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Kearney, Missouri facts for kids

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City of Kearney
Location of Kearney within Missouri
Location of Kearney within Missouri
Country United States
State Missouri
County Clay
Settled 1856
Incorporated 1869
Area
 • Total 13.34 sq mi (34.55 km2)
 • Land 13.33 sq mi (34.53 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
853 ft (260 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 10,404
 • Estimate 
(2019)
10,858
 • Density 814.37/sq mi (314.44/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
64060
Area code(s) 816
FIPS code 29-38072
GNIS feature ID 0730123
Website http://www.ci.kearney.mo.us

Kearney is a city in Clay County, Missouri, United States. The population per the 2020 U.S. Census was 10,404. The city was the birthplace of Jesse James, and there is an annual festival in the third weekend of September to recognize the outlaw. It is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

History

Kearney was unofficially founded in the spring of 1856 by David T. Duncan and W. R. Cave, and was originally called Centerville. Centerville was composed of what is now the southeastern portion of the town. In 1867, John Lawrence began laying out plans for another small settlement around the newly established Kansas City and Cameron Railroad subsidiary of the Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad which was to build the Hannibal Bridge establishing Kansas City, Missouri as the dominant city in the region. The president of the railroad was Charles E. Kearney (although there is speculation that it was named after Kearney, Nebraska). The railroad still operates as the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. As they grew, the two settlements of Centerville and Kearney were effectively merged, and the town of Kearney, Missouri was officially incorporated in 1869.

The Claybrook House and James Brothers' House and Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Kearney is located at 39°21′57″N 94°21′37″W / 39.36583°N 94.36028°W / 39.36583; -94.36028 (39.365845, -94.360239). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.92 square miles (33.46 km2), of which, 12.91 square miles (33.44 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 396
1880 464 17.2%
1890 588 26.7%
1900 621 5.6%
1910 631 1.6%
1920 625 −1.0%
1930 523 −16.3%
1940 543 3.8%
1950 570 5.0%
1960 678 18.9%
1970 984 45.1%
1980 1,433 45.6%
1990 1,790 24.9%
2000 5,472 205.7%
2010 8,381 53.2%
2019 (est.) 10,858 29.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,381 people, 2,978 households, and 2,270 families living in the city. The population density was 649.2 inhabitants per square mile (250.7/km2). There were 3,120 housing units at an average density of 241.7 per square mile (93.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 2,978 households, of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.8% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.23.

The median age in the city was 33.2 years. 32% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.6% were from 25 to 44; 21.4% were from 45 to 64; and 9.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

Jesse James

Jesse-james-farm
Jesse James's Farm

On September 5, 1847, Jesse James was born on the James farm, where his family resided to the northeast of the site where Kearney would eventually be established. James formed the infamous James-Younger gang in 1866, which operated until the Younger brothers were captured in 1876. James formed a new gang in 1879 and continued until his death on April 3, 1882, when he was shot by fellow gang-member Robert Ford. He was buried on his farm, but now rests in Mt Olivet Cemetery in Kearney.

Education

Kearney R-I School District operates an early childhood center, four elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high, and Kearney High School.

Kearney has a public library, a branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library.

Notable person

Jesse-james-farm
Jesse James's Farm

On September 5, 1847, Jesse James was born on the James farm, where his family resided to the northeast of the site on which Kearney would eventually be established. James formed the infamous James-Younger gang in 1866, which operated until the Younger brothers were captured in 1876. James formed a new gang in 1879 and continued until his death on April 3, 1882, when he was shot by fellow gang-member Robert Ford. He was buried on his farm, but now rests in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kearney.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kearney (Misuri) para niños

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