Doolittle, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doolittle, Missouri
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Doolittle, Missouri
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Phelps |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.78 sq mi (7.21 km2) |
| • Land | 2.78 sq mi (7.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 948 ft (289 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 564 |
| • Density | 202.59/sq mi (78.21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
65550
|
| Area code(s) | 573 |
| FIPS code | 29-19828 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394547 |
Doolittle is a small city in Phelps County, Missouri, United States. In 2020, about 564 people lived there. It is known for its interesting history, especially its connection to a famous World War II hero.
Contents
History of Doolittle
The city of Doolittle is named after Lt. General Jimmy Doolittle. He was a hero from World War II. He led a very brave air raid on Tokyo, Japan. This event was called the Doolittle Raid. It helped change how the war was going in the Pacific Ocean.
Before it was called Doolittle, the area had another name. It was known as Centertown. This was because it was halfway between two other towns: Rolla and Newburg. A local man named Monroe Ramsey first used this name.
The town grew very quickly in 1941. This happened when Fort Leonard Wood was being built. The fort was about 20 miles away. Thousands of workers came to the area for the war effort. They needed places to sleep. People even said that beds were always warm. This was because different workers used them at different times.
A local businessman, Lou Hargis, thought Centertown should become an official city. The idea to name the new city after General Doolittle was very popular. People also wanted General Doolittle to visit and dedicate the town after the war.
The first leaders of the town were Lou Hargis, Mr. Durham, Bob Crain, and Ike Towell. They helped run the town until April 1944. That's when the first election was held. A mayor and other city officials were then chosen. These five men officially announced the new town. They gave it a hero's name.
In 1946, General Doolittle came to Doolittle. He spoke at the dedication ceremony. He had promised to visit two years earlier. Doolittle even flew his own B-25 plane to the airport in Vichy for the event.
Where is Doolittle Located?
Doolittle is found where Missouri Route T and I-44 meet. It is located between the cities of Rolla and Jerome. The town of Newburg is about 2.5 miles south on Route T.
The United States Census Bureau says Doolittle covers about 2.68 square miles (7.21 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 237 | — | |
| 1960 | 499 | 110.5% | |
| 1970 | 535 | 7.2% | |
| 1980 | 701 | 31.0% | |
| 1990 | 599 | −14.6% | |
| 2000 | 644 | 7.5% | |
| 2010 | 630 | −2.2% | |
| 2020 | 564 | −10.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Doolittle's Population in 2010
In 2010, the city of Doolittle had 630 people living there. There were 251 households. A household is a group of people living in one home. Out of these, 184 were families.
The average number of people in each household was about 2.51. The average family had about 2.88 people.
The median age in Doolittle was 41.7 years old. This means half the people were younger than 41.7 and half were older. About 23.2% of the people were under 18 years old. Also, 15.6% were 65 years old or older.
