Editing Eldon, Missouri

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Short description|City in the state of Missouri}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Eldon, Missouri
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|official_name            = 
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Miller_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Eldon_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Miller County and the state of Missouri
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|21|04|N|92|34|36|W|region:US-MO|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Missouri]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Missouri|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Miller County, Missouri|Miller]]

|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Trevor Vernon 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1882
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1       = 1904

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web |title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Missouri |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_29.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=April 16, 2024}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 9.21
|area_land_km2            = 9.21
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.56
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.56
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US2921484&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Eldon city, Missouri: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=April 16, 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 4416
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|population_est           = 4602	
|population_density_km2   = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 1268.4 <!-- 2023 est. -->

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 925
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 65026
|area_code                = [[Area code 573|573]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 29-21484<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2394638<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394638}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.eldonmo.org}}
}}

'''Eldon''' is a city in [[Miller County, Missouri|Miller County]], [[Missouri]], United States, located {{convert|30|mi|km}} southwest of [[Jefferson City, Missouri|Jefferson City]]. The population was 4,416 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/>

==History==
Eldon was [[plat]]ted in 1881, and according to tradition, named after a railroad official.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_miller.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071356/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_miller.html | archive-date = June 24, 2016 | url-status = live | title=Miller County Place Names, 1928–1945 | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri| access-date= November 6, 2016}}</ref> The railroad closed down in 1980 and is proposed to be transformed into the extension of the [[Rock Island Trail State Park (Missouri)|Rock Island Trail]]. A post office called Eldon has been in operation since 1881.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Miller | title=Post Offices| publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref>

===2019 tornado===
{{main|Tornado outbreak sequence of May 2019}}
On the night of May 22, 2019, a tornado touched down west of Eldon. It came through Eldon damaging many homes and businesses. The same tornado struck [[Jefferson City, Missouri|Jefferson City]] later in the evening.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dabbs|first=Janet|title='A War Zone': Widespread Damage in Eldon, As Missouri Town Hit by Tornado [PHOTOS]|url=https://www.lakeexpo.com/weather/a-war-zone-widespread-damage-in-eldon-as-missouri-town-hit-by-tornado-photos/article_0a75055e-7d78-11e9-92ae-831ab93e3d4d.html|access-date=2020-10-01|website=LakeExpo.com|language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
Eldon is in northwestern Miller County. The city is served by [[U.S. Route 54 in Missouri|U.S. Route 54]] and Missouri Routes [[Missouri Route 52|52]] and [[Missouri Route 87|87]]. [[Jefferson City, Missouri|Jefferson City]] is {{convert|30|mi}} to the northeast, while the city of [[Lake Ozark, Missouri|Lake Ozark]] is {{convert|12|mi}} to the south. [[Bagnell Dam]], which forms the [[Lake of the Ozarks]], is {{convert|11|mi}} south of Eldon.<ref>''Eldon, MO,'' 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1959 (1981 rev.)</ref>

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city of Eldon has a total area of {{convert|3.56|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/> The city sits on high ground: the northwest side of the city drains toward [[South Moreau Creek]], part of the [[Moreau River (Missouri)|Moreau River]] watershed flowing to the [[Missouri River]], while the northeast side of the city is the source of Blythes Creek, a tributary of South Moreau Creek. The southeast side of Eldon drains into Saline Creek, a tributary of the [[Osage River]], which in turn flows northeastern to the Missouri River.

