Kirksville is a city located in Adair County, Missouri. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 16,988. It is the county seat of Adair County. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises of Adair and Schuyler counties
Kirksville is located at 40°11'37" North, 92°34'46" West (40.193520, -92.579529).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.2 km2 (10.5 mi2). 27.1 km2 (10.5 mi2) of it is land and 0.1 km2 (0.04 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.38% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 16,988 people, 6,583 households, and 2,975 families residing in the city. The population density is 627.1/km2 (1,624.0/mi2). There are 7,303 housing units at an average density of 269.6/km2 (698.2/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 94.38% White, 1.73% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 6,583 households out of which 20.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% are married couples living together, 7.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 54.8% are non-families. 36.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.16 and the average family size is 2.83.
In the city the population is spread out with 15.6% under the age of 18, 37.6% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 23 years. For every 100 females there are 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $22,836, and the median income for a family is $36,772. Males have a median income of $26,776 versus $22,309 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,388. 30.6% of the population and 14.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.7% of those under the age of 18 and 13.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The first permanent settlement in Adair County began in 1828. Most of the settlers were from Kentucky. This was twenty-five years after the Louisiana Purchase and four years after the Sac and Fox Indians surrendered their claims to the land. The original settlement was six miles west of present-day Kirksville, along the Chariton River, which later was called The Cabins. The area was named after John Adair who was governor of Kentucky at the time. The town of Kirksville was laid out in 1841 and became the county seat on May 18, 1842. It was first known as Long Point, then as Hopkinsville before its current name.
According to tradition, Jesse Kirk, Kirksville's first postmaster, shared a dinner of turkey and whisky with surveyors working in the area on the condition that they would name the town after him. Not only the first postmaster, Kirk was also the first to own a hotel and a tavern in Kirksville.
Source:
KirksvilleMissouri.com
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS