were captured March 11, 1830, and put on trial by a grand jury of Randolph County. The jury found on March 31, 1830, that: "After examining all the witnesses, and maturely considering the charges for which these Iowa Indians are now in confinement, we find them not guilty, and they are at once discharged."
The Battle of Kirksville
Main article: Battle of KirksvilleThe Battle of Kirksville was fought August 6-9, 1862 during the American Civil War. Union troops led by John McNeil forced Confederate volunteers under Joseph Porter to vacate the city. Casualty estimates (almost entirely Confederate) range from 150-200 dead and up to 400 wounded. According to the August 12, 1862, Quincy Herald there were 8 Federal dead and 25 wounded. The victorious Union commander, Colonel McNeil, gained brief national attention for his post-battle execution of a small number of Confederate prisoners. These prisoners had been previously captured in battle and then paroled with the understanding they would no longer take up arms against the Union, upon penalty of death if recaptured. Nonetheless, Confederate government officials were outraged, and it is said that Confederate president Jefferson Davis even called for the execution of Colonel (later Brigadier General) McNeil if he were to be captured.
The Kirksville Cyclone
On the evening of April 27, 1899, a cyclone passing through Adair County cut a path of destruction three blocks wide, killed 32 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings. The popular song "Just as the Storm Passed O'er" was based on the event, and the Kimball Piano Company exploited the incident for its advertising, when one of their instruments was carried a long distance by the tornado but still found in working condition.
On May 13, 2009 Kirksville was again the victim of a large tornado. A tornado estimated as an EF2 on the Fujita scale struck the northern edge of Kirksville destroying or severely damaging many homes, several businesses, and at least one factory. Two residents living just outside the city limits were killed by the tornado, and as many as a dozen other area residents were injured.
Education
Kirksville is home to three institutions of higher learning:
- Truman State University, originally the North Missouri Normal School and Commercial College, and more recently Northeast Missouri State University.
- A.T. Still University, home of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, the founding osteopathic medical school.
- Moberly Area Community College (MACC) operates a Kirksville campus.
Utilities
Kirksville is served by two watersheds. Hazel Creek Lake (530 acres), formed in 1982, was first used as a water source the next year. The larger water source, Forest Lake (640 acres), was formed by the city in the 1950s when it dammed Big Creek. Forest Lake anchors the Thousand Hills State Park, located just west of the city.
Kirksville trash pick-up is currently conducted through the Veolia Environmental Services of Macon, MO. The company also picks up recycling and yard waste for the city.
Transportation
The City of Kirksville operated the Kirksville Regional Airport (formerly Clarence Cannon Airport), four miles (6 km) south of the city, by the village of Millard. Kirksville, by way of La Plata, is serviced by Amtrak's Southwest Chief which runs along the BNSF Railway.
Kirksville once had two operational railroads that ran through town. The Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad, which became Burlington Northern in 1970, ran east and west. The portion of the line that ran west of Kirksville towards Green City was abandoned and eventually torn down in the early 1950s. The portion of the line that ran east of town towards Edina, Labelle, and West Quincy was torn down in the middle 1970s. The depot which serviced along the Burlington Northern in Kirksville still stands along Elson Street just north of Cottonwood Street and plans are that it will be renovated.
Kirksville's other railroad, the Wabash Railroad, which became the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1960 and later became the Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982 after N&W merged with Southern Rail
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