Monett, Missouri

Monett, Missouri
City
Historic downtown Monett, at 5th and Broadway
Motto(s): Pride & Progress

Location of Monett, Missouri
Country United States
State Missouri
Counties Barry, Lawrence
Township Monett, Pierce
Founded 1870
Incorporated 1887
Government
  Mayor Mike Brownsberger[1]
Area
  Total 8.45 sq mi (21.89 km2)
  Land 8.43 sq mi (21.83 km2)
  Water 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation 1,378 ft (420 m)
Population (2010)[2]
  Total 8,873
  Estimate (2016) 9,027
  Density 1,100/sq mi (410/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code 65708
Area code(s) 417

Monett is a city in Monett Township in Barry County and Pierce Township in Lawrence County, Missouri, United States. It is the most populous city in Barry and Lawrence Counties, and the 83rd most populous in the State of Missouri. The city is located in the Ozarks just south of I-44 between Joplin and Springfield Missouri. The population was 8,873 at the 2010 census. The population is estimated to have been 9,027 in 2016.

History

Settlement: 1870-1887

Monett was created as a railroad town by the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway ("Frisco Line") which came through in 1870 and would build branch going off the main line to Paris, Texas. Both lines are still in existence and operated by the BNSF Railway. During this time the area went through several names including Kings Prairie Depot, Plymouth, Plymouth Junction (when the southern branch was built in 1880), Gonten (named for the local post master because the Post Service said there were other Plymouths); and finally Monett in 1887 when the area was formally platted and the Monett name was applied to the post office.[3] It was named for Henry Monett who was a popular general station agent for various railroads including the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad ("Nickel Plate Railroad") before becoming an agent for the New York Central Railroad shortly before his death at the age of 35 in 1888.[4][5][6][7]

The community was very much noted for being a rail town and had a Harvey House operating at the Frisco train station from 1896 until 1930.[8] The community in the Ozark Mountains also had a thriving fruit business and was nicknamed the "Strawberry Capital of the Midwest."[9] The Ozark Fruit Growers Association building (built in 1927) which is part of the Downtwon Monett Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places.

WPA mural, Products of Missouri by James McCreery, in Monnett post office

The David W. Courdin House, Downtown Monett Historic District, and Waldensian Church and Cemetery of Stone Prairie are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10][11]

20th century

The population had reached 4,177 by 1910[12], thanks in large part to the railroad and its roundhouse. By 1937 A promotional pamphlet reported one out of eight people in Monett worked for the railroad. In a post-war industrialization effort, the Monett Industrial Development Corporation brought light industry to the town further diversifying the local and broader economy.[13] This diversification nearly doubled the population during the century to 7,396 by 2000.

21st century

Today, Monett is enjoying a renaissance, particularly in it's historic downtown area. Through a combination of private investment and public resources, numerous restoration and revitalization projects have been undertaken in the historic downtown to restore its architectural quality, upgrade the infrastructure, drive local business success and improve the quality of life.

In 2018 Missouri Governor Eric Greitens and Senator Roy Blunt announced an "Opportunity Zone" in Monett, allocating state and federal tax incentives for businesses that invest in the area's designated.[14] 2018 also saw Monett adopt the Complete streets policy, the 39th city in Missouri to do so. [15]

Geography

Monett is located at 36°55′25″N 93°55′20″W / 36.92361°N 93.92222°W / 36.92361; -93.92222 (36.923725, -93.922332).[16]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.45 square miles (21.89 km2), of which 8.43 square miles (21.83 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[17]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.
18901,699
19003,11583.3%
19104,17734.1%
19204,2060.7%
19304,099−2.5%
19404,3957.2%
19504,7718.6%
19605,35912.3%
19705,93710.8%
19806,1483.6%
19906,5296.2%
20007,39613.3%
20108,87320.0%
Est. 20169,027[2]1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[18] of 2010, there were 8,873 people, 3,405 households, and 2,282 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,052.6 inhabitants per square mile (406.4/km2). There were 3,828 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile (175.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.8% White, 0.8% African American, 0.9% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.0% of the population.

There were 3,405 households of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 34 years. 27.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 22.1% were from 45 to 64; and 14.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 7,396 people, 2,904 households, and 1,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,136.2 people per square mile (438.6/km²). There were 3,130 housing units at an average density of 480.8/sq mi (185.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.45% White, 2.00% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 7.82% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races.

There were 2,904 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,764, and the median income for a family was $36,858. Males had a median income of $26,150 versus $18,211 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,048. About 9.2% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Monett's economy is based on manufacturing, financial services & software, retail, & education. The town has seen rapid growth over the last two decades. In March 2006, a Lowe's opened up in addition to several new shopping centers. This community is driven primarily by its industrial sector. Several key businesses in town include Jack Henry & Associates, Tyson Foods, Hydro Aluminum, International Dehydrated Foods, Miracle, Architectural Systems Inc., EFCO, and WinTech.

