Editing Hannibal, Missouri

{{Short description|City in Missouri, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Hannibal, Missouri
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| official_name      = 
| image_blank_emblem = Hannibal, MO City Logo.webp
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 150px
| nickname           = America's Hometown
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| perrow         = 1/2/2
| border         = infobox
| total_width    = 300
|caption_align = center
| image1 = Hannibal Composite 1.jpg
| caption1 = Downtown Hannibal and the [[Mississippi River]] viewed from [[Lover's Leap]]
| image2 = Mark Twain Boyhood Home 1.jpg
| caption2 = [[Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum]]
| image3 = Hannibal-LaGrange College.jpg
| caption3 = [[Hannibal–LaGrange University]]
| image4 = MarkTwainCave.jpg
| caption4 = [[Mark Twain Cave]]
| image5 = Hannibal MO Rockcliffe.JPG
| caption5 = [[Rockcliffe Mansion]]
}}
| image_seal         = Hannibal, MO City Seal.gif
| seal_size          = 100px
| image_map          = Marion_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Hannibal_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location within [[Marion County, Missouri|Marion County]] (left) and [[Missouri]] (right)
| pushpin_map        = Missouri#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within [[Missouri]]##Location within the [[United States]]
| pushpin_label      = Hannibal
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|42|35|N|91|23|38|W|region:US-MO_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Missouri|Counties]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_name1  = [[Missouri]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Marion County, Missouri|Marion]], [[Ralls County, Missouri|Ralls]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = City manager and council
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Darrell McCoy
| leader_title1      = City manager
| leader_name1       = Lisa Peck
| established_title  = Platted
| established_date   = 1819
| established_title1 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date1  = 1845

<!-- Area -->| 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=March 22, 2024}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 16.47
| area_land_sq_mi    = 16.00
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.47
| area_total_km2     = 42.66
| area_land_km2      = 41.44
| area_water_km2     = 1.21
| unit_pref          = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 646

<!-- 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=1600000US2930214&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Hannibal city, Missouri: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref>
| population_total   = 17108
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="2023PopEst"/>
| population_est     = 16838
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 1052.2 <!-- 2023 estimate -->
| population_density_km2 = <!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 63401
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 573|573]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 29-30214<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        = 2394287<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394287}}</ref>
| website            = {{official URL}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Hannibal''' is a city along the [[Mississippi River]] in [[Marion County, Missouri|Marion]] and [[Ralls County, Missouri|Ralls]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Missouri]]. According to the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. Census]], the population was 17,108,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2930214|access-date=2022-01-05|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> making it the largest city in Marion County. The bulk of the city is in Marion County, with a tiny sliver in the south extending into Ralls County.

Nestled on the Mississippi River, commerce and traffic has long been an integral part of Hannibal's development, including by river, rail and the interstate/highway system. Today the city is intersected by [[Interstate 72]] and U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 24 in Missouri|24]], [[U.S. Route 36 in Missouri|36]], and [[U.S. Route 61 in Missouri|61]]. Hannibal is approximately {{convert|110|mi|km}} northwest of [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] (also bordering the Mississippi), {{convert|195|mi}} east-northeast of [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] and  {{convert|194|mi|km}} miles east of [[Saint Joseph, Missouri|Saint Joseph]] (both cities on the Missouri River), and approximately {{convert|100|mi}} west of [[Springfield, Illinois]].

Hannibal is not the [[county seat]], but it has one of two county courthouses. There is also one in [[Palmyra, Missouri|Palmyra]], the county seat of Marion County, which is located more centrally in the county. Hannibal is the principal city of the [[Hannibal, Missouri micropolitan area]], which consists of both Marion and Ralls counties.

