Ellington, Missouri

Ellington is a city in southern Reynolds County, Missouri. It had a population of 987 at the 2010 census, making it the largest city in the county.

History[edit]

The first community to exist in the Ellington area appeared during the 1830s, and was named "Barnesville" after Thomas Barnes, who had recently moved there from North Carolina; it was alternately known as "Logan's Creek" for a small nearby stream. During the Civil War, Union soldiers constructed a small fortification near the settlement, dubbed Fort Barnesville, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The growing town received its present name in 1896, when a post office was established and the new postmaster, M. L. Copeland, named it for his grandmother, Mrs. Ciny Huff Ellington.^[1]

Thanks to the timber industry and some local agriculture, Ellington soon became the most important town in Reynolds County, especially after the Missouri Southern Railroad was built through it in 1907. By 1912 it had several mills and stores, as well as two banks.^[2] Ellington received a dubious honor in 1925, when the infamous "Tri-State Tornado," the deadliest such storm in American history, originated a short distance to the northwest and claimed its first victim nearby (though the town itself was undamaged).^[3] Despite the eventual decline of the timber industry, Ellington has continued to see a general rise in population and continued prosperity, thanks to the recreational draw of nearby Clearwater Lake as well as operations at Sweetwater Lead Mine, which has been in continuous operation since 1987.^[4]

Geography[edit]

Ellington is located in south-central Reynolds County, at the intersection of Missouri State Highways 21 and 106. It is about 16 miles northwest of Piedmont, and 16 miles north-northeast of Van Buren. Its exact coordinates are 37°14’21”N 90°58’11”W.

The city lies in relatively rolling terrain in the southwestern foothills of the St. Francois Mountains, a subdivision of the larger Ozarks Plateau. Logan Creek, for which the town was named at one time, runs through its northern section. It has a total area of 1.38 square miles, and an average elevation of 663 feet.^[5]

Demographics[edit]

At the 2010 census, Ellington had a total of 987 inhabitants, grouped into 407 households, with a population density of 715.2 people per square mile. This figure represented a moderate decrease from the 2000 census, when Ellington had a population of 1,045. 98.38% of the inhabitants were White, 0.20% were African-American, 0.41% were Native American, 0.20% were Asian, and 0.81% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 1.11% of the population.

The median age in Ellington was 37.1 years, with 27.8% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.4% between 18 and 24 years old, 23.1% between 25 and 44, 24.2% between 45 and 64, and 16.7% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 45.8% male, 54.2% female.^[6]

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Ellington had a median household income of $31,953, and a median family income of $42,083. The unemployment rate was 7.7%. The per capita income was $19,854. About 27.6% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 42.9% of people under the age of 18 and 15.2% of people 65 years old or older.^[7]

Education[edit]

The Southern Reynolds R-II School District, serving the surrounding area, is based in Ellington, consisting of Southern Elementary (PK-5) and Southern High School (6-12), with a total enrollment of about 500 students.^[8] Its mascot is the Whippets, and the school colors are orange, black, and white.^[9] The high school is notable for its boys' and girls' basketball teams, which have won a number of district championships in recent years.

Community Life[edit]

Ellington is in close proximity to Clearwater Lake and Dam, the Current River Conservation Area, and Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park. Many of its businesses cater to campers and tourists taking advantage of these and other natural preserves. The TransAmerica Trail, a cross-country bicycling route stretching from Virginia to Oregon, passes through the city, which opened a bike hostel for riders in 2014. Ellington is also home to the Reynolds County Fair, held every September.^[10]

The 21 Drive In, one of only 13 drive-in movie theaters still operating in Missouri, is about 15 miles south of Ellington on Highway 21.

References[edit]