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Eldon, Missouri (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1896–present)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
| Jan record high F = 79
| Feb record high F = 82
| Mar record high F = 96
| Apr record high F = 95
| May record high F = 102
| Jun record high F = 106
| Jul record high F = 115
| Aug record high F = 112
| Sep record high F = 108
| Oct record high F = 96
| Nov record high F = 86
| Dec record high F = 77
| year record high F = 115
| Jan high F = 40.4
| Feb high F = 46.2
| Mar high F = 56.0
| Apr high F = 67.1
| May high F = 75.5
| Jun high F = 84.2
| Jul high F = 88.6
| Aug high F = 87.5
| Sep high F = 79.8
| Oct high F = 68.8
| Nov high F = 55.2
| Dec high F = 45.1
| year high F = 66.2
| Jan mean F = 31.2
| Feb mean F = 36.0
| Mar mean F = 45.4
| Apr mean F = 56.1
| May mean F = 65.4
| Jun mean F = 74.3
| Jul mean F = 78.7
| Aug mean F = 77.2
| Sep mean F = 69.3
| Oct mean F = 58.0
| Nov mean F = 45.5
| Dec mean F = 35.9
| year mean F = 56.1
| Jan low F = 22.1
| Feb low F = 25.9
| Mar low F = 34.8
| Apr low F = 45.1
| May low F = 55.4
| Jun low F = 64.5
| Jul low F = 68.9
| Aug low F = 66.9
| Sep low F = 58.8
| Oct low F = 47.1
| Nov low F = 35.8
| Dec low F = 26.7
| year low F = 46.0
| Jan record low F = −28
| Feb record low F = −28
| Mar record low F = −7
| Apr record low F = 10
| May record low F = 25
| Jun record low F = 32
| Jul record low F = 47
| Aug record low F = 38
| Sep record low F = 30
| Oct record low F = 17
| Nov record low F = 3
| Dec record low F = −25
| year record low F = −28
| precipitation colour= green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.28
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.03
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.90
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.97
| May precipitation inch = 5.63
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.89
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.39
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.05
| Sep precipitation inch = 4.29
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.78
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.25
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.36
| year precipitation inch = 44.82
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 5.5
| Feb precipitation days = 5.2
| Mar precipitation days = 7.8
| Apr precipitation days = 8.3
| May precipitation days = 10.2
| Jun precipitation days = 8.0
| Jul precipitation days = 6.6
| Aug precipitation days = 6.6
| Sep precipitation days = 6.7
| Oct precipitation days = 6.6
| Nov precipitation days = 6.6
| Dec precipitation days = 5.0
| year precipitation days = 83.1
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sgf
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00232503&format=pdf
| title = Station: Eldon, MO
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 2, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1900= 379
|1910= 1999
|1920= 2636
|1930= 3171
|1940= 2590
|1950= 2766
|1960= 3158
|1970= 3520
|1980= 4342
|1990= 4419
|2000= 4895
|2010= 4567
|2020= 4416
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 4602	
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

=== 2020 census ===
{{Expand section|date=July 2022}}

===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=2012-07-08}}</ref> of 2010, there were 4,567 people, 1,984 households, and 1,158 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1282.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,242 housing units at an average density of {{convert|629.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 1,984 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.6% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 38.7 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,895 people, 2,194 households, and 1,270 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,450.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,396 housing units at an average density of {{convert|709.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.14% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.33% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.16% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.31% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.76% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.16% of the population.

There were 2,194 [[household]]s, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,103, and the median income for a family was $34,621. Males had a median income of $27,818 versus $17,690 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,015. 15.8% of the population and 12.0% of families were below the [[poverty]] line. Out of the total population, 22.5% of those under the age of 18 and 16.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

== Events ==
Since 1987 , Eldon hosts a Turkey Festival held every year typically on the last Saturday of September.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-30 |title=37th Annual Eldon Turkey Festival |url=https://www.lakeexpo.com/calendar/family_friendly/37th-annual-eldon-turkey-festival/event_8603f5b0-36b8-11ee-a59a-0b04c99f42e7.html |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=LakeExpo.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Education ==
Education in the city of Eldon is provided by two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. It also includes the Eldon Career Center, which provides training in many technical fields.
Eldon has a [[public library]], a branch of the Heartland Regional Library System.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heartland.lib.mo.us/eldon-branch | title=Eldon Branch | publisher=Heartland Regional Library System | access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>

==Popular culture==
The television show ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'', which aired from 1963 to 1970, was based on the Burris Hotel that existed in this small railroad town in the Midwest. [[Paul Henning]], the producer and creator of the show, was married to the granddaughter of the owner of the hotel and often visited.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://petticoat.topcities.com/black_%26_white_episodes.htm
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20021019051059/http://petticoat.topcities.com/black_%26_white_episodes.htm
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-date = 2002-10-19
 |title        = Petticoat Junction Black & White Episodes
 |work         = Official Petticoat Junction Web Site
 |author       = David Stein
 |year         = 1998
 |access-date   = 2009-10-16
}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Christian Cantwell]], [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Olympic]] shot-put [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's shot put|silver medalist]]
* [[Lloyd Dane]], early [[NASCAR]] champion
* [[Jim Golden]], baseball player
* [[Trevor Murdoch|William Mueller]], professional wrestler known under the names "Trevor Murdoch" and "Jethro Holiday"
* [[Harley Race]], professional wrestler

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official|www.eldonmo.org}}
* Historic maps of Eldon in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138782 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the [[University of Missouri]]

{{Miller County, Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Miller County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]