==History and landmarks==
[[File:Tom and Huck statue Hannibal.jpg|thumb|right|''Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn at the Foot of Cardiff Hill'' (1926), by [[Frederick Hibbard]]]]
{{see also|National Tom Sawyer Days}}

The site of Hannibal was originally inhabited by various cultures of indigenous [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes. Hannibal is home to Osterhout Mounds Park, a preservation of [[Mound Builders|ancient Indian burial mound]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hannibalparks.org/parks/indian-mounds-park/ | title=Indian Mounds Park &#124; Hannibal Parks and Recreation | date=February 6, 2019 }}</ref>

The river community was the mid-19th-century boyhood home of author Samuel Langhorne Clemens (aka [[Mark Twain]], 1835–1910). Twain drew from his childhood settings for his novels ''[[The Adventures of Tom Sawyer]]'' (1876) and ''[[Adventures of Huckleberry Finn]]'' (1884). Numerous historical sites are associated with Mark Twain and the places depicted in his fiction.

[[Heritage tourism]] contributes to the Hannibal economy, as the city attracts both American and international tourists. The [[Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum]] marked its 100th anniversary in 2012; it has had visitors from all 50 states and some 60 countries.<ref>[http://www.marktwainmuseum.org Mark Twain Museum], official website</ref>

Hannibal is also the birthplace of [[Margaret Brown]],  posthumously known as the "'''Unsinkable Molly Brown'''".  The cottage where Brown was born is now the Molly Brown Birthplace and Museum.<ref>https://khqa.com/news/local/molly-brown-house-relocated-to-main-street-boosting-accessibility-and-preservation</ref>

===Background===
After the United States acquired the [[Louisiana Territory]] west of the Mississippi in 1803, European-American settlers began to enter the area. Its early European settlements were established by ethnic French colonists, some from Illinois, who largely spoke French and were Roman Catholic in religion.

Hannibal was laid out in 1819 by Moses Bates<ref name="visithannibal.com">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.visithannibal.com/en/about-hannibal/hannibal-history
 |title         = Hannibal History
 |publisher         = Hannibal Convention & Visitors Bureau
 |access-date         = 2015-01-06
 |archive-url         = https://web.archive.org/web/20150106214047/http://www.visithannibal.com/en/about-hannibal/hannibal-history
 |archive-date         = 2015-01-06
 |url-status         = dead
 }}</ref> and named after Hannibal Creek (later Bear Creek).<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n90 193]}}</ref> The name is derived from [[Hannibal]], a hero of ancient [[Carthage]] (in modern [[Tunisia]]).<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n148 149]}}</ref>

The city grew slowly, with a population of 30 by 1830. But by 1846, Hannibal was Missouri's third-largest city when the [[Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad]] was organized by John M. Clemens (Mark Twain's father) and associates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abandonedrails.com/Hannibal_and_Saint_Joseph_Railroad|title=The Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad - Abandoned Rails|website=www.abandonedrails.com}}</ref> This railway was built to connect to [[St. Joseph, Missouri]], in the west, then the state's second-largest city. This railroad was the westernmost line before the [[Transcontinental Railroad]] was constructed. It transported mail for delivery to the first outpost of the [[Pony Express]].

Construction of railroads to the area and increased steamboats on the Mississippi River had stimulated growth. In 1843 the city had also annexed the town of South Hannibal.<ref name="eb">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Hannibal (Missouri)}}</ref> Hannibal gained "city" status by 1845.<ref name="visithannibal.com"/> By 1850 it had 2,020 residents.<ref name="eb"/>

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city served as a regional marketing center for livestock and grain, as well as other products produced locally, such as cement and shoes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hanmo.com/history.html|title=Hannibal, MO - Historic & Literary Resources|website=www.hanmo.com}}</ref> Cement for the [[Empire State Building]] (completed 1931) and [[Panama Canal]] was manufactured at the Atlas Portland Cement Company in the nearby unincorporated [[company town]] of [[Ilasco, Missouri|Ilasco]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://digital.hannibal.lib.mo.us/ilasco/ilasco.htm |title=Ilasco |access-date=2010-06-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619123402/http://digital.hannibal.lib.mo.us/ilasco/ilasco.htm |archive-date=2010-06-19 }}</ref>

The Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse was constructed in 1933 as a public works project under President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]. It has been lit on ceremonial occasions at three separate times by Presidents Roosevelt, [[John F. Kennedy]], and [[Bill Clinton]]. [[Rockcliffe Mansion]], a private house on a knoll in Hannibal, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

In 2011, the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum released ''[[Mark Twain: Words & Music]]'', a CD featuring entertainers who recount Mark Twain's life in spoken word and song. Several songs were written especially for the project and refer to Hannibal, including "Huck Finn Blues" by [[Brad Paisley]] and "Run Mississippi" by [[Rhonda Vincent]]. Other artists include [[Jimmy Buffett]] as Huckleberry Finn, [[Clint Eastwood]] as Twain, and [[Garrison Keillor]] as the narrator of the project.<ref>[http://www.marktwainmuseum.org/index.php/community-projects/mark-twain-cd "Mark Twain CD"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818115053/http://www.marktwainmuseum.org/index.php/community-projects/mark-twain-cd |date=2012-08-18 }}, Mark Twain Museum</ref><ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/11/in-rotation-mark-twain-words-music.html], ''In Rotation'' blog, November 2011, ''Los Angeles Times''</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Mississippi at Hannibal, MO.jpg|thumb|The Mississippi River at Hannibal]]
Hannibal is on the west side of the [[Mississippi River]] in southeastern Marion County and is situated across the river from [[East Hannibal, Illinois]]. The next city upriver is [[Quincy, Illinois]], {{convert|17|mi}} to the north, while the next city downriver is [[Louisiana, Missouri]], {{convert|25|mi}} to the south.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Hannibal has a total area of {{convert|16.47|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|16.00|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|0.47|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 2.84%, are water.<ref name ="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

===Climate===
Hannibal's climate is hot-summer [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] (''Dfa''), with cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hannibal climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Hannibal weather averages - Climate-Data.org|url=https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-of-america/missouri/hannibal-767949/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=en.climate-data.org}}</ref> Three months average below freezing, seven months average above 50&nbsp;°F, and three months average above 22&nbsp;°C.
{{Weather box 
|location = Hannibal Water Works, Missouri (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1902–present)
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 77
| Feb record high F = 81
| Mar record high F = 91
| Apr record high F = 93
| May record high F = 104
| Jun record high F = 104
| Jul record high F = 114
| Aug record high F = 110
| Sep record high F = 102
| Oct record high F = 95
| Nov record high F = 83
| Dec record high F = 74
| year record high F = 114
| Jan high F = 34.6
| Feb high F = 39.6
| Mar high F = 51.4
| Apr high F = 63.7
| May high F = 73.3
| Jun high F = 82.1
| Jul high F = 85.7
| Aug high F = 84.4
| Sep high F = 77.9
| Oct high F = 65.7
| Nov high F = 51.5
| Dec high F = 39.3
| year high F = 62.4
| Jan mean F = 26.3
| Feb mean F = 30.6
| Mar mean F = 41.7
| Apr mean F = 53.2
| May mean F = 63.6
| Jun mean F = 72.8
| Jul mean F = 76.5
| Aug mean F = 74.8
| Sep mean F = 67.4
| Oct mean F = 55.3
| Nov mean F = 42.5
| Dec mean F = 31.4
| year mean F = 53.0
| Jan low F = 17.9
| Feb low F = 21.6
| Mar low F = 32.0
| Apr low F = 42.8
| May low F = 54.0
| Jun low F = 63.5
| Jul low F = 67.3
| Aug low F = 65.2
| Sep low F = 56.9
| Oct low F = 44.9
| Nov low F = 33.5
| Dec low F = 23.4
| year low F = 43.6
| Jan record low F = −21
| Feb record low F = −25
| Mar record low F = −9
| Apr record low F = 11
| May record low F = 30
| Jun record low F = 43
| Jul record low F = 48
| Aug record low F = 40
| Sep record low F = 30
| Oct record low F = 13
| Nov record low F = -6
| Dec record low F = −21
| year record low F = -25
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.11
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.25
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.76
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.33
| May precipitation inch = 4.96
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.91
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.11
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.92
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.53
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.39
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.82
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.19
| year precipitation inch = 41.28
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 8.4
| Feb precipitation days = 7.8
| Mar precipitation days = 9.9
| Apr precipitation days = 11.4
| May precipitation days = 12.7
| Jun precipitation days = 10.3
| Jul precipitation days = 8.3
| Aug precipitation days = 8.0
| Sep precipitation days = 7.6
| Oct precipitation days = 9.0
| Nov precipitation days = 8.4
| Dec precipitation days = 8.4
| year precipitation days = 110.2
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lsx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 22, 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=USC00233601&format=pdf
| title = Station: Hannibal WTR WKS, MO
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 22, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 2020
|1860= 6505
|1870= 10125
|1880= 11074
|1890= 12857
|1900= 12780
|1910= 18341
|1920= 19306
|1930= 22761
|1940= 20865
|1950= 20444
|1960= 20028
|1970= 18609
|1980= 18811
|1990= 18004
|2000= 17757
|2010= 17916
|2020= 17312
|estyear=2023
|estimate=16838
|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><ref name="2023PopEst">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html| title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 — Incorporated Places| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=January 28, 2025}}</ref>
}}
The Hannibal [[Hannibal micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]] is composed of Marion and Ralls counties.

