Sumner, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sumner, Missouri
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| Nickname(s):
Goose capital of the world
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Location of Sumner, Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Chariton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.23 sq mi (0.59 km2) |
| • Land | 0.23 sq mi (0.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 679 ft (207 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 78 |
| • Density | 345.13/sq mi (133.12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
64681
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| Area code(s) | 660 |
| FIPS code | 29-71620 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397688 |
Sumner is a small city in Chariton County, Missouri, USA. It's often called the "Wild Goose Capital of the World"! In 2020, only 78 people lived there. The city was named after a famous U.S. Senator, Charles Sumner.
Contents
Sumner's Early History
The land around Sumner, near the Grand River, was first explored before Missouri became a state in 1821. Two sons of the famous explorer Daniel Boone and a man named Thomas Stanley were among the first to visit. Stanley even set up a trading post here later on.
For many years, not much else was built in the area. This was partly because of marshlands and floods from the Grand River. The area was first known as Crossland. A bigger village called Cunningham was about a mile away.
How Sumner Grew
Sumner started to grow when the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad came through. The Wabash railroad also moved its station from Cunningham to Sumner. These changes helped Sumner become more important.
Joel H. Wilkerson officially planned out the city of Sumner in June 1882. That fall, the first house was built by J.M. Vanes. Soon after, the Commercial Hotel opened. A local newspaper, the Sumner Star, began in 1890 and ran for several years.
The Goose Capital of the World
Long ago, the area around Sumner was full of wildlife. There were prairie chickens, turkeys, ducks, and deer. But over time, too much hunting and draining of wetlands reduced these animal populations. For example, Hog Lake was drained in 1911.
Protecting Wetlands and Wildlife
In 1937, after the Dust Bowl showed how important wetlands were, the U.S. Congress created the Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is just south of Sumner. The Civilian Conservation Corps helped build roads, buildings, and new wetlands there. By 1941, about 800 geese were spending their winters in the area.
Sumner is located on a major flyway, which is like a highway in the sky for migrating birds. Because of this, Swan Lake and the Sumner area began to attract huge numbers of geese. By the 1980s and 1990s, over 100,000 geese would visit! This also brought many hunters each year, which helped local businesses.
Celebrating Geese in Sumner
With so many geese, Sumner was proudly named the "Wild Goose Capital of the World." Since 1955, Sumner has held a yearly Goose Festival every October. This fun event includes live music, a queen contest, tasty food, and a parade.
To celebrate its famous geese, Sumner asked a sculptor from Kansas City to create a huge statue in 1976. This statue became the "Worlds Largest Goose." It's named "Maxie" and is made of fiberglass and metal. Maxie stands over 40 feet tall, has a wingspan of 65 feet, and weighs more than 5,000 pounds!
Sumner's Location and Size
Sumner is located at 39°39′23″N 93°14′36″W / 39.65639°N 93.24333°W.
The United States Census Bureau says that the city covers about 0.23 square miles (0.59 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Sumner's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 286 | — | |
| 1900 | 477 | 66.8% | |
| 1910 | 394 | −17.4% | |
| 1920 | 468 | 18.8% | |
| 1930 | 348 | −25.6% | |
| 1940 | 338 | −2.9% | |
| 1950 | 309 | −8.6% | |
| 1960 | 234 | −24.3% | |
| 1970 | 178 | −23.9% | |
| 1980 | 182 | 2.2% | |
| 1990 | 140 | −23.1% | |
| 2000 | 142 | 1.4% | |
| 2010 | 102 | −28.2% | |
| 2020 | 78 | −23.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Sumner's population has changed quite a bit over the years. In 1900, nearly 500 people lived there. By 2020, the population was 78 people.
Who Lives in Sumner? (2010 Census)
According to the census from 2010, there were 102 people living in Sumner. These people lived in 52 households, and 26 of these were families.
The city's population was 100% White. About 19% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in Sumner was 49 years old.
Famous People from Sumner
- Senator J. William Fulbright was born in Sumner on April 9, 1905. He became a very important U.S. Senator.
Images for kids
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Maxie, the "Worlds Largest Goose" statue in Sumner.
See also
In Spanish: Sumner (Misuri) para niños