More recently, heavy investment into Monett's Historical Downtown has brought new life to many businesses, and the area's cultural scene.

Monett is a part of the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG) providing urban planning and economic development resources for the ten county region around the Springfield metropolitan area, Missouri.[20]

Transportation

Highways

Monett is at the cross roads of US 60 and Highway 37 connecting the town to Interstate 44 and the metropolitan areas of Joplin, Springfield, and Northwest Arkansas

Airport

The Monett Municipal Airport (HFJ) is a public use airport, registering 18,100 aircraft operations annually in 2008. The Airport ranked 9th in the latest economic impact study conducted by the Missouri Department of Transportation, with a total output of 13.1 million dollars annually.[21]

Trains

Monett was once an important depot used by the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway, but today is served by The BNSF Railway and Arkansas and Missouri Railroad.

Education

Public

Monett is part of the Monett R-1 School District. The district has the following schools:

  • Monett High School
  • Scott Regional Technology Center
  • Monett Middle School
  • Monett Intermediate School
  • Central Park Elementary
  • Monett Elementary
  • Oakview School K-12

Private

  • Berean Christian Academy
  • St. Lawrence Catholic Elementary

Higher education

Downtown Monett is home to a satellite campus of Drury University.

Monett has a public library, a branch of the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library.[22]

Culture

Southwest Missouri is a close collection of cities, towns, and communities in the heart of the Ozarks between the metros of Joplin and Springfield, MO and the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers area.

Entertainment and performing arts

  • Performing Arts Center (Also known as the PAC) host's performances by the Community Theatre.

Sports

  • From 1936-1939 The Monett Red Birds played in the Arkansas-Missouri League, a minor league for the St. Louis Cardinals.
  • Monett High School plays within the Big 8 Conference
  • As a program, in 2018, the Monett High School Football team was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, for being one of the most successful football programs in state history from 1927 to the present day. The program has won three state championships, 1971, 1977, and 2016, along with 12 conference championships and 13 district titles since the state implemented a structured post-season.

Media

Newspapers

Radio

  • KKBL, 95.9 FM - Adult Contemporary/News

Magazines

  • "Connection"- A magazine dedicated to Southwest Missourians

Notable people

  • Murray Bishoff - 1980 Inkpot award winner and journalist at the Monett Times
  • Ginny Duenkel - Known by her married name, Ginny Fuldner, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist and former Olympic record holder.
  • Phil Mulkey - American track and field athlete.
  • Sally Shelton-Colby - American diplomat, U.S. Ambassador to Barbados, Grenada and Dominica.
  • Howard F. Stone - Retired Lieutenant General in the United States Army.
  • Titanic Thompson - Infamous American gambler, golfer, & hustler.
  • Jack Henry - Founder of the "14th largest provider of information technology services to the financial services industry worldwide", Jack Henry & Associates. Headquartered in Monett, MO

Climate

Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).[23]

Climate data for Monett, Missouri
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 8
(46)
10
(50)
14
(57)
22
(71)
26
(78)
30
(86)
32
(90)
32
(90)
28
(83)
23
(73)
15
(59)
9
(49)
21
(69)
Average low °C (°F) −5
(23)
−3
(26)
0
(32)
7
(45)
13
(55)
17
(63)
20
(68)
18
(65)
14
(58)
8
(47)
2
(35)
−3
(27)
7
(45)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 38
(1.5)
56
(2.2)
81
(3.2)
107
(4.2)
124
(4.9)
119
(4.7)
91
(3.6)
71
(2.8)
107
(4.2)
80
(3)
66
(2.6)
66
(2.6)
1,001
(39.4)
Average precipitation days 5 6 8 9 9 8 7 7 6 6 7 6 84
Source: Weatherbase [24]

References

  1. "Mayor & Council". Welcome to the City of Monett. City of Monett. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cappscreek/monettnames.html
  4. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7518073/charles_monett_obituary_oct_10_1888/
  5. "Barry County Place Names, 1928-1945 (archived)". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  6. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 206.
  7. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  8. http://www.harveyhouses.net/states/missouri/mohouses.html
  9. http://www.monett-mo.com/history.html
  10. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  11. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/16/14 through 6/27/14. National Park Service. 2014-07-03.
  12. http://population.us/mo/monett/
  13. https://www.monett-times.com/story/2139001.html
  14. https://ded.mo.gov/content/opportunity-zones
  15. http://mobikefed.org/2018/03/monett-becomes-39th-missouri-community-complete-streets-policy
  16. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  17. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  18. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  19. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  20. Springfield metropolitan area, Missouri
  21. http://www.modot.org/othertransportation/aviation/2012study.htm
  22. "Locations". Barry-Lawrence Regional Library. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  23. Climate Summary for Monett, Missouri
  24. "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2013. Retrieved on August 16, 2013.
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