Hermann, Missouri Facts for Kids

Hermann is a city in Gasconade County, Missouri, United States. It has been the county seat, which is the main government town, since 1842. Hermann is located near the center of the Missouri Rhineland area. It is also south of the Missouri River. In 2020, about 2,185 people lived there.

Hermann is known as a "Rhineland village" because of its strong German heritage. It is the main business center for the Hermann American Viticultural Area. This area is famous for its wineries, which produce about one-third of Missouri's wine. The Hermann AVA was one of the first areas in the U.S. to be officially recognized for its wine production in 1983. This recognition helped bring back the vineyards and wineries that were first started by German settlers in the mid-1800s. The wine industry stopped during Prohibition but began to grow again in the 1960s.

The city of Hermann hosts fun festivals every year. They have a Maifest in May and an Oktoberfest during the first four weekends of October. Hermann also proudly calls itself the "sausage-making capital of Missouri."

History of Hermann
Population and Demographics
Education in Hermann
Notable People from Hermann
See also

History of Hermann

Boat landing, showing a boat unloading goods around 1920.

A bottle of Norton wine next to a very old grapevine, believed to be 170 years old.

The city of Hermann was started by a group called the Deutsche Ansiedlungs-Gesellschaft zu Philadelphia (German Settlement Society of Philadelphia) in 1837. A writer named Gottfried Duden helped promote the area. He wrote about his travels to the western parts of North America.

In November 1837, an early group of settlers arrived, led by George Bayer. He bought land for the society. The town was planned after the society sold shares in the 11,300 acres (4,600 ha) of land they bought in the Gasconade River valley.

German Heritage and Name Origin

The German Settlement Society had a big dream for Hermann. They wanted it to be a "heart of German America." Their goal was to keep traditional German culture alive. They also wanted to create a self-supporting community based on farming, trade, and industry.

The town is named after Hermann der Cherusker. He was a brave Germanic leader who defeated the Romans in a famous battle in 9 AD. This battle was called the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. In 2009, Hermann celebrated the 2,000th anniversary of this important battle. A bronze statue of Hermann der Cherusker stands in Hermann Park.

Train Disaster and Local Support

Hermann was the closest town to a major train accident. This was the Gasconade Bridge train disaster on November 1, 1855. After the accident, the Leimer Hotel in Hermann was used as a temporary hospital. Many injured people were brought there for care.

Revival of the Wine Industry

In the 1960s, people in the Hermann area began to rebuild the wine industry. Today, the vineyards and wineries are very important to the local economy. They attract many tourists who enjoy winery tours and wine tastings.

Stone Hill Winery is the largest winemaking business in Missouri. It is located right in Hermann. Hermannhof Winery is also in town. A little south of Hermann is Adam Puchta Winery. This is the oldest winery in the nation that has been continuously owned by the same family since 1855. Other wineries in the Hermann area include Bias Vineyards, Oakglenn Vineyards and Winery, Bommarito Estate Almond Tree Winery, and Röbbler Vineyards and Winery.

Historic Places and Outdoor Activities

The Katy Trail is a very long bike path, about 225 miles (362 km) long. It passes through McKittrick, which is a town just across the Missouri River from Hermann. This trail is popular for biking and walking.

Several buildings and areas in Hermann are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Hermann Historic District, the Kotthoff-Weeks Farm Complex, and the Old Stone Hill Historic District. Other notable places are the William Poeschel House, The Rotunda, and the Vallet-Danuser House. These places help preserve the city's rich history.

Population and Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	943	—
1860	1,103	17.0%
1870	1,335	21.0%
1880	1,314	−1.6%
1890	1,410	7.3%
1900	1,575	11.7%
1910	1,592	1.1%
1920	1,701	6.8%
1930	2,063	21.3%
1940	2,308	11.9%
1950	2,523	9.3%
1960	2,536	0.5%
1970	2,658	4.8%
1980	2,695	1.4%
1990	2,754	2.2%
2000	2,674	−2.9%
2010	2,431	−9.1%
2020	2,185	−10.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, about 2,431 people lived in Hermann. There were 1,047 households and 614 families. The city had about 961 people per square mile (371 per km²). Most of the people living in Hermann were White.

About 25.8% of households had children under 18 years old. Many households, 45.3%, were married couples. The average household had 2.23 people. The average family had 2.93 people. The median age in Hermann was 44.9 years. About 21.5% of residents were under 18. And 24.4% were 65 or older.

Education in Hermann

Public schools in Hermann are managed by the Gasconade County R-I School District. This district operates one elementary school and one middle school. It also runs Hermann High School.

Hermann has a public library where people can borrow books. It is a branch of the Scenic Regional Library system.

Hermann High School is well-known for its sports achievements. The girls' high school volleyball team holds the state record for winning the most championships in Missouri.

Notable People from Hermann

Brock Olivo, a former football player for the Missouri Tigers and Detroit Lions
Ken Boyer, a former third baseman and manager for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team
Stephanie Graff, a medical oncologist
Richard Honeck, a person who served a long time in prison
Joe Hoerner, a former Major League Baseball pitcher
Charles Radtke, a furniture designer
Nathaniel Rateliff, a singer and songwriter, who founded the band Nathaniel Rateliff and the NightSweats

Hermann, Missouri facts for kids

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