Editing Independence, Missouri (section)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 3164
|1870= 3184
|1880= 3146
|1890= 6380
|1900= 6974
|1910= 9859
|1920= 11686
|1930= 15296
|1940= 16066
|1950= 36963
|1960= 62328
|1970= 111630
|1980= 111806
|1990= 112295
|2000= 113288
|2010= 116830
|2020= 123011
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 26, 2014}}</ref><br />2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-12-17 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> counted 123,011 people, 48,836 households, and 28,955 families in Independence. The population density was {{convert|1,577.7|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 54,120 housing units at an average density of {{convert|694.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup (including Hispanics in the racial counts) was 72.61% (89,323) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]], 8.68% (10,678) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black or African-American]], 0.76% (936) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.19% (1,468) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.67% (826) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.52% (6,795) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 10.56% (12,985) from two or more races.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 12.2% (15,042) of the population.<ref name=2020CensusP2/>

Of the 48,836 households, 24.0% had children under the age of 18; 40.1% were married couples living together; 33.0% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 33.5% consisted of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4, and the average family size was 3.1.

21.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 89.4 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-12-17|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> estimates show that the median household income was $50,797 (with a margin of error of +/- $1,935) and the median family income was $64,271 (+/- $2,089). Males had a median income of $40,007 (+/- $1,690) versus $26,762 (+/- $1,098) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $32,462 (+/- $1,353). Approximately, 11.2% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.3% of those under the age of 18 and 7.1% of those ages 65 or over.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Independence, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br /><small>{{nobold|''Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Independence city, Missouri |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US2935000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web |title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Independence city, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2935000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web |title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Independence city, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2935000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|102,040
|96,086
|style='background: #ffffe6; |85,754
|90.07%
|82.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |69.71%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|2,874
|6,265
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,345
|2.54%
|5.36%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.41%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|647
|601
|style='background: #ffffe6; |609
|0.57%
|0.51%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.50%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|783
|1,114
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,444
|0.69%
|0.95%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.17%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|508
|771
|style='background: #ffffe6; |796
|0.45%
|0.66%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.65%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|119
|87
|style='background: #ffffe6; |507
|0.11%
|0.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|2,142
|2,907
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,514
|1.89%
|2.49%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.92%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|4,175
|8,999
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15,042
|3.69%
|7.70%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.23%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''113,288'''
|'''116,830'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''123,011'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 8, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 116,830 people, 48,742 households, and 30,165 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1506.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 53,834 housing units at an average density of {{convert|694.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 
* 85.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 
* 5.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 
* 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 
* 1.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 
* 0.7% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] alone (1.0% Pacific Islander alone or in combination with one or more other races), 
* 3.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.2% from two or more races. 
* [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 7.7% of the population. 
* [[Non-Hispanic Whites]] were 82.2% of the population,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2935000.html |title=Independence (city), Missouri |work=State & County QuickFacts |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905064632/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2935000.html |archive-date=September 5, 2015 }}</ref> down from 98.4% in 1970.<ref>{{cite web|title=Missouri&nbsp;— Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }}</ref>

There were 48,742 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 39.4 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 27.4% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 113,288 people, 47,390 households, and 30,566 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,446.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|adj=off}}. There were 50,213 housing units at an average density of {{convert|641.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. Independence has a population of 111,806 in 1980 and 112,301 in 1990.<ref>Encyclopedia of American History</ref> The racial makeup of the city was 91.87% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.59% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.70% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.64% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.46% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.43% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.31% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.69% of the population.

There were 47,390 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,012, and the median income for a family was $45,876. Males had a median income of $34,138 versus $25,948 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,384. About 6.4% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

===Religion===
Independence played an important role in the early history of the [[Latter Day Saint movement]] and is home to the headquarters of several separatist denominations of the [[Latter Day Saint movement]], most notably the [[Community of Christ]] (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), whose [[Independence Temple|Temple]] is located there. Other Latter Day Saint denominations headquartered in the city include the [[Church of Christ (Temple Lot)]] and the [[Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)]], among others. A number of [[Restoration Branches]] are also located in and around Independence, and [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] maintains [[LDS Visitors Center, Independence, Missouri|a&nbsp;visitor center]] in the town.

The Community of Christ has built a [[Independence Temple|temple in Independence]], and also maintains a large [[Auditorium (Community of Christ)|auditorium]] and other buildings nearby. [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] operates a sizable visitors' center adjacent to the Community of Christ Temple, and across the street from the original [[Temple Lot]] designated by Joseph Smith in 1830. The Lot itself is occupied by a small white-frame church building that serves as the headquarters and local meeting house for the Church of Christ (Temple Lot).

There are five Catholic churches and several Episcopal churches in Independence.

One of the oldest churches in Independence is the First Presbyterian Church, founded in 1826.<ref name=truman>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/UserDocs/ComDev/HistoricPreservation/TrumanEventGuide.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 14, 2015 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923203218/http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/UserDocs/ComDev/HistoricPreservation/TrumanEventGuide.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was here in 1890 that Harry Truman first met Elizabeth (Bess) Wallace.<ref name=truman/><ref name=trumLib>{{cite web|url=http://www.trumanlibrary.org/bwt-bio.htm|title=Truman: Bess Truman's Biography}}</ref> Truman eventually married her after his return from World War I in 1919.<ref name=trumLib/>