===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 17,108 people, 7,053 households, and 4,289 families in Hannibal. The population density was 1,069.2 per square mile (412.8/km{{sup|2}}). There were 7,974 housing units at an average density of 498.4 per square mile (192.4/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 84.81% (14,509) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]], 7.09% (1,213) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black or African-American]], 0.39% (66) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.76% (130) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% (9) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.64% (110) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 6.26% (1,071) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 2.4% (418) of the population.

Of the 7,053 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18; 43.7% were married couples living together; 31.3% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 31.9% consisted of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 2.8.

23.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 89.5 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 $46,504 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,507) and the median family income was $57,740 (+/- $5,451). Males had a median income of $33,537 (+/- $3,375) versus $22,147 (+/- $4,868) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $27,776 (+/- $1,949). Approximately, 10.6% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.5% of those under the age of 18 and 11.7% of those ages 65 or over.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 17,916 people, 7,117 households, and 4,400 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1138.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 8,021 housing units at an average density of {{convert|509.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 88.8% White, 7.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8%.<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 the 7,117 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.2% were non-families. 31.6% of households were one person and 13% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.

The age distribution was 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18, 11.2% between the ages of 18 and 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% 65 or older. The median age was 37.3 years. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<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> of 2000, there were 17,757 people, 7,017 households, and 4,554 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,215.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,886 housing units at an average density of {{convert|539.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 90.61% White, 6.57% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population. 25.9% were of [[American ancestry|American]], 23.8% [[German Americans|German]], 10.9% [[Irish Americans|Irish]], and 10.0% [[English Americans|English]] ancestry according to self-identification in [[Census 2000]].

Of the 7,017 households 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.6% of households were one person and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 25.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The median age was 36&nbsp;years. For every 100 females, there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median household income was $29,892 and the median family income was $37,264. Males had a median income of $30,677 versus $20,828 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,902. About 11.3% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
A thriving artist community has developed because of its central location between the East and West coasts, and affordable and stable real estate prices.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2012/08/30/156564691/hannibal-mo-art-abounds-in-twains-hometown|title= Hannibal, Missouri: Art Abounds in Twain's Hometown|publisher= [[NPR]]|date=August 30, 2012}}</ref>

The Underwood Company built the [[General Mills]] plant here because its founder appreciated Mark Twain's writing and wanted to help his hometown.<ref>[http://www.develophannibal.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117003247/http://www.develophannibal.org/|date=2014-01-17}}, Develop Hannibal website</ref>

Major employers include the Hannibal Regional Hospital and Hannibal Clinic. Major manufacturers include [[BASF]] Chemical Corporation (formally [[American Cyanamid]]), General Mills, and [[Watlow|Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hannibalchamber.org/|title=Home - Hannibal Area Chamber of Commerce, MO|website=www.hannibalchamber.org}}</ref>

Because Hannibal is a Missouri Certified Local Government, residents, and business owners have access to federal and state tax credits, grants, and other funding sources.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dnr.missouri.gov/shpo/certifie.htm |title=Certified Local Government Program - MO State Historic Preservation - DNR |access-date=2012-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911011333/http://dnr.missouri.gov/shpo/certifie.htm |archive-date=2012-09-11 }}</ref>

Tourism is a major part of Hannibal's economy, in large part because [[Samuel Clemens]] lived there as a boy and immortalized the town under his pen name, [[Mark Twain]]. The [[Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum]] and [[Mark Twain Cave]] are two of the city's major attractions.<ref>[https://www.hannibal.net/news/20161228/2016-was-great-year-for-tourism-in-hannibal "2016 was a great year for tourism in Hannibal"], Hannibal Courier-Post</ref>

==Government==
Hannibal has a [[Municipal Home Rule]] form of government. Public services include police, fire, parks and recreation, public works, streets, inspections, tourism, library, and airport. There is a municipal court, and the Marion County Courthouse is located in Hannibal. A second county courthouse is located in the county seat in [[Palmyra, Missouri|Palmyra]].

==Education==
{{wide image|Hannibal Composite 2.jpg|1600px|The view from Lover's Leap of Hannibal and the [[Mississippi River]]|600px|center}}
The school district is [[Hannibal 60 School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29127_marion/DC20SD_C29127.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marion County, MO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-08-28}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29127_marion/DC20SD_C29127_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29173_ralls/DC20SD_C29173.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ralls County, MO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-08-28}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29173_ralls/DC20SD_C29173_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

[[Hannibal High School, Missouri|Hannibal High School]] was founded in 1896. This public high school is part of the Hannibal School District #60, with K-12 grades serving Hannibal and surrounding areas. It is located at 4500 McMasters Ave. 63401.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hannibal.k12.mo.us/|title=Hannibal60|website=www.hannibal.k12.mo.us}}</ref>

[[Hannibal-LaGrange University]] is a four-year, Christian liberal arts university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.[https://www.hlcommission.org/Directory-of-HLC-Institutions.html] Founded in 1858 in [[LaGrange, Missouri]], the campus moved downriver to Hannibal in 1928, merging with then Hannibal College to form Hannibal-LaGrange College. Dr. Robert Matz was elected the 18th president of Hannibal-LaGrange University in 2022.

[[Moberly Area Community College]] (MACC-Hannibal Area Higher Education Center) is a two-year community college established in 1999. The MACC-Hannibal Campus is located on Shinn Lane near the hospital.

Hannibal's lending library, the Hannibal Free Public Library, was the first free public library in the state of Missouri.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610012728/http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 June 2017 | title=Missouri Public Libraries | publisher=PublicLibraries.com | access-date=2 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=about the library |url=http://hannibal.lib.mo.us/about_the_library.htm |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=hannibal.lib.mo.us}}</ref>

==Media==
The city is served by the ''[[Hannibal Courier-Post]]'' newspaper, printed daily on Tuesday through Saturday. [[KHQA]] is a television station licensed to Hannibal and located in [[Quincy, Illinois]]. Radio stations licensed to Hannibal include [[KGRC|KGRC 92.9 FM]], [[KHBL-LP|KHBL 96.9 FM]], [[KHMO|KHMO 1070 AM]], and [[KJIR|KJIR 91.7 FM]].

