Annapolis, Missouri

Annapolis is a city in southern Iron County, Missouri. It had a population of 345 at the 2010 census.

History[edit]

American pioneers had started to move into the Annapolis area by the 1850s. Most were from states of the Upper South such as Kentucky and Tennessee, though there were also a few immigrants from Germany and Sweden. The area initially bore multiple names, including Big Lick and Jackson's Mill, but no organized community existed until the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad was extended through the region in 1871. That same year, Thomas Allen, an official with the railroad, laid out the town and gave it its current name. According to some accounts, Allen named it in honor of his wife, Anna; others suggest that it took its name from Annapolis, Maryland. It is possible that both versions are correct.^[1]

The town initially boomed from the presence of the railroad and from the construction of multiple sawmills in the area to feed the timber industry, rising to a population of nearly 700 by 1890; however, it soon declined sharply as the timber nearby was exhausted, and its fortunes fluctuated thereafter. Annapolis was one of the first communities struck by the Tri-State Tornado of 1925, in which two locals were killed and 90% of the town suffered damage, but it quickly rebuilt.^[2] Another setback came with the closing of the local railroad depot in 1969. However, timber harvesting continues to be an important occupation, providing jobs and money for the town's economy.^[3]

Geography[edit]

Annapolis is located along Missouri State Highway 49 in southern Iron County, about 16 miles southwest of Ironton and 13 miles north of Piedmont. Its exact coordinates are 37°21’36”N 90°41’50”W.

The city lies within a shallow valley created by Big Creek, a tributary of the St. Francis River, which flows along Annapolis' southwestern boundary. It has a total area of 0.37 square miles, and an average elevation of 653 feet.^[4]

Demographics[edit]

At the 2010 census, Annapolis had a total of 345 inhabitants, grouped into 155 households, with a population density of 958.3 people per square mile. This figure represented a significant increase from the 2000 census, when Annapolis had a population of 310. 99.13% of the inhabitants were White, 0.29% were Native American, 0.29% were from some other race, and 0.29% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 0.87% of the population.

The median age in Annapolis was 40.2 years, with 24.9% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.4% between 18 and 24 years old, 23.4% between 25 and 44, 24.3% between 45 and 64, and 18.8% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 45.8% male, 54.2% female.^[5]

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Annapolis had a median household income of $36,786, and a median family income of $40,000. The unemployment rate was 15.0%. The per capita income was $22,058. About 22.6% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 27.9% of people under the age of 18 and 21.5% of people 65 years old or older.^[6]

Education[edit]

Annapolis and the southern part of Iron County are served by the South Iron County R-I School District, based in Annapolis, a PK-12 public institution with a total enrollment of around 275 students.^[7] Its mascot is the Panthers, and the school colors are black, white and red.^[8]

Community Life[edit]

The South Iron Community Betterment Association is responsible for many local activities in the Annapolis area. Especially important is the annual "Freedom Fest," a celebration typically held the weekend before Columbus Day that features a parade and flag-raising ceremony, together with games, live music, a quilt raffle, and a car show.^[9] In December, the association also organizes a Christmas lighting contest and a "holiday bazaar."

References[edit]