Kirksville is the county seat of and most populous city in Adair County, Missouri, United States. Located in Benton Township, its population was 17,530 at the 2020 census. Kirksville is home to three colleges: Truman State University, Moberly Area Community College, and A.T. Still University.
History
Kirksville was laid out in 1841 on a site, and was first incorporated in 1857.
Origin of name According to tradition Jesse Kirk, Kirksville's first postmaster, shared a dinner of turkey and whiskey 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 from 1899 to 1925. 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.
Before the town was officially platted, the area had been known as Long Point and then Hopkinsville. "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.Kirksville Daily Express, March 20, 1941
Battle of Kirksville
The 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 to 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.
Tornadoes On the evening of April 27, 1899, an F4 tornado passing through Adair County cut a path of destruction three blocks wide, killed 34 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. An EF2 tornado struck the northern edge of Kirksville destroying or severely damaging many homes, several businesses, a car dealership, 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. The story and extensive video of the 2009 twister was featured in season 3, episode 4 of Storm Chasers on the Discovery Channel as well as a 2010 episode of Storm Stories on The Weather Channel.
National Register of Historic Places The Adair County Courthouse, Bear Creek Baptist Church, Dockery Hotel, Grim Building, Capt. Thomas C. Harris House, Journal Printing Company Building, Kirksville Courthouse Square Historic District, Drs. George and Blanche Laughlin House, Masonic Temple, Dr. E. Sanborn Smith House, Orie J. Smith Black and White Stock Farm Historic District, Sojourners Club, Travelers Hotel, and Trinity Episcopal Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Demographics
Kirksville anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties.
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Kirksville had a population of 17,530. The census counted 6,859 households and 2,766 families. The median age was 26.2 years. 17.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.1 males age 18 and over.
96.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.9% lived in rural areas.
Of the 6,859 households in Kirksville, 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.2% were married-couple households, 24.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.2.
There were 7,814 housing units, of which 12.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 14,424 82.3% Black or African American 1,271 7.3% American Indian and Alaska Native 38 0.2% Asian 639 3.6% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 10 0.1% Some other race 202 1.2% Two or more races 946 5.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 561 3.2%
Income and poverty The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $36,228 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,059) and the median family income was $55,982 (+/- $8,114). Males had a median income of $21,690 (+/- $3,486) versus $12,899 (+/- $3,029) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $16,688 (+/- $2,033). Approximately, 10.6% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under the age of 18 and 13.9% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 17,505 people, 6,714 households, and 3,066 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,434 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 92.3% White, 2.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.
There were 6,714 households, of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.0% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 54.3% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.90.
The median age in the city was 23.8 years. 16.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 36% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19% were from 25 to 44; 17.5% were from 45 to 64; and 11.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.1% male and 53.9% female.
2000 census 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 . There were 7,303 housing units at an average density of . 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.
Congolese population By 2015 a number of persons originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo settled in Kirksville; they first came to the U.S. through diversity visas. Many found work at a Farmland Foods facility in nearby Milan, Missouri. In 2014 five Congolese families lived in Kirksville. By February 2016 almost 40 Congolese families resided in Kirksville, totaling around 100 people.
Prior to 2015 about half of the 20-25 English as a second language program students in the Kirksville R-III School District were of Hispanic origin, but the wave of Congolese students appeared by 2015, doubling the number of ESOL students and giving it a French-speaking population not previously present. Therefore, the district began expanding its ESOL program.
Students and faculty from Truman State University took steps to help the Congolese residents acclimate to life in Kirksville.
According to Sana Camara of Truman State, many of the immigrants were well-educated, and the main barrier to success was specifically a lack of English knowledge. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.
Climate Kirksville has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa). Summers are warm and humid, while winters are cold and snowy. Precipitation is highest in the summer months, and is mostly produced by thunderstorms (a few of which can become severe).
Government
Kirksville is a Missouri Third-Class city, operating as a council-manager government. A paid city manager and staff handle the day-to-day operations and report to the city council.
Candidates for Kirksville city council are not required to have any party affiliation (i.e. Republican or Democrat) in order to run for office. The only requirements are to be at least 21 years of age, a United States citizen, to have lived in the city for at least one year prior to election, and to not have any outstanding/overdue city or county taxes. All members are elected in an "at large" representation basis versus any particular section or ward. Following each election, the councilmembers vote among themselves to choose a member to serve a one-year term as mayor. Council meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of each month with informative study sessions held on the third Monday. The Kirksville City Council Members as of Feb. 2021 were: Zac Burden (Mayor) John Gardner (Mayor Pro Tem) Kabir Bansal John Hanley Cindy Mayberry The city of Kirksville provides residents with full-time fire and police departments, along with water, sewer, and street maintenance service. Citywide trash removal is contracted by the city with a private contractor and is mandatory for all residents or property owners. Recycling is optional. The city of Kirksville operates Kirk-Tran, an area bus service, and a county-wide E-911 Center.
Education Kirksville is home to three institutions of higher learning: Truman State University, Missouri's liberal arts and sciences university, originally the North Missouri Normal School and Commercial College, and more recently Northeast Missouri State University.