Sugar Creek, Missouri

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sugar Creek, Missouri
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Sugar Creek, Missouri


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

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 23.2
area_land_km2 = 21.4
area_water_km2 = 1.8
area_total_sq_mi = 8.9
area_land_sq_mi = 8.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.7

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3839
population_density_km2 = 179.6
population_density_sq_mi = 465.0

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 250
elevation_ft = 820
latd = 39 |latm = 7 |lats = 5 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 26 |longs = 8 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 64054
area_code = 816
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 29-71368GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0727219GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Sugar Creek is a city in Clay and Jackson counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 3,839 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Sugar Creek is located at coor dms|39|7|5|N|94|26|8|W|city (39.118014, -94.435630)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23.2 km²), of which, 8.3 square miles (21.4 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (7.61%) is water.

History

The town draws its name from Indian legend, referring to a creek running through, surrounded by sugar maples.

From the town's home page: In the early 1800s, the area that is now Sugar Creek served as an important link in America's westward expansion. Known at the time as Wayne City Landing, the territory along the Missouri River served as a port to receive supplies for early pioneers. On June 25, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped on an island [ [http://libtextcenter.unl.edu/examples/servlet/transform/tamino/Library/lewisandclarkjournals?&_xmlsrc=http://libtextcenter.unl.edu/lewisandclark/files/xml/1804-06-25.xml&_xslsrc=http://libtextcenter.unl.edu/lewisandclark/LCstyles.xsl The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, University of Nebraska, Lincoln] ] in the Missouri River opposite what is modern day Sugar Creek.

Wayne City, which is now on the national historic register, also received travelers who were headed west along the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails. In 1850, the first railroad west of the Mississippi River was constructed to join Wayne City and nearby Independence.

From the early 1890s to the 1930s, the Sugar Creek area was home to a first-class pleasure resort, Fairmount Park. Among the park's attractions were a hotel, theater, lake, and carnival rides, including a roller coaster that at one time was the world's largest. A streetcar line brought visitors to the park from nearby Kansas City.

In 1903, Standard Oil of Indiana purchased land at the northern edge of the city. A new oil refinery was opened a year later and quickly spurred growth in the townsite of Sugar Creek. A number of immigrants from Eastern Europe came to work in the plant, and by 1918, the town had grown to more than 800 residents.

Shortly after World War I, businessmen and residents founded the Sugar Creek Improvement Association. The Association installed streetlights, set city limits and petitioned for incorporation as a city. On November 15, 1920, the City of Sugar Creek was officially born. The new town consisted of 564 acres and had a population of around 1,800 residents.

The city continued to grow and prosper in its early years. In 1958, an additional 294 acres were annexed on the eastern side of the city, bringing new opportunities for development.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,839 people, 1,633 households, and 1,048 families residing in the city. The population density was 465.0 people per square mile (179.4/km²). There were 1,753 housing units at an average density of 212.4/sq mi (81.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.83% White, 0.81% African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.44% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.06% of the population.

There were 1,633 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,967, and the median income for a family was $46,208. Males had a median income of $35,341 versus $23,686 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,784. About 10.3% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city is within the Independence Public School District. Sugar Creek Elementary School, Nowlin Middle School, and Van Horn High School serve Sugar Creek. Prior to Fall 2008, Sugar Creek and its schools were within the Kansas City, Missouri School District. [ [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32978200_ITM Forum explores potential transfer of seven KC schools to Independence district. | Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO) (September, 2007) ] ]

Kansas City Public Library operates the Sugar Creek Library.

References

External links

* [http://www.sugar-creek.mo.us/ City homepage]
* [http://www.oldfairmountpark.com/ History of Fairmount Park]

References