Nevada, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nevada, Missouri
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Location within Vernon County and Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Vernon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.06 sq mi (23.47 km2) |
| • Land | 8.98 sq mi (23.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 863 ft (263 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,212 |
| • Density | 913.97/sq mi (352.88/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
64772
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| Area code(s) | 417 |
| FIPS code | 29-51644 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395179 |
| Website | http://nevadamo.gov/ |
Nevada (say "niv-AY-duh") is a city in Missouri, United States. It's the main city and county seat of Vernon County. In 2010, about 8,386 people lived here. The city is run by a council-manager system, which means elected officials make decisions and a professional manager handles daily operations.
Contents
History of Nevada, Missouri
Early Inhabitants: The Osage People
When French explorers first came to this area in the late 1600s, they met the Osage people. The Osage controlled a huge amount of land. This land stretched west from where Saint Louis is today and included parts of several states.
The Osage Village State Historic Site is a special place near the Osage River. It shows where an Osage village once stood. Archeologists believe nearly 200 lodges were here, with 2,000 to 3,000 people living there from about 1700 to 1775. The Osage were very important in the fur trade in this region.
After the United States bought this land in the Louisiana Purchase, the Osage gradually lost their lands. They were eventually moved to what was called Indian Territory. The Osage Village site is now a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important place in American history, especially for the Osage people.
How Nevada Got Its Name
When European-American settlers first arrived, they called the town "Hog Eye." The town was officially planned out in 1855. Later, a clerk named DeWitt C. Hunter changed the town's name to Nevada. He named it after Nevada City, California, where he had once worked as a gold miner.
The Weltmer Institute: A Center for Healing
From 1897 to 1933, Nevada was home to the Weltmer Institute of Suggestive Therapeutics. Sidney Abram Weltmer and Joseph H. Kelly started it. They bought a large mansion built in 1886. They wanted a place where people could stay for a long time to receive healing.
In the early 1900s, many people came to this institute. They believed in Weltmer's ideas about mental healing. People paid to stay for a 10-day treatment course. They also paid for classes. The institute even sent treatments and classes through the mail! Lectures at the institute attracted hundreds of people.
The institute became so popular that the railroad added more trains to Nevada. The amount of mail for the institute was so large that the post office became a "first-class" office. The government even built a new, bigger post office to handle it all. The Weltmer Institute helped Nevada become a busy town. It attracted many people who offered different kinds of healing and therapy.
New Thought Movement in Nevada
In the early 1900s, Nevada also attracted many followers of the New Thought Movement. This was a way of thinking that focused on positive thoughts and beliefs. In 1905, the Weltmer Auditorium hosted a big meeting for the New Thought Federation. Sidney A. Weltmer's son, Ernest, helped open the meeting. Many speakers came from all over the country.
In 1916, New Thought followers came back to Nevada for another large meeting. Sidney A. Weltmer was one of the speakers at this event.
Historic Buildings in Nevada
After Sidney Weltmer passed away and the institute closed in 1933, the mansion was sold. It was used as a funeral home for many years. In 2004, the building was planned to be torn down for new development. Even though some people wanted to save it because of its history, it was not officially protected.
Other important historic buildings in Nevada are still standing. These include the Infirmary Building, Missouri State Hospital Number 3, the Vernon County Courthouse, and the Vernon County Jail, Sheriff's House and Office. These buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means they are recognized for their historical importance.
Geography and Climate
Where is Nevada Located?
Nevada is in the middle of Vernon County. It's located where two major roads, US Route 71 and US Route 54, meet.
The United States Census Bureau says that Nevada covers about 9.06 square miles (23.47 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water.
