Editing Steelville, Missouri

{{redirect-distinguish|Steelville|Steeltown|Steelton|Steel City|Steeleville}}
{{use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Steelville, Missouri
| official_name      = City of Steelville
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Down Town Steelville MO.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Downtown Steelville
| image_flag         = Steelville, Missouri Flag.gif
| image_blank_emblem = Steelville, Missouri Flag.gif
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Crawford_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Steelville_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Steelville, Missouri
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| 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  = [[Crawford County, Missouri|Crawford]]
| government_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=http://steelville.com/city-council/ | title=City Council &#124; City of Steelville Mo }}</ref>
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Terry Beckham
| leader_title1      = City Marshall
| leader_name1       = Mike Sherman
| leader_title2      = City Clerk
| leader_name2       = Sandy Richter
| leader_title3      = City Attorney
| leader_name3       = Brooks Kenagy
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1835
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = 1885

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 6.27
| area_land_km2      = 6.27
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.42
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.42
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 1472
| population_density_km2 = 234.84
| population_density_sq_mi = 608.26

<!-- 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       = 755
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|58|11|N|91|21|19|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 65565
| area_code          = [[Area code 573|573]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 29-70576<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2395962<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395962}}</ref>
| website            = http://steelville.com/
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
}}
'''Steelville''' is a city in [[Crawford County, Missouri|Crawford County]], [[Missouri]], United States. The population was 1,472 at the 2020 census. It is the [[county seat]] of Crawford County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Steelville is the hometown of Congressman [[Albert L. Reeves, Jr.|Albert Reeves]] and Missouri State Representative Jason Chipman. The town was named after the landowner James Steel.

==History==
Before the 1800s, the first people to live in the Steelville area were groups likely tied to the [[Osage nation]]. These peoples were driven west into what became modern-day [[Oklahoma]]. In the 1830s, the [[Trail of Tears]], a government-sponsored forced march of the largest groups of the southeastern United States, passed through Steelville, with people primarily from the Choctaw and Cherokee tribes. They came mostly from [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Alabama]], [[Kentucky]] and [[Tennessee]] and were forced to relocate to Oklahoma and the West. It is believed that they stopped in Steelville around the spring to rest, bury their dead and get supplies.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The first settlers in Steelville were William Britton, who built a small grist mill along the Yadkin Creek, and James Steel, who operated a trading post and was appointed by the government as commissioner to lay out the city in 1835 – the year in which Steelville was founded. Britton remained in the area. Steel, according to census, moved northward to continue his interest in mining.

Steel purchased 40 acres of land from the government, which he later sold to the "County Court" on December 16, 1835, for $50.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n50 | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=282}}</ref> By this time, a little settlement had sprung up. Crawford County Court named the town Steelville as the county seat. The deed was recorded on December 18, 1835, the town was platted, and the first deeds to lots were sold for $12 each.

The [[Snelson-Brinker House]] was built outside Steelville by Levi Lane Snelson in 1834 and sold to John B. Brinker in 1837. [[Mary (slave)|Mary]], a 14-year-old slave owned by Brinker, was hanged at Steelville in 1838 for the murder of Brinker's infant daughter. She is the youngest person to be legally executed in Missouri.<ref>[http://genealogytrails.com/mo/crawford/History/TheCourts.htm The Courts], Crawford County Missouri History. Retrieved November 25, 2017.<br>- {{cite book |last=Frazier|first=Harriet C.|date=2001|title=Slavery and Crime in Missouri, 1773-1865|url=https://archive.org/details/slaverycrimeinmi00fraz|url-access=registration|publisher=McFarland|page=[https://archive.org/details/slaverycrimeinmi00fraz/page/170 170]|isbn=9780786409778 }}</ref>

The town was incorporated as a city of the fourth class in 1885. At this time, there were 500 inhabitants. The Lebanon Lodge, Masonic, was chartered on October 14, 1846. The first tailor, Mr. Vanburg, came in town in 1844. The first hotel was owned by James Davis. In 1847, A. W. Johnson opened a blacksmith shop. Andrew Jackson opened the first post office. Doctor Dunlap was the first doctor. In 1838, J. H. Johnson opened the first saddle and harness shop.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The Steelville Normal Business Institute was originally at [[Vichy, Missouri|Vichy]]. It was moved to Steelville with the help of John T. Woodruff of Springfield and Professor Hayes and opened during the latter part of 1890.

The first newspaper in Steelville, ''Steelville Crawford Missouri'', was established on May 4, 1874, by Thomas Roberts. The paper was printed in a log cabin the first time and was a Republican paper.

The Steelville Bank began operations in October 1884 under the direction of its president, G. W. Matlock. This was constructed of brick and was very strong by the standards of that time. Later, the bank was named Crawford County Farmers Bank. In 1925, bank robbers made an attempt to rob it. Most of the robbers were killed. Robbers included Basil Doman, age 21, from [[Mitchell, Illinois]]. McCellan was wounded and died after being examined. Albert Walters, age 20, from [[Granite City, Illinois]], was the driver of the getaway car and was shot. The youngest, Leslie Reiter, age 16, from [[Madison, Illinois]], was sent to jail. One robber was dead, two were wounded, one was taken prisoner and a fifth escaped. He was never caught or identified. The sheriff at the time was Mr. Enke. There was only one citizen wounded – A. D. Schwieder – who was walking out of the adjoining store and was shot in the leg after a shoot out with one of the robbers, whom he killed.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

While this was not how the town got its name, Steelville was located in an active iron mining area.<ref name=Cherry>{{cite web|url= 
https://www.mindat.org/loc-10039.html |title=Cherry Valley Mines|publisher=Mindat.org|accessdate=November 17, 2021}}</ref>  The Cherry Valley Iron Mines just east of Steelville opened in 1878, and had produced 736,800 tons of ore between 1878 and 1910.<ref name=Cherry/><ref>{{cite web|url= https://share.mo.gov/nr/mgs/MGSData/Books/Volumes/The%20Iron%20Ores%20of%20Missouri/V-010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117195657/https://share.mo.gov/nr/mgs/MGSData/Books/Volumes/The%20Iron%20Ores%20of%20Missouri/V-010.pdf |archive-date=2021-11-17 |url-status=live | title=The Iron Ores of Missouri|publisher=Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines, 1912, p 10|accessdate=November