Nevada, Missouri | |
|---|---|
 Location withinVernon County andMissouri | |
| Coordinates:37°50′18″N94°21′23″W / 37.83833°N 94.35639°W /37.83833; -94.35639 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Vernon |
| Area | |
• Total | 9.06 sq mi (23.47 km2) |
| • Land | 8.98 sq mi (23.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.077 sq mi (0.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 863 ft (263 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,212 |
| • Density | 914.0/sq mi (352.88/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 64772 |
| Area code | 417 |
| FIPS code | 29-51644[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395179[2] |
| Website | http://nevadamo.gov/ |
Nevada (/nɪˈveɪdə/niv-AY-də) is a city in and the county seat ofVernon County,Missouri, United States.[4] The population was 8,212 at the 2020 census.[5] The local government has acouncil-manager model.
When French explorers entered the region in the late 17th century, they encountered the indigenousOsage people, who controlled a vast area extending west from present-daySaint Louis, including territories now within several states. TheOsage Village State Historic Site, formerly known as the Carrington Osage Village Site, is located on a hilltop above theOsage River valley. Archeological evidence shows an Osage band that lived there had nearly 200 lodges and an estimated population of 2,000 to 3,000; they occupied the area from about 1700–1775. They were the most influential people in the region and were integral to thefur trade.
After the United States acquired the territory west of the Mississippi River in theLouisiana Purchase, through the rest of the 19th century, it gradually forced the Osage to cede their lands andremove toIndian Territory. This site has been designated as aNational Historic Landmark for its significance to theOsage people and American history.
Nevada was originally called "Hog Eye" by European-American settlers, and under that name wasplatted in 1855.[6] The town's name was changed to Nevada by circuit and county clerk DeWitt C. Hunter, afterNevada City, California, where he had been a gold miner.[7]
From 1897 to 1933, Nevada was home to theWeltmer Institute of Suggestive Therapeutics, founded bySidney Abram Weltmer and Joseph H. Kelly. Weltmer bought a 17-room mansion, built in 1886 by Frank P. Anderson, a successful railroad builder.[8] They wanted a facility large enough so that they could have patients stay for extended periods in a kind of boarding house. During the early 20th century, this healing institute attracted thousands of clients who believed in Weltmer's cures by mental healing. People paid $100 to stay for a 10-day course of treatment. They also paid for instructional classes. The institute also conducted a large mail-order business for classes and a kind of treatment by mail. It held lectures attracting several hundred people at a time.[9]
The Institute attracted so many clients that the railroad added new trains to its schedule serving the town.[10] In addition, the volume of mail associated with the institute's business resulted in the post office being classified as first class, and the government building a new, larger post office to handle it.[8][10] The Weltmer Institute became the center of associated wellness systems and practitioners in town, which increased in prosperity.[8] It attracted clairvoyants and psychotherapists, emerging as a new profession. It also attracted people promising various types of miracle cures[9] for such illnesses astuberculosis, which then had no cure.
In the early 20th century, the town attracted many enthusiasts of what was known as the New Thought Movement. In 1905 the Weltmer Auditorium was the site of the Fifth Annual Convention of the New Thought Federation, held on September 26–29, 1905. Ernest Weltmer, the eldest son of Sidney A. Weltmer, was Secretary of the Federation and helped open the convention. Among the several speakers from across the country wasGrace Mann Brown, and entertainment was provided by singers including the Weltmer Quartette.[11] Mrs. Brown served as President of the Federation the following year. In 1916, New Thought followers returned to Nevada for the second International Conference of the movement, and Sidney A. Weltmer was among the speakers.[10]
After Weltmer's death and the institute's closure in 1933, the mansion was sold for use as a funeral home. By late 2004, the building was slated for demolition to redevelop the site. Although some residents were interested in its history and the Weltmer Institute, the building was never nominated as a significant historic building or classified for preservation. The City Council approved it being scheduled to be demolished in late 2004 for other development.[8][needs update]
Significant historic properties in Nevada include theInfirmary Building, Missouri State Hospital Number 3,Vernon County Courthouse, andVernon County Jail, Sheriff's House and Office, which are also listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[12]
On April 2, 2025, an EF1 tornado struck the city, damaging homes and other buildings in Nevada.[13]
Nevada is located in central Vernon County at the intersection of US routes71 and54.[14]I-49 runs through Nevada concurrent with US 71.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.06 square miles (23.47 km2), of which 8.98 square miles (23.26 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) is water.[15]
| Climate data for Nevada Water Plant, Missouri (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1898–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) | 82 (28) | 90 (32) | 95 (35) | 98 (37) | 106 (41) | 117 (47) | 114 (46) | 109 (43) | 96 (36) | 85 (29) | 78 (26) | 117 (47) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 65.6 (18.7) | 69.9 (21.1) | 78.5 (25.8) | 83.7 (28.7) | 88.1 (31.2) | 93.6 (34.2) | 97.9 (36.6) | 98.4 (36.9) | 93.5 (34.2) | 85.8 (29.9) | 74.6 (23.7) | 67.0 (19.4) | 99.5 (37.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41.5 (5.3) | 46.6 (8.1) | 56.6 (13.7) | 66.6 (19.2) | 75.3 (24.1) | 84.4 (29.1) | 88.7 (31.5) | 88.0 (31.1) | 80.3 (26.8) | 69.3 (20.7) | 56.2 (13.4) | 45.3 (7.4) | 66.6 (19.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.5 (−0.3) | 36.0 (2.2) | 45.7 (7.6) | 55.7 (13.2) | 65.1 (18.4) | 74.3 (23.5) | 78.5 (25.8) | 77.3 (25.2) | 69.3 (20.7) | 57.8 (14.3) | 45.7 (7.6) | 35.7 (2.1) | 56.1 (13.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.5 (−5.8) | 25.5 (−3.6) | 34.9 (1.6) | 44.7 (7.1) | 54.9 (12.7) | 64.3 (17.9) | 68.4 (20.2) | 66.6 (19.2) | 58.3 (14.6) | 46.2 (7.9) | 35.2 (1.8) | 26.2 (−3.2) | 45.6 (7.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 4.3 (−15.4) | 9.0 (−12.8) | 17.6 (−8.0) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 41.2 (5.1) | 53.7 (12.1) | 60.4 (15.8) | 57.4 (14.1) | 43.9 (6.6) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 19.8 (−6.8) | 9.7 (−12.4) | 0.9 (−17.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) | −27 (−33) | −9 (−23) | 15 (−9) | 27 (−3) | 42 (6) | 44 (7) | 43 (6) | 25 (−4) | 18 (−8) | 0 (−18) | −25 (−32) | −27 (−33) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.77 (45) | 2.07 (53) | 3.41 (87) | 5.20 (132) | 6.77 (172) | 5.35 (136) | 4.74 (120) | 3.83 (97) | 4.60 (117) | 3.45 (88) | 3.06 (78) | 2.22 (56) | 46.47 (1,180) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.5 (6.4) | 1.5 (3.8) | 0.7 (1.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 1.5 (3.8) | 6.4 (16) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 6.8 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 10.5 | 11.7 | 10.2 | 9.0 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 8.7 | 7.8 | 6.2 | 101.6 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 5.2 |
| Source:NOAA[16][17] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,913 | — | |
| 1890 | 7,262 | 279.6% | |
| 1900 | 7,461 | 2.7% | |
| 1910 | 7,176 | −3.8% | |
| 1920 | 7,139 | −0.5% | |
| 1930 | 7,448 | 4.3% | |
| 1940 | 8,181 | 9.8% | |
| 1950 | 8,009 | −2.1% | |
| 1960 | 8,416 | 5.1% | |
| 1970 | 9,736 | 15.7% | |
| 1980 | 9,044 | −7.1% | |
| 1990 | 8,597 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,607 | 0.1% | |
| 2010 | 8,386 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 8,212 | −2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18] | |||
The2020 United States census[19] counted 8,212 people, 3,676 households, and 1,933 families in Nevada. The population density was 914.5 per square mile (352.9/km2). There were 4,297 housing units at an average density of 478.5 per square mile (184.7/km2). The racial makeup was 88.92% (7,302)white, 1.19% (98)black or African-American, 1.06% (87)Native American, 0.68% (56)Asian, 0.11% (9)Pacific Islander, 1.57% (129) fromother races, and 6.47% (531) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race was 2.3% (187) of the population.
Of the 3,676 households, 20.7% had children under the age of 18; 38.3% were married couples living together; 42.5% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 39.6% consisted of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 2.8.
20.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 81.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 75.1 males.
The 2016-2020 5-yearAmerican Community Survey[20] estimates show that the median household income was $37,451 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,204) and the median family income was $50,920 (+/- $11,441). Males had a median income of $30,625 (+/- $9,230) versus $24,931 (+/- $5,327) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,080 (+/- $3,745). Approximately, 10.2% of families and 19.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 29.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.7% of those ages 65 or over.
As of thecensus[21] of 2010, there were 8,386 people, 3,491 households, and 1,908 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 933.9 inhabitants per square mile (360.6/km2). There were 4,018 housing units at an average density of 447.4 per square mile (172.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1%White, 1.1%African American, 0.8%Native American, 0.8%Asian, 0.6% fromother races, and 1.6% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.0% of the population.
There were 3,491 households, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% weremarried couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.3% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16, and the average family size was 2.88.
The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 23.3% of residents were under 18; 11.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.3% male and 54.7% female.
As of thecensus[3] of 2000, there were 8,607 people, 3,463 households, and 1,973 families living in the city. The population density was 964.1 inhabitants per square mile (372.2/km2). There were 3,857 housing units at an average density of 432.0 per square mile (166.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.79%White, 1.03%African American, 0.94%Native American, 0.44%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 0.49% fromother races, and 1.25% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 3,463 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% weremarried couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22, and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,774, and the median income for a family was $36,639. Males had a median income of $28,939 versus $17,424 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $15,118. About 13.7% of families and 20.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
Public education in Nevada is administered by the Nevada R-V School District, which operatesNevada High School.[22]
Nevada has a lending library, the Nevada Public Library.[23]
Nevada is home toCottey College which is a private women's college. It was founded by Virginia Alice (Cottey) Stockard in 1884. Since 1927 it has been owned and supported by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic women's organization based inDes Moines, Iowa. It was founded as a preparatory school for girls and women, and by 1932 was a two-year liberal arts college. In 2011, it achieved accreditation as a four-year baccalaureate-granting college.
Nevada also has a Crowder College Branch.[24]
Intercity bus service to the city is provided byJefferson Lines.[25]
Nevada is served byUS 71 and54 along withI-49. I-49 runs concurrent with US 71.
Municipalities and communities ofVernon County, Missouri,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