Nevada's Weather
| Climate data for Nevada Water Plant, Missouri (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1898–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) |
82 (28) |
90 (32) |
95 (35) |
98 (37) |
106 (41) |
117 (47) |
114 (46) |
109 (43) |
96 (36) |
85 (29) |
77 (25) |
117 (47) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41.5 (5.3) |
46.6 (8.1) |
56.6 (13.7) |
66.6 (19.2) |
75.3 (24.1) |
84.4 (29.1) |
88.7 (31.5) |
88.0 (31.1) |
80.3 (26.8) |
69.3 (20.7) |
56.2 (13.4) |
45.3 (7.4) |
66.6 (19.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.5 (−0.3) |
36.0 (2.2) |
45.7 (7.6) |
55.7 (13.2) |
65.1 (18.4) |
74.3 (23.5) |
78.5 (25.8) |
77.3 (25.2) |
69.3 (20.7) |
57.8 (14.3) |
45.7 (7.6) |
35.7 (2.1) |
56.1 (13.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.5 (−5.8) |
25.5 (−3.6) |
34.9 (1.6) |
44.7 (7.1) |
54.9 (12.7) |
64.3 (17.9) |
68.4 (20.2) |
66.6 (19.2) |
58.3 (14.6) |
46.2 (7.9) |
35.2 (1.8) |
26.2 (−3.2) |
45.6 (7.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) |
−27 (−33) |
−9 (−23) |
15 (−9) |
27 (−3) |
42 (6) |
44 (7) |
43 (6) |
25 (−4) |
18 (−8) |
0 (−18) |
−25 (−32) |
−27 (−33) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.77 (45) |
2.07 (53) |
3.41 (87) |
5.20 (132) |
6.77 (172) |
5.35 (136) |
4.74 (120) |
3.83 (97) |
4.60 (117) |
3.45 (88) |
3.06 (78) |
2.22 (56) |
46.47 (1,180) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.5 (6.4) |
1.5 (3.8) |
0.7 (1.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
1.5 (3.8) |
6.4 (16) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.8 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 10.5 | 11.7 | 10.2 | 9.0 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 8.7 | 7.8 | 6.2 | 101.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 5.2 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People Living in Nevada
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,913 | — | |
| 1890 | 7,262 | 279.6% | |
| 1900 | 7,461 | 2.7% | |
| 1910 | 7,176 | −3.8% | |
| 1920 | 7,139 | −0.5% | |
| 1930 | 7,448 | 4.3% | |
| 1940 | 8,181 | 9.8% | |
| 1950 | 8,009 | −2.1% | |
| 1960 | 8,416 | 5.1% | |
| 1970 | 9,736 | 15.7% | |
| 1980 | 9,044 | −7.1% | |
| 1990 | 8,597 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,607 | 0.1% | |
| 2010 | 8,386 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 8,212 | −2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Nevada's Population in 2020
The 2020 United States census counted 8,212 people living in Nevada. There were 3,676 households and 1,933 families. The city had about 914 people per square mile. There were 4,297 housing units in total.
Most people in Nevada were white (88.92%). Smaller groups included Black or African-American, Native American, and Asian people. About 2.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of households, 20.7% had children under 18. About 38.3% were married couples living together. Many households (39.6%) had just one person living there. The average household had 2.0 people.
The median age in Nevada was 41.1 years. About 20.8% of the people were under 18 years old.
Nevada's Population in 2010
In the census of 2010, there were 8,386 people living in Nevada. There were 3,491 households and 1,908 families. The city had about 933 people per square mile.
The racial makeup was similar to 2020, with 95.1% of people being White. About 2.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 28.2% of households had children under 18. The average household size was 2.16 people. The median age in the city was 38.3 years. About 23.3% of residents were under 18.
Education in Nevada
Public Schools
Public education in Nevada is managed by the Nevada R-V School District. This district runs Nevada High School.
Libraries
Nevada has a public library called the Nevada Public Library. It's a place where you can borrow books and other materials.
Cottey College
Nevada is also home to Cottey College. This is a private college for women. Virginia Alice (Cottey) Stockard started it in 1884. Since 1927, the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a women's group, has owned and supported the college.
Cottey College began as a school to prepare girls and women for higher education. By 1932, it became a two-year college focused on liberal arts. In 2011, it became a four-year college, meaning students can earn a bachelor's degree there.
Transportation
Bus service to and from Nevada is provided by Jefferson Lines.
Notable People from Nevada
Many interesting people have connections to Nevada:
- Russell Alexander — a composer and performer for circus bands.
- Eva Bowring − a former United States Senator for Nebraska.
- Patricia Breckenridge − a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri.
- Harvey C. Clark — a brigadier general in the U.S. Army.
- Forrest DeBernardi − a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Ed Emery — a state senator and former state representative.
- Clark Griffith - a Major League Baseball pitcher and co-founder of the American League.
- John Huston − a famous actor, director, screenwriter, and producer (he was born in Nevada).
- Walter Huston − an actor for stage and screen (he lived in Nevada from 1905-1909).
- Frank James − a famous outlaw, brother of Jesse James.
- George Lyons - a Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Brett Merriman — a Major League Baseball player who graduated from Nevada High School in 1984.
- Bill Phelps − a former lieutenant governor of Missouri.
- Kimbrough Stone - a United States Circuit judge.
- Anne Swainson − Head of product and graphic design at Montgomery Ward.
- Marion Talley - an American opera singer who was in the movie Follow Your Heart.
- Sue Thompson − a country and pop singer, born Eva Sue McKee.
- Sidney Weltmer - the person who started the Weltmer Institute of Suggestive Therapeutics.
See also
In Spanish: Nevada (Misuri) para niños
