Florida, Missouri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Florida, Missouri
Village
Birthplace of Mark Twain in Florida
Location in Monroe County and the state of Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Monroe
Named for	U.S. state of Florida
Area
• Total	0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2)
• Land	0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	646 ft (197 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5
• Density	47.62/sq mi (18.38/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	65283
Area code(s)	573
FIPS code	29-24760
GNIS feature ID	2398888

Florida is a small village in Monroe County, Missouri, United States. It sits where Missouri Route 107 and State Route U meet, right by the Mark Twain Lake. In 1910, about 200 people lived there. However, by the 2020 census, only five people called Florida home. The village is famous for being the birthplace of the well-known author Mark Twain. You can visit the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site in Florida, and Mark Twain State Park is also very close by.

History of Florida, Missouri

Playing horseshoes in Florida, 1919

The famous writer Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, was born in Florida in 1835. He once described his hometown as "a nearly invisible village." He also joked that he increased the town's population by one percent, which was more than many important people in history had done for a town.

The village of Florida was first planned in the winter of 1831. It was named after the state of Florida. Some of the first people to help start the town were Robert Donaldson, Joseph Grigsby, Hugh A. Hickman, Doctor Keenan, John Witt, and Major W.N. Penn. Major Penn opened the town's first business, a dry goods store.

In its early days, people hoped Florida would become an important center for trade and shipping. The village is located where three parts of the Salt River come together. This spot was thought to be great for growth in northeast Missouri. Mark Twain's father, John Clemens, even started a company in 1836 to help boats travel on the Salt River. Some boats did carry flour down the river and bring back goods like sugar and coffee. However, the river's water levels changed too much, making it hard for boats to travel regularly. Since Florida also didn't have a railroad, it stayed a small village, mostly serving local farmers.

The Clemens family moved from Florida to Hannibal, Missouri, when young Samuel was about five years old. But he often returned to Florida for long summer visits at his uncle John Quarles' farm. These summer memories and the people he met there inspired many of the stories and characters in his famous novels. You can still visit the area where the Quarles farmhouse was, as it's now an archeological site.

Florida and the Civil War

During the Civil War, many people in Monroe County, where Florida is located, supported the Confederacy. Because of this, two small battles happened near Florida.

The first battle took place in July 1861. A Confederate general named Thomas A. Harris had gathered about 500 troops near Florida. When the Union army found out, they sent about 600 soldiers and a cannon from Palmyra, Missouri, to Florida. On July 8, 1861, a small group of Confederate soldiers ambushed the Union forces. The Union troops fought back, and the Confederates had to retreat. Not many people were hurt. Meanwhile, other Confederate groups attacked Monroe City, Missouri, which had an important railroad line. This made the Union soldiers turn back from their march on Florida.

The second Civil War battle near Florida happened about a year later, on July 22, 1862. A Confederate force of 300 to 400 men, led by Colonel Joseph C. Porter, was traveling through Monroe County. They were surprised by about 50 Union cavalry soldiers. Even though they were greatly outnumbered, the Union soldiers fought for about an hour. After some fighting, the Union cavalry retreated. Colonel Porter also left the area.

Florida After the Civil War

Florida in 2016

After the Civil War, Florida continued to grow slowly. Its population reached its highest point of 280 people in 1880. However, the 20th century was not as good for the village, especially after World War II. Many businesses closed, and families moved away to find better jobs in bigger cities.

In the mid-1960s, the Mark Twain Lake was built. This flooded some of the valuable farmland around Florida. But it also created new chances for fun activities and tourism. In 1960, the state of Missouri created the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site. Mark Twain's birthplace house was moved into a special museum. This museum has cool things like rare first edition books, a handwritten copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and furniture from his home. A red granite monument in Florida shows where Twain's original birth home stood.

Besides the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site, two other important places near Florida are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Crigler Mound Group Archeological Site and the Merritt Violette House.

Geography of Florida, Missouri

Florida is located in the eastern part of Monroe County, overlooking Mark Twain Lake. This lake is a reservoir on the Salt River. The North and Middle parts of the Salt River meet inside the lake, just east of the hill where Florida stands. The Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site is on the eastern edge of the village. Mark Twain State Park, which is a public area for fun activities, is next to the village on the south and west sides.

Missouri Route 107 runs along the western side of the village. It goes north about 6 miles to U.S. Route 24 and south less than 3 miles to Missouri Route 154. Paris, which is the main town of Monroe County, is about 14 miles to the west.

The U.S. Census Bureau says that the village has a total area of about 0.1 square miles (0.27 square kilometers), and all of it is land.

Population of Florida

According to the census from 2000, there were 9 people living in the village, making up 4 households and 2 families. The population was spread out in terms of age. Two people were under 18 (both girls), two were between 18 and 25, two were between 25 and 45, one was between 45 and 65, and two were 65 or older. The average age was 30 years. There were six females and three males living in Florida at that time.

See also

In Spanish: Florida (Misuri) para niños