Piedmont, Missouri

Piedmont is a city in western Wayne County, Missouri. It is the largest city in the county, with a population of 1,977 at the 2010 census. The community takes its name, meaning "foot of the mountain," from its proximity to Clark Mountain to the north.

History[edit]

The first settlement in the Piedmont area was made in the mid-19th century by one James Daniels and his family, from which it was originally known as "Danielsville." In 1871, however, the Missouri Pacific Railroad built a line through the region, and gave it its present name, as it lay near the foot of Clark Mountain.^[1] Owing to the business provided by the railroad, the town grew rapidly, despite the setback of a highly destructive fire in 1888, and by the early 20th century there were multiple banks and a weekly newspaper, among other businesses.^[2] Further growth was provided by the construction of Clearwater Lake on the Black River nearby in the 1940s. Though Piedmont has declined somewhat since the 1980s, the recreational activities provided by the lake and the local mountains continue to provide a boost to the town's economy.

Geography[edit]

Piedmont is located at the junction of Missouri State Highways 34 and 49 in western Wayne County, about four miles east of Clearwater Lake and 13 miles west-northwest of Greenville. Its exact coordinates are 37°09’14”N 90°41’45”W.

Clark Mountain, from which the city takes its name, rises to a peak of about 1,440 feet some two miles northeast of Piedmont. It is often classed as a part of the St. Francois Mountain range.^[3] The city itself is laid out within a narrow valley along McKenzie Creek, a tributary of the Black River. It has a total area of 2.14 square miles, and an average elevation of 495 feet.^[4]

Demographics[edit]

At the 2010 census, Piedmont had a total of 1,977 inhabitants, grouped into 823 households, with a population density of 923.8 people per square mile. This figure marked a slight decrease from the 2000 census, when Piedmont had a population of 1,992. 96.46% of the inhabitants were White, 0.51% were African-American, 0.25% were Native American, 0.96% were Asian, 0.76% were from some other race, and 1.06% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 1.42% of the population.

The median age in Piedmont was 42.9 years, with 22.4% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 9.2% between 18 and 24 years old, 21.3% between 25 and 44, 25.9% between 45 and 64, and 21.1% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 46.1% male, 53.9% female.^[5]

According to the 2017 American Community Survey, Piedmont had a median household income of $31,417, and a median family income of $36,106. The unemployment rate was 5.6%. The per capita income was $20,137. About 27.8% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 31.2% of people under the age of 18 and 21.4% of people 65 years old or older.^[6]

Education[edit]

The city and most of western Wayne County are served by the Clearwater R-I School District, a PK-12 public institution based in the city with an enrollment of about 1,000 students. Its mascot is the Tigers, and the school colors are orange and black.^[7]

There is also one private school, the Victory Baptist Academy, serving grades PK-12. In addition, the city is home to the Piedmont Public Library, the only such institution in the county.

References[edit]