De Soto, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
De Soto, Missouri
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Location of De Soto, Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Jefferson |
| Incorporated | 1869 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.38 sq mi (11.35 km2) |
| • Land | 4.38 sq mi (11.35 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 545 ft (166 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,449 |
| • Density | 1,471.37/sq mi (568.10/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
63020
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| Area code(s) | 636 |
| FIPS code | 29-19252 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394475 |
De Soto is a city located in Jefferson County, Missouri, in the United States. In 2020, about 6,449 people lived there. The city is part of the larger St. Louis area.
The first settlers, the Van Metre family, arrived in 1803. The town was officially set up in 1857. It was named after Hernando De Soto, a Spanish explorer. He was known for claiming the Louisiana Territory for Spain. De Soto celebrated its 200th birthday in 2003. That same year, the city was in the news because of strong winds and a tornado.
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History of De Soto
De Soto was planned out in 1857. It got its name from Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer who lived from about 1496 to 1542. A post office has been open in De Soto since 1858.
The city is sometimes called "Fountain City." This is because it has many artesian wells. These are special wells where water flows up from the ground naturally. Water from these wells was even bottled and sent to the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.
Two important places in De Soto are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Central School Campus and the Louis J. and Harriet Rozier House. Being on this list means they are important historical sites.
Tornadoes in De Soto
De Soto and the area around it have experienced several tornadoes. These powerful storms can cause a lot of damage.
On December 21, 1967, a strong tornado hit about 16 miles from the city. It caused a lot of damage, costing between $500,000 and $5,000,000.
Another strong tornado struck on June 22, 1969. This one was about 13 miles from De Soto. It also caused significant damage, estimated between $500,000 and $5,000,000.
On April 22, 1981, a tornado hit De Soto directly. It destroyed several buildings, including a bank and a newspaper office.
A major tornado event happened on May 6, 2003. A tornado touched down near De Soto. It caused about $12,800,000 in damage. The tornado badly damaged the junior high gym, the high school, and an elementary school. It also destroyed many houses and a local grocery store.
Fun Places to Visit
De Soto has several local attractions for people to enjoy:
- Melba Theater
- De Soto Public Library
- Spross Park
- Walther's Park
- Richter Park
Geography
De Soto is located along Joachim Creek in the southwestern part of Jefferson County. Missouri Route 21 runs just west of the city. Missouri Route 110 connects to US Route 67 about three miles east.
The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 4.30 square miles (11.35 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,989 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,960 | 99.1% | |
| 1900 | 5,611 | 41.7% | |
| 1910 | 4,721 | −15.9% | |
| 1920 | 5,003 | 6.0% | |
| 1930 | 5,069 | 1.3% | |
| 1940 | 5,121 | 1.0% | |
| 1950 | 5,357 | 4.6% | |
| 1960 | 5,804 | 8.3% | |
| 1970 | 5,984 | 3.1% | |
| 1980 | 5,993 | 0.2% | |
| 1990 | 5,993 | 0.0% | |
| 2000 | 6,375 | 6.4% | |
| 2010 | 6,400 | 0.4% | |
| 2020 | 6,449 | 0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Details
In 2010, there were 6,400 people living in De Soto. There were 2,629 households, which are groups of people living together. About 1,633 of these were families. The city had about 1,488 people per square mile.
Most of the people in De Soto were White (95.8%). There were also African American (1.6%), Native American (0.4%), and Asian (0.4%) residents. Some people were from other races or had mixed backgrounds. About 0.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 33.5% of households had children under 18. Many households (41.0%) were married couples. The average household had 2.38 people. The average family had 2.97 people.
The average age in De Soto was 36.8 years old. About 24.8% of residents were under 18. About 16.1% were 65 or older. The population was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.
Economy
The local economy in De Soto is supported by the Union Pacific Railroad. They have a car repair shop in the city. Other big employers include Wal-Mart and the De Soto School District #73.
Transportation
The main train station for the Missouri Pacific Railroad in De Soto was built in 1919. It was taken down in 1982. Passenger trains used to stop there until 1971. For many years, Amtrak's Texas Eagle train passed through without stopping.
However, in 2023, Amtrak announced good news. They plan to add De Soto as a stop for the Texas Eagle. This will happen once agreements are made and a new platform is built. The city government worked hard to make this happen.
Education
Public schools in De Soto are part of the De Soto School District #73. These include:
- De Soto Senior High School
- De Soto Junior High
- Vineland Elementary
- Athena Elementary
There is also one private school in town, St. Rose of Lima School. It is run by St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.
For higher education, the closest college is Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri.
The town also has a public library called the De Soto Public Library.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to De Soto:
- Mel Bay: A musician, music teacher, and publisher of sheet music.
- Thomas Clement Fletcher: A former Governor of Missouri.
- Whitey Ford: A comedian known as "The Duke of Paducah."
- Michael H. Hall: A politician who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
- Juanita Hamel: A newspaper illustrator and writer.
- Burdette Johnson: Someone who studied and collected old coins (a numismatist).
- William E. Lewis: A Missouri state representative.
- Jay Nixon: The 55th Governor of Missouri and a former state Attorney General.
- Frank Wilcox: An actor.
See also
In Spanish: De Soto (Misuri) para niños
