Warrensburg was founded in 1835 by European-American settlers John and Martin D. Warren, who gave the town their last name.[5] A post office called Warrensburg has been in operation since 1837.[6]
The phrase "Man's best friend" is based on a famous trial over the killing of Old Drum, a dog that was shot in Warrensburg.[citation needed] In 1958, a statue of Old Drum was erected on the Johnson County Courthouse lawn containing a summation of US Senator George G. Vest's closing speech, “A man’s best friend is his dog.”[7][8]
The2020 United States census[12] counted 20,313 people, 7,398 households, and 3,418 families in Warrensburg. The population density was 2,054.9 inhabitants per square mile (793.4/km2). The 8,202 housing units had an average density of 871.6 per square mile (336.5/km2). Theracial makeup was 79.07% White, 7.78% African American, 0.55% Native American or Alaska Native, 2.7% Asian, 0.58% Pacific Islander, 1.41% from other races, and 7.92% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race was 4.5% of the population.
Of the 7,398 households, 24.7% had children under 18, 33.7% were married couples living together, 34.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were individuals living alone, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.1.
The city's age distribution was 19.1% under 18, 33.6% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 24.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 96.2 males.
The 2016-2020 five-yearAmerican Community Survey[13] estimates show that the median household income was $48,306 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,061) and the median family income was $73,995 (+/- $4,609). Males had a median income of $23,972 (+/- $2,489) versus $14,801 (+/- $2,763) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $18,108 (+/- $3,142). About 7.7% of families and 22.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.2% of those under 18 and 12.8% of those 65 or over.
As of the 2010census,[14] 18,838 people, 6,803 households, and 3,400 families were living in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,128.6 inhabitants per square mile (821.9/km2). The 7,450 housing units had an average density of 841.8 per square mile (325.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.3% White, 7.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.1% of the population.
Of the 6,803 households, 26.5% had children under 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.0% were not families. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.96.
The median age in the city was 23.7 years. The age distribution was 17.6% under 18, 36.2% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44; 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.
As of the 2000census,[3] 16,340 people, 5,951 households, and 3,035 families were living in the city. The population density was 1,938.5 inhabitants per square mile (748.5/km2). There were 6,380 housing units at an average density of 756.9 per square mile (292.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.09% White, 6.46% African American, 0.64% Native American, 2.79% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.44% of the population.
Of the3,951 households, 26.6% had children under 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples]living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% were not families. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the age distribution was 18.0% under 18, 36.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,332, and for a family was $45,845. Males had a median income of $30,354 versus $22,154 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $14,714. About 13.6% of families and 24.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Public elementary and secondary schools in Warrensburg are part of the Warrensburg R-VI School District. The district includes four elementary schools for grades preschool through fifth grade. Maple Grove and Ridgeview Elementary schools are for grades preschool through second grade while Martin Warren and Sterling elementary schools house students in grades three through five. Warrensburg Middle School serves students in grades six through eight andWarrensburg High School is for grades nine through 12. The district also operates the Reese Education Center, which houses the Gateway Alternative School and the district's special needs and gifted education programs. The Warrensburg Area Career Center specializes invocational education for high school-aged students in Warrensburg and Johnson County.[15]
The city is also home of theUniversity of Central Missouri (UCM), known as Central Missouri State University until 2006. The university offers programs in 150 areas of study and serves around 12,500 students as of 2014.
Warrensburg has twopublic libraries, one of them a branch of the Trails Regional Library,[16] and the other, the James C. Kirkpatrick Library, in the University of Central Missouri.[17]
Route 13 - or Maguire Street, essentially divides the town in half though Old Highway 13 or Holden Street forms the division between east and west. This is a highway linking Warrensburg toInterstate 70 to the north, andTruman Lake to the south.
KMOS-TV (PBS), PBS 6.1, CREATE CHANNEL 6.2 and PBS WORLD 6.3. The city of license is Sedalia, MO. The offices and studios are located on the campus of UCM in Warrensburg.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.92 square miles (23.10 km2), of which 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2) (or about 45 acres) is covered by water.[19]