Steelville, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steelville, Missouri
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| City of Steelville | |
Downtown Steelville
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Location of Steelville, Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Crawford |
| Founded | 1835 |
| Incorporated | 1885 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.42 sq mi (6.27 km2) |
| • Land | 2.42 sq mi (6.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 755 ft (230 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,472 |
| • Density | 608.26/sq mi (234.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
65565
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| Area code(s) | 573 |
| FIPS code | 29-70576 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395962 |
| Website | http://steelville.com/ |
Steelville is a city located in Crawford County, Missouri, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,472 people lived there. Steelville is the main town, or county seat, of Crawford County.
Some famous people from Steelville include Congressman Albert Reeves and Missouri State Representative Jason Chipman. The town got its name from James Steel, who owned the land where it was founded.
Contents
History of Steelville
Early People and the Trail of Tears
Before the 1800s, the first people living in the Steelville area were likely groups connected to the Osage tribe. These groups later moved west to what is now Oklahoma.
In the 1840s, a sad event called the Trail of Tears happened. This was when the U.S. government forced large groups of Native Americans to move from their homes in the southeastern United States. People from the Choctaw and Cherokee tribes, mostly from Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee, were forced to move to Oklahoma. It is believed they stopped in Steelville to rest, bury their dead, and get supplies during their long journey.
Founding the City
The first settlers in Steelville were William Britton and James Steel. William Britton built a small mill by the Yadkin Creek. James Steel ran a trading post. In 1835, the government asked James Steel to plan out the new city. This is the year Steelville was officially founded.
James Steel bought 40 acres of land from the government. He later sold this land to the "County Court" for $50 on December 16, 1835. By this time, a small settlement had already started. The Crawford County Court named the town Steelville and made it the County Seat. The town was officially mapped out, and the first land lots were sold for $12 each.
Growth and Development
Steelville became an official city in 1885. At that time, about 500 people lived there. Many important businesses and services started to appear.
- The first tailor, Mr. Vanburg, arrived in 1844.
- James Davis owned the first hotel.
- In 1847, A. W. Johnson opened a blacksmith shop.
- Andrew Jackson opened the first Post Office.
- Doctor Dunlap was the first doctor.
- In 1838, J. H. Johnson opened the first shop for saddles and harnesses.
The Steelville Normal Business Institute, a school for business, moved to Steelville in 1890. The first newspaper, the Steelville Crawford Missouri, started on May 4, 1874. It was first printed in a log cabin.
The Steelville Bank Story
The Steelville Bank opened in October 1884. It was a strong brick building. Later, its name changed to Crawford County Farmers Bank.
In 1925, some people tried to rob the bank. Most of the robbers were caught or stopped during the attempt. The sheriff at the time was Mr. Enke. One citizen, A. D. Schwieder, was hurt in the leg but was okay.
Historic Places
Two important places in Steelville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Big Bend Rural School and the Snelson-Brinker House.
Geography
Steelville is located at 37°58′7″N 91°21′19″W / 37.96861°N 91.35528°W. The city covers about 2.42 square miles (6.27 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 226 | — | |
| 1870 | 232 | 2.7% | |
| 1880 | 410 | 76.7% | |
| 1890 | 591 | 44.1% | |
| 1900 | 686 | 16.1% | |
| 1910 | 773 | 12.7% | |
| 1920 | 767 | −0.8% | |
| 1930 | 854 | 11.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,013 | 18.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,157 | 14.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,127 | −2.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,392 | 23.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,470 | 5.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,465 | −0.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,429 | −2.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,642 | 14.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,472 | −10.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Details
In 2010, there were 1,642 people living in Steelville. There were 638 households, which are groups of people living together. About 345 of these were families.
Most of the people were White (90.10%). Other groups included Black or African American (5.97%), Native American (1.16%), and Asian (4.43%). About 1.77% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Steelville was 36.8 years old. About 24.2% of residents were under 18 years old. Also, 19.2% were 65 years old or older. The city had slightly more females (52.7%) than males (47.3%).
Education
The Steelville R-III School District serves all of Steelville and the nearby areas.
- Steelville Elementary School teaches about 401 students from pre-kindergarten to 4th grade.
- Steelville Middle School has about 316 students in grades 5 through 8.
- Steelville High School has about 253 students in grades 9 through 12.
Steelville also has a public library. It is part of the Crawford County Library District.
Arts and Culture
Steelville calls itself the "Floating Capital of Missouri." This is because the Meramec River flows just north of the city. Many people enjoy floating or boating on the river.
See also
In Spanish: Steelville (Misuri) para niños