==Transportation==
[[Interstate 72]] was extended into Hannibal in 2000 from [[Illinois]] across the [[Mark Twain Memorial Bridge]].  Interstate 72 extends west to the interchange with [[U.S. Route 61]]. Future plans call for extending Interstate 72 west along [[U.S. Route 36]] to [[Cameron, Missouri]]. This will give Hannibal an east-west link connecting [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] to [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]. The [[Chicago–Kansas City Expressway]] links Hannibal from Kansas City to [[Chicago]], Illinois. U.S. Route 61 goes from St. Louis in the south to [[St. Paul, Minnesota]]; it is known as the [[Avenue of the Saints]] corridor.

[[Hannibal Regional Airport]] (formerly Hannibal Municipal Airport) was renamed in 2003 as [[William P. Lear]] Field, in honor of Lear. He grew up in Hannibal and invented the [[Lear Jet]]. The airport is located {{convert|4|mi|km}} west of the southern area and has one runway {{convert|4,400|ft}} x {{convert|100|ft}}.

Freight [[railroad]] tracks link Hannibal in all directions: [[BNSF|Burlington Northern Santa Fe]] (BNSF) tracks lead north to [[West Quincy, Missouri]], and [[Burlington, Iowa]], and south to St. Louis. [[Norfolk Southern Railway|Norfolk Southern]] (NS) tracks lead west to Kansas City and east to Springfield and [[Decatur, Illinois]].<ref name=TrainMap>{{Cite web|url=http://www.modot.org/othertransportation/rail/documents/rail_freight_101807.pdf|title=MoDOT Freight Railroad Map|access-date=2008-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810045247/http://www.modot.org/othertransportation/rail/documents/rail_freight_101807.pdf|archive-date=2014-08-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Jake Beckley]], [[major league baseball]] player<ref name="The Baseball Encyclopedia">{{cite book |editor= Reichler, Joseph L. |title= The Baseball Encyclopedia |orig-year= 1969 |edition= 4th |year= 1979 |publisher= Macmillan Publishing |location= New York |isbn= 0-02-578970-8 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/baseballencyclop00reic }}</ref>
* [[James Carroll Beckwith]], painter
* [[Margaret Brown]], passenger on the {{RMS|Titanic}}, known as the "unsinkable Molly Brown"
* [[Blanche Bruce]], politician during Reconstruction
* [[Marie Ruoff Byrum]], the first woman to vote in the United States
* [[W. H. Clune|W.H. Clune]], early Hollywood film pioneer
* [[Robert Coontz]], admiral
* [[Helen Cornelius]], country music singer and songwriter
* [[Cliff Edwards]], singer, actor, and the voice of Disney's [[Jiminy Cricket]]
* [[Cotton Fitzsimmons]], basketball coach<ref>{{cite web | title = Cotton Fitzsimmons | publisher = Basketball Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/fitzsco99c.html | access-date =  January 8, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Lester Gaba]], sculptor, writer, and retail display designer
* [[Clarence Earl Gideon]], accused person responsible for landmark 1963 [[U.S. Supreme Court]] ruling of ''[[Gideon v. Wainwright]]''
* [[Julia Greeley]], born in slavery; today being considered for Saint in Roman Catholic Church
* [[Robert V. Hogg]], statistician, educator, and co-author of the classic math-stat textbook
* [[Harry Richard Landis]], one of the last surviving [[World War I]] veterans, born near Hannibal
* [[Bill Lear|William P. Lear]], inventor of the car radio and manufacturer of the Lear Jet
* [[Lydia Locke]], opera singer 
* [[Warren H. Orr]], Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
* [[Eddie Phillips (pinch runner)|Eddie Phillips]], major league baseball pinch runner
* [[George Poage]], the first African American to win an Olympic medal
* [[Ron Powers]], author
* [[Benjamin Prentiss]], Civil War officer
* [[Albert L. Rendlen]], Chief Justice of the [[Supreme Court of Missouri]]
* [[William Hepburn Russell (baseball)|William Hepburn Russell]], attorney and political figure who owned the [[Boston Rustlers]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] in {{baseball year|1911}}
* [[Mary Rhodes Russell]], Chief Justice of the [[Supreme Court of Missouri]]
* [[Scott Sanders (baseball player)|Scott Sanders]], baseball player
* [[Melissa Scholes Young]], author of ''Flood''
* [[Larry Thompson (lawyer)|Larry Thompson]], Deputy Attorney General of the United States under President George W. Bush
* [[Mark Twain]] (Samuel L. Clemens), author
* [[Tyler1]], [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] streamer

