Malden, Missouri

Malden is a city in northern Dunklin County, Missouri. It is the second-largest community in the county, with a population of 4,275 at the 2010 census.

History[edit]

A trading post was established a few miles north of what became Malden about 1850. It was dubbed "Cotton Hill," as cotton was grown on the low sandy ridge that ran through this part of the county. When the Little River Valley and Arkansas Railroad was routed through northern Dunklin County in 1877, it passed to the south of Cotton Hill, whose buildings were then relocated alongside the railroad. There are two competing theories for how Malden received its name; one, that it was named in honor of Colonel T. H. Mauldin, a respected local landowner and Stoddard County court judge; two, that it was laid out by a native of Malden, Massachusetts. Historians have tended to favor the latter theory as the spellings are more compatible; however, neither explanation is foolproof.^[1] Another local explanation is that one of the town organizers was told to name it Malden in a dream. The city was officially incorporated on April 22, 1878.^[2]

The city suffered a serious setback with the outbreak of a devastating fire in January 1899, but it quickly rebuilt and prospered, thanks largely to the especially fertile soil in the vicinity that supported the growing of cotton, corn, and melons and other fruit. Fruit-growing continues to be an important part of the local economy today.

Geography[edit]

Malden is located near the intersection of Missouri State Highway 25 and U.S. Route 62 in northeastern Dunklin County, adjacent to the border with New Madrid County. It lies about seven miles south of Bernie, and 22 miles north of Kennett. Its exact coordinates are 36°34’19”N 89°58’16”W.

The city has a total land area of 7.53 square miles, and an average elevation of 292 feet.^[3] It lies on the Mississippi Alluvial Plain a few miles east of Crowley's Ridge, but is slightly higher in elevation than the surrounding bottomland, owing to the presence of the sand ridge which makes the area good for agriculture.

Malden, like the rest of Southeast Missouri, has a humid subtropical climate, with cool winters, hot summers, and moderate-to-high rainfall. The average temperature is 34°F in January and 80°F in July, and the average annual rainfall is 45 inches. Snowfall averages less than 3 inches per year.^[4]

Demographics[edit]

At the 2010 census, Malden had a total of 4,275 inhabitants, grouped into 1,780 households, with a population density of 567.7 people per square mile. This figure represented a significant decrease from the 2000 census, when Malden had a population of 4,782. 71.35% of the inhabitants were White, 25.12% were African-American, 0.28% were Native American, 0.35% were Asian, 0.94% were from some other race, and 1.96% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 1.92% of the population.

The median age in Malden was 39.4 years, with 25.1% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 9.3% between 18 and 24 years old, 22.7% between 25 and 44, 25.6% between 45 and 64, and 17.2% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 46.5% male, 53.5% female.^[5]

According to the 2017 American Community Survey, the median household income in Malden was $31,210, and the median family income was $36,363. The unemployment rate was 4.9%. The per capita income was $17,508. About 19.6% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 23.0% of people under the age of 18 and 20.6% of people 65 years old or older.^[6]

Education[edit]

Malden and the surrounding area are served by the Malden R-I School District, a PK-12 school district with an enrollment of just over 1,000 students. Its mascot is the Green Wave, and the school colors are green and gold.

The school has had notable academic and athletic achievements in recent years, with its baseball, football, and boys' track programs frequently competing in the state championships. It had the highest test scores on the Missouri Assessment Program of any school in the region during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Southeast Missouri State University (based in Cape Girardeau) and Three Rivers Community College (based in Poplar Bluff) formerly maintained satellite campuses in Malden; these were discontinued in 2018, however.^[7]

Community Life[edit]

Agriculture, transportation, and light manufacturing have traditionally been the main pillars of the local economy, and continue to be significant. The sandy soil supports the growing of many fruits and vegetables in addition to cotton, and watermelons, sweet corn, peaches, and tomatoes, among other crops, can be found at roadside stands during the summer. Moreover, the Malden Regional Airport, a former military airfield, is the anchor for the industrial park on the north side of town. Education, retail trade, and health care employ significant numbers of residents as well.

A notable attraction in Malden is the Bootheel Youth Museum, a non-profit educational institution opened in 1996. Providing hands-on exhibits and workshops in math, science, and the arts, it was among ten locations awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Services in 2012.^[8]

The Malden Country Club, located near the airport, includes a nine-hole golf course and a swimming pool. There are also several public parks.

Since 2009, the Malden Arts Commission has sought to preserve the downtown section through beautification projects, preventing deterioration of the older brick buildings, and photographing and archiving historic locations.

References[edit]