Centralia, Missouri

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Centralia, Missouri
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Centralia, Missouri


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Missouri
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Boone, Audrain
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 6.6
area_land_km2 = 6.6
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.5
area_land_sq_mi = 2.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3774
population_density_km2 = 576.1
population_density_sq_mi = 1492.0

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 269
elevation_ft = 883
latd = 39 |latm = 12 |lats = 35 |latNS = N
longd = 92 |longm = 8 |longs = 11 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 65240
area_code = 573
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 29-12898GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0715695GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Centralia is a city in Boone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,774 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Centralia is located at coor dms|39|12|35|N|92|8|11|W|city (39.209657, -92.136300)GR|1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.6 km²).None of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,774 people, 1,505 households, and 1,032 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,492.0 people per square mile (575.9/km²). There were 1,648 housing units at an average density of 651.5/sq mi (251.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.11% White, 1.14% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 1,505 households out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,475, and the median income for a family was $40,671. Males had a median income of $30,399 versus $21,115 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,583. About 2.8% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

On September 27, 1864, 22 unarmed Union soldiers returning home on leave were pulled from a train in Centralia and executed by Confederate bushwhackers under William T. "Bloody Bill" Anderson. A Union force pursuing the guerrillas was ambushed, and about 150 were killed; some were executed, and some were tortured first. Many of the bodies were mutilated. The incident came to be known as the Centralia Massacre.

References

External links

* [http://centralia.missouri.org/massacre/index.html Centralia Massacre and Battle]
* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/james/sfeature/sf_qa.html PBS American Experience site]