Palmyra, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Palmyra, Missouri
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Marion County Courthouse
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Location in Marion County and the state of Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Marion |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.10 sq mi (8.04 km2) |
| • Land | 3.10 sq mi (8.04 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 620 ft (190 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,613 |
| • Density | 1,164.36/sq mi (449.63/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
63461
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| Area code(s) | 573 |
| FIPS code | 29-56036 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396131 |
Palmyra is a city in Missouri, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Marion County. In 2020, about 3,613 people lived here. Palmyra is also part of the larger Hannibal area.
Contents
History of Palmyra
Palmyra was started in 1819. It was named after an old city called Palmyra in Syria. In 1827, it became the county seat for Marion County. This means it's where the county government is located. A post office has been open in Palmyra since 1830.
During the American Civil War in 1862, a sad event happened in Palmyra. Ten Confederate prisoners were killed. This was in response to a local Union man disappearing.
Several historic buildings in Palmyra are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Culbertson-Head Farmstead, Dryden-Louthan House, Gardner House, Marion County Jail and Jailor's House, Peter J. Sowers House, Speigle House, Walker-Woodward-Schaffer House, and Ephraim J. Wilson Farm Complex.
Geography and Location
Palmyra is in the eastern part of Marion County. It is about 13 miles northwest of Hannibal. Hannibal is the biggest city in Marion County. Palmyra is also about 6 miles west of the Mississippi River.
Quincy, Illinois, is about 16 miles northeast of Palmyra. Canton is about 25 miles to the north.
The city of Palmyra covers about 3.10 square miles of land. There is no water area within the city limits. The North River borders the city to the north. This river flows directly into the Mississippi River.
Transportation in Palmyra
Palmyra is located on US Route 61 and Route 24. These are divided highways. The city is about 6 miles north of Interstate 72 (US 36).
You can drive to St. Louis from Palmyra in about 127 miles using US 61. Springfield, Illinois, is about 113 miles to the east via I-72. If you want to travel by train, daily Amtrak trains to downtown Chicago leave from nearby Quincy, Illinois.
Education and Learning
The Palmyra school district serves a large area. It covers 200 square miles and has about 6,700 people. There are 1,150 students and 170 teachers and staff. The district has good early childhood programs. There is also a private religious school and several day-care centers.
Many colleges are located near Palmyra. These include Hannibal-LaGrange College in Hannibal. Culver-Stockton College is in Canton. Moberly Area Community College is in Moberly. Quincy University and John Wood Community College are in Quincy.
Palmyra also has its own public library. It is called the Palmyra Bicentennial Public Library.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,265 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,999 | 58.0% | |
| 1870 | 2,615 | 30.8% | |
| 1880 | 2,479 | −5.2% | |
| 1890 | 2,515 | 1.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,323 | −7.6% | |
| 1910 | 2,168 | −6.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,964 | −9.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,967 | 0.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,285 | 16.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,295 | 0.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,933 | 27.8% | |
| 1970 | 3,188 | 8.7% | |
| 1980 | 3,469 | 8.8% | |
| 1990 | 3,371 | −2.8% | |
| 2000 | 3,467 | 2.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,595 | 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 3,613 | 0.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Information
In 2010, the census showed that 3,595 people lived in Palmyra. There were 1,425 households and 963 families. The city had about 1,302.5 people per square mile. There were 1,557 homes, with about 564.1 homes per square mile.
Most people in the city were White (95.1%). About 2.6% were African American. A small number were Native American (0.1%), Asian (0.3%), or Pacific Islander (0.1%). About 0.4% were from other races, and 1.4% were from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 1.2% of the population.
About 34.9% of households had children under 18 living with them. Almost half (49.5%) were married couples. About 13.7% had a female head of household with no husband. About 4.4% had a male head of household with no wife. About 32.4% of households were not families.
Almost 30% of all households had only one person living there. About 14.8% had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 2.38 people. The average family had 2.91 people.
The average age in the city was 37.7 years. About 25.4% of people were under 18. About 6.9% were between 18 and 24. About 26.7% were between 25 and 44. About 22.8% were between 45 and 64. And 18.4% were 65 years or older. The city's population was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.
Famous People from Palmyra
- Jane Darwell – An actress who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1940.
- William Payne Jackson – A major general in the U.S. Army.
- Harry Richard Landis – One of the last two surviving World War I veterans.
- Skylar Thompson – A quarterback who plays for the Miami Dolphins football team.
See also
In Spanish: Palmyra (Misuri) para niños
