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Oak Ridge, Missouri facts for kids

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Oak Ridge, Missouri
Nickname(s): 
Lizard Lick
Location of Oak Ridge, Missouri
Location of Oak Ridge, Missouri
Country United States
State Missouri
County Cape Girardeau
Area
 • Total 0.59 sq mi (1.53 km2)
 • Land 0.59 sq mi (1.53 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
610 ft (190 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 237
 • Density 394.25/sq mi (152.15/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
63769
Area code(s) 573
FIPS code 29-53786
GNIS feature ID 0723633

Oak Ridge is a village in the southern part of Apple Creek Township in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 237 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cape GirardeauJackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Name

As the name implies, the village is built on a high ridge, which is a divide between the Apple Creek and Whitewater River watersheds, and surrounded by oak trees. The pioneer mocking name for the settlement was Lizard Lick.

History

Andrew Ramsay and Alexander Giboney settled in the area around Ramsey Creek in 1795. The community of Oak Ridge was organized in 1852 by John M. Wilson who purchased the land at $2.50 per acre and established a store and a bar. The town was named for the natural surroundings. Oak Ridge had a population of about 300 in 1888. A The town is home to a Methodist church and a Baptist church dating from the 1860s, and was once home to a Presbyterian church. The first high school in Southeast Missouri was established in Oak Ridge in 1874.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.57 square miles (1.48 km2), all of it land. The village lies about ten miles northeast of Jackson, Missouri.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 180
1890 111 −38.3%
1900 252 127.0%
1910 256 1.6%
1920 274 7.0%
1930 187 −31.8%
1940 185 −1.1%
1950 202 9.2%
1960 175 −13.4%
1970 181 3.4%
1980 252 39.2%
1990 202 −19.8%
2000 202 0.0%
2010 243 20.3%
2020 237 −2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 243 people, 90 households, and 63 families residing in the village. The population density was 426.3 inhabitants per square mile (164.6/km2). There were 107 housing units at an average density of 187.7 per square mile (72.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 94.24% White, 0.41% Black or African American, 2.47% Native American, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.

There were 90 households, of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.0% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.08.

The median age in the village was 38.2 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 56.0% male and 44.0% female.

Education

The Oak Ridge R-6 School District is a small, public secondary education facility that runs throughout much of northern Cape Girardeau County. With an average yearly enrollment of 350 students in grades K-12, it is one of the smaller public schools in Southeast Missouri. Its school colors are blue and white, and its mascot is the blue jay. Athletics at ORHS consist of boys’ basketball, girls’ volleyball, boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, cross country, and cheerleading.

For adults aged 25 and older in Oak Ridge, 66.9% possess a high school diploma as their highest educational attainment, 15.9% have less than high school and 14.7% possess a bachelor's degree or higher educational degree while 2.5% of the population possesses a post-graduate or professional degree.

See also

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

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