Washburn, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Washburn, Missouri
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Location of Washburn, Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Barry |
| Township | Washburn |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.90 sq mi (2.33 km2) |
| • Land | 0.90 sq mi (2.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,476 ft (450 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 407 |
| • Density | 452.22/sq mi (174.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
65772
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| Area code(s) | 417 |
| FIPS code | 29-77200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397204 |
Washburn is a small city in Barry County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Washburn Township. The city is named after Samuel C. Washburn, an early pioneer. In 2010, the population was 435 people. The town of Washburn today includes areas that were once two separate communities: Keetsville and O'Day.
Contents
History of Washburn
Keetsville: An Early Settlement
The area where Washburn is now located has a long history. It was once part of the historic Trail of Tears. It was also on the Old Wire Road, an important travel route. The first official settlement, called Keetsville, began around 1840. John Cureton, a judge from Arkansas, settled on Washburn Prairie. He bought the land where the town would later grow.
In 1853, James T. Keet took over the land. He laid out the town of Keetsville. A store was built, and the town started to grow. However, the American Civil War (1861-1865) stopped this growth. In February 1862, a small fight happened near the town. This was just before the big Battle of Pea Ridge. Keetsville was destroyed during this time.
After the war, the town was rebuilt between 1867 and 1869. In 1868, it was renamed Washburn. This new name honored Samuel Washburn, an early settler. He had lived in the area for about ten years.
O'Day: The Railroad Town
In the winter of 1879-1880, a new railroad line was built. The Atlantic and Pacific Railway built it between Pierce City, Missouri and Seligman, Missouri. This railroad ran about half a mile west of Washburn (which was still Keetsville then).
A new community grew up next to the railroad stop. It was named O'Day, after John O'Day. He was a lawyer for the railroad. O'Day quickly grew, adding hotels, shops, and even a newspaper. It also had a post office by 1888. Even though O'Day grew, it still relied on nearby Washburn for schools, churches, and social life.
Washburn: One United Community
The community of Washburn, which used to be Keetsville, officially became a town on August 4, 1880. It's not clear if O'Day ever became a separate town. For a while, Washburn and O'Day stayed as two different places.
But in 1892, the O'Day post office closed. The Washburn post office then served both communities. This likely happened because a new public school was built between the two towns. This helped bring them together into one united community.
Businesses in Washburn's Past
After the railroad arrived, many businesses opened in what is now Washburn. Some of these businesses moved from the older Keetsville area. They wanted to be closer to the railroad.
In the early days, before the Civil War, Keetsville had businesses like stores. By 1872, Washburn was a busy place. It had 200 to 300 people living there. There were many general stores, drug stores, and even hotels. There was also a jewelry store and a school.
By 1880, the population grew to 575. More businesses opened, including nurseries and mills. Several newspapers were also published in the Washburn area over the years. These included the O’Day Globe and The Washburn Review.
Public School System
Like many early towns, public education in Washburn probably started in homes or churches. By 1888, people wanted a permanent public school. They voted to build a new brick school building. It was placed between Washburn and O'Day. This spot is still used today by the Southwest R-V School District.
The first school building taught students up to the eighth grade. By 1920, it also offered high school classes. In the early years, there were no school buses. So, children who lived far away went to smaller rural schools. These included schools like Trents Creek and Maple Grove.
A tornado destroyed the first school building in the early 1920s. A new brick building was built in 1924 to replace it. In the 1930s, the Washburn School District started bus service. This brought high school students from the countryside into town. A second story and a gymnasium were added to the 1924 building.
In 1954, the Seligman School District joined with Washburn. This created the current Southwest R-V School District. The smaller rural schools also closed. Younger students were bused to the old high school building in Seligman. The Washburn building became just for high school students.
On March 10, 1964, a heavy snowstorm caused the Seligman elementary school's gym roof to collapse. People in the school district voted to build a new elementary school in Washburn. It was built next to the 1924 high school building. This new elementary school opened on August 22, 1965. It had classrooms, a multipurpose room, a theater, and a cafeteria.
On March 23, 1975, the 1924 high school building caught fire and burned down. A new high school was quickly built and opened the next school year. By 1980, a separate middle school building was added. A new gymnasium was built in 1983. In the early 2000s, a larger, more modern high school was built. The 1975 high school building became the new middle school. The 1965 elementary building and the 1981 middle school building are now used for elementary students.
Washburn Today
Washburn did well for much of the early 1900s. But as more people owned cars, passenger train service stopped in the 1950s. This led to fewer businesses and residents. The main business area, which was once the heart of the O'Day community, slowly declined. Many historic buildings were torn down, including the old train station in the 1960s.
Today, the local school district is the biggest employer in Washburn. There is a bank, a farming supply business, and a few gas stations/convenience stores. Some smaller businesses also operate. These businesses are mostly in the area of the original Keetsville settlement.
A few historic buildings still stand in downtown Washburn. These include the lodge building and the W.B. Adcock's drug store building. This drug store building was once the town's community center. It now houses the town's post office.
Geography
Washburn is located in the southwest part of Barry County. It is on Missouri Route 90, just west of Missouri Route 37. The city of Seligman, Missouri is about 3.5 miles south. Cassville, Missouri is about eight miles northeast.
The United States Census Bureau says that Washburn covers about 0.90 square miles (2.33 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 217 | — | |
| 1970 | 257 | — | |
| 1980 | 289 | 12.5% | |
| 1990 | 362 | 25.3% | |
| 2000 | 448 | 23.8% | |
| 2010 | 435 | −2.9% | |
| 2020 | 407 | −6.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Washburn's Population in 2010
In 2010, the city of Washburn had 435 people living there. There were 178 households, and 110 of these were families. The population density was about 483 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Washburn were White (94%). About 4.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 33.1 years old. About 24.8% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 11% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (47.6%) and females (52.4%).
See also
In Spanish: Washburn (Misuri) para niños