==Attractions==
[[File:USA-MO - Mark Twain Memorial Hannibal 002.jpg|thumb|Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse]]

*Cameron Cave (part of the Mark Twain Cave complex)
*Hannibal Rocks Offroad Park
*Jim's Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jimsjourney.org/|title=Jim's Journey &#124; Hannibal, MO|website=Jim's Journey}}</ref>
*John Garth's Woodside Mansion<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.com/~morchs/sept2005.pdf|title=Ralls County Historical<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref>
*Lover's Leap - Cliffside overlooking the Mississippi River and downtown Hannibal.  The name comes from the local legend of two Native American lovers who were forbidden by their respective tribes to marry each other.  Warriors were sent to kill the lovers, but the lovers, finding themselves cornered at the top of the cliff, embraced each other and threw themselves off the cliff to their deaths.
*[[Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum]]
*[[Mark Twain Cave]] - The cave that inspired Twain's tale of a lost Tom & Becky.
*Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse - The only lighthouse built inland features a panoramic view of Hannibal and the Mississippi River. 244 steps to the top.
*Mark Twain Riverboat<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://marktwainriverboat.com/|title=Mark Twain Riverboat &#124; Riverboat Cruises in Hannibal, Missouri|website=Mark Twain Riverboat}}</ref>
*Molly Brown Birthplace & Museum - Home of [[RMS Titanic]] survivor.
*Riverview Park - {{convert|465|acre|km2}} of wooded land and scenic views of the Riverfront with over 3 miles of trails.
*[[Rockcliffe Mansion]] - Around the start of the 20th-century mansion.
*Sawyer's Creek Fun Park - Amusement complex on the riverfront.
*Tom & Becky Appearances - Local 7th grade children are chosen to portray the famous literary couple in local appearances and in downtown Hannibal every Saturday and Sunday from March to October.
*Tom Sawyer Days - Fence painting contest, frog jumping contest, mud volleyball, local arts and crafts and [[Fourth of July]] fireworks display from Lover's Leap.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=200px>
Image:Becky Thatcher House in Hannibal.jpg|The home of the girl who inspired [[List of characters in the Tom Sawyer series#Rebecca Thatcher|Becky Thatcher]]
Image:Mississippi from Cardiff Hill in Hannibal.jpg|The [[Mississippi River]] viewed from Cardiff Hill in Hannibal
Image:J M Clemens-Justice of the Peace.jpg|The office of John Clemens, [[Mark Twain|Mark Twain's]] father, who was the [[Justice of the Peace]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Paul A. Shackel, "America's home town: fiction, Mark Twain, and the re‐creation of Hannibal, Missouri." ''International Journal of Heritage Studies'' 17.3 (2011): 197-213. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul-Shackel/publication/254316024_America-s_home_town_Fiction_Mark_Twain_and_the_re-creation_of_Hannibal_Missouri/links/570ba73608ae2eb94223a774/America-s-home-town-Fiction-Mark-Twain-and-the-re-creation-of-Hannibal-Missouri.pdf online]

==External links==
{{commons category|Hannibal, Missouri}}
* {{official website}}
* {{Whmc stl photodb|keywords=Hannibal|title=Hannibal, Missouri}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101025115332/http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-twain-20100627,0,7074284,full.story A visit to Mark Twain's Hannibal, Mo.] - video and article by ''[[The LA Times]]''
* Historic maps of Hannibal in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138815 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the [[University of Missouri]]

{{Marion County, Missouri}}
{{Ralls County, Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Hannibal, Missouri| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Marion County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Ralls County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]
[[Category:Missouri populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:Hannibal, Missouri micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Quincy–Hannibal area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1819]]