Nixa, Missouri

For the record label, see Nixa Records. For the Russian tsarevich nicknamed Nixa, see Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsarevich of Russia.

Nixa, Missouri
—  City  —
Location of Nixa, Missouri
Coordinates: 37°2′43″N 93°17′56″W / 37.04528°N 93.29889°W / 37.04528; -93.29889Coordinates: 37°2′43″N 93°17′56″W / 37.04528°N 93.29889°W / 37.04528; -93.29889
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Christian
Area
– Total	6.2 sq mi (15.9 km2)
– Land	6.2 sq mi (15.9 km2)
– Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,296 ft (395 m)
Population (2010)
– Total	19,022
– Density	1,969.1/sq mi (760.3/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
– Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	65714
Area code(s)	417
FIPS code	29-52616[1]
GNIS feature ID	0723380[2]

Nixa is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 12,124 at the 2000 census, though a 2009 estimate places it at 19,458. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Nixa is located at 37°2′43″N 93°17′56″W / 37.04528°N 93.29889°W / 37.04528; -93.29889 (37.045253, -93.298755)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16 km²), all of it land. The modern day city rests on and around seven hills.

Demographics

As of the US Census^[1] of 2000, there were 12,124 people, 4,654 households, and 3,448 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,969.1 people per square mile (759.9/km²). There were 4,962 housing units at an average density of 805.9 per square mile (311.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.43% White, 0.46% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.

There were 4,654 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,655, and the median income for a family was $44,556. Males had a median income of $33,636 versus $21,737 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,774. About 8.1% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

Nixa was named after Nicholas A. Inman, a blacksmith who lived in the Nixa area at the time of establishment. The first four letters in Nicholas' name were added to his middle initial, which is A, hence the city name: Nixa.^[4] Family descendants owned the majority of the land around Nixa out to what is now Cox Road. Many of the family members still live in this area, in towns like Billings, Republic, and Springfield.^{[citation needed]} A great-great-grandnephew of Inman's was elected mayor of Billings, Missouri.^{[citation needed]} Some of Inman's family members are buried at Patterson Cemetery, located just off Hwy. 160.^{[citation needed]} Nixa is the only city bearing that name in the world.^{[citation needed]}

Education

All the schools in Nixa are public. Currently, the Nixa R-2 School District operates five elementary schools for students in kindergarten through fourth grade, Matthews, Thomas, Espy, Century, and the newest, High Pointe Elementary (named so because it sits on the highest elevation in Christian County) opened in August 2007. There are also two intermediate schools for students in the fifth and sixth grades—Inman and Summit; one junior high school; and one high school. The old Main Street Elementary School building will become an administrative building—keeping the Early Childhood center. The district is widely considered one of the best in Missouri, receiving the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Distinction in Performance Award for the each of the last five years. Its Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scores surpassed state averages in all 10 assessments.

Film and TV references

Nixa is the birthplace of fictional character David Webb (who becomes Jason Bourne) in the Robert Ludlum novels and films.

Several streets in a residential neighborhood northeast of downtown are named for performers on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee, including Nixa native Slim Wilson. They include Slim Wilson Boulevard, Red Foley Court, Zed Tennis Street, Bill Ring Court, (Speedy) Haworth Court and Ozark Jubilee Drive.^[5]

Controversies

In 2009, Nixa Mayor Brian Hayes was arrested for DWI. He pleaded not guilty, but eight months later changed his plea to guilty and was impeached by the Board of Aldermen.

In 2009/2010, former Street Department superintendent Larry Covington and former employee David Griggs were charged with stealing over $750,000 from the City of Nixa through the use of fraudulent business bank accounts.

Because of these controversies a watchdog group was formed in the summer of 2011, calling themselves Nixa Watch.^[6][7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
4. ^ Nixa, Missouri: History
5. ^ "Google Maps". Google, Inc.. http://maps.google.com/. Retrieved 2009-10-20. 
6. ^ "Nixa Watch". Nixa Watch. http://nixawatch.weebly.com/. Retrieved 1 July 2011. 
7. ^ Muck, Tara (Jun. 21, 2011). "Citizen group watching Nixa government". News Leader. http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110621/COMMUNITIES0101/106220328/1118/COMMUNITIES0101/Citizen-group-watching-Nixa-government. Retrieved 1 July 2011. 

External links

• Nixa R-2 School District
• City of Nixa
• Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce
• [http://www.nixaxpress.com Nixa XPress newspaper
• 37°02′43″N 93°17′56″W / 37.045253°N 93.298755°W / 37.045253; -93.298755