Clever, Missouri Facts for Kids

Clever is a city located in Christian County, Missouri, United States. It's known as "Summit City" and its motto is "Where it just gets better everyday." In 2020, about 2,918 people lived there. Clever is part of the larger Springfield Metropolitan Area. The city has grown a lot in recent years, with its population more than doubling between 2000 and 2010.

Where is Clever Located?
A Look Back at Clever's History
People in Clever
Education in Clever
Famous People from Clever
See also

Where is Clever Located?

Clever is found on the Springfield Plateau, which is part of the Ozarks in Missouri. It's about 14.5 miles southwest of Springfield. The city sits in the western part of Christian County. Nearby towns include Nixa and Billings. The famous Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is also close by. The city covers an area of about 1.5 square miles, and it's all land.

A Look Back at Clever's History

The area where Clever now stands was mostly empty for many years after Missouri became a state in 1821. The first land sale here happened in 1845. An important route called the Old Wire Road helped bring more people to southwest Missouri. This road followed part of the Great Osage Trail and was used by travelers and supply wagons. It also had a telegraph line, which is how it got its name.

The Battle of Dug Springs

Before Clever was a town, a Civil War battle took place nearby on August 2, 1861. This was the Battle of Dug Springs. Union forces, led by General Nathaniel Lyon, fought against a larger group of Confederate soldiers. Even though they were outnumbered, the Union forces won this battle. It was an early fight that led to the bigger Battle of Wilson's Creek just eight days later.

General Benjamin McCulloch

Map of the Telegraph Road, also known as the Military Road, shown on a 1937 USGS map.

How Clever Began

After the Civil War, a new road crossed the Old Wire Road. This crossroads became the start of Clever. Around 1890, a farmer named Ike Teague built a two-story house there. Later, a doctor bought the house and planned to open a store. But he passed away before it was finished.

In 1894, William Wilson bought the building and opened the very first store in the area. The first post office was set up in this store in 1896. Frank Netzer, who ran the store then, became the first postmaster.

Naming the Town

When the government didn't approve the first name chosen for the post office, Mr. Netzer asked his customers for ideas. One customer, Tom Lentz, suggested "Clever." He thought the people in the young community were friendly and wise. That's how Clever got its name!

Growing into a City

Clever grew slowly at first. By 1902, it had a blacksmith shop, another store, and a meeting hall. A tomato-canning factory opened in 1904.

In 1905, the Missouri Pacific Railroad planned a route through Clever. This brought a lot of growth! By 1908, Clever had many new businesses, including a hotel, a lumber yard, a bank, a movie theater, and a flour mill. With all this growth, residents decided to officially become a city. In February 1909, Clever was officially incorporated.

In 1910, Clever's population was 248 people. Being on the railroad brought exciting entertainment. Traveling shows called Chautauqua visited, and famous people like William "Buffalo Bill" Cody performed in 1913. The well-known ragtime pianist Blind Boone also played a concert at the Clever school gym.

The population stayed around 500 for many years. But between 1990 and 2000, it nearly doubled to 1,010. Then, it more than doubled again by 2010, reaching 2,139 people! In May 2003, some tornadoes passed near the town, causing damage to property and affecting livestock.

People in Clever

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1910	248	—
1920	347	39.9%
1930	334	−3.7%
1940	291	−12.9%
1950	273	−6.2%
1960	283	3.7%
1970	430	51.9%
1980	551	28.1%
1990	580	5.3%
2000	1,010	74.1%
2010	2,139	111.8%
2020	2,918	36.4%

In 2010, there were 2,139 people living in Clever. The city had 817 households. About 44% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in Clever was 29 years old. Many residents were young, with about 30% being under 18.

Education in Clever

The first school building in Clever was built in 1909. It was a two-story brick building that brought together students from smaller, one-room schools nearby. Over the years, more additions were made, allowing students to go up to tenth grade. In 1920, it became a four-year high school.

A fire destroyed the school in 1931, but a new, larger building was quickly built for the next school year. Today, the Clever R-V (5) school district provides education from pre-Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. In the 2010–2011 school year, over 1,100 students were enrolled in the Clever R-V school district.

Famous People from Clever

Robert Mandan: An actor best known for his role as Chester Tate on the TV show Soap.
Jim Winn: A former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Clever, Missouri facts for kids

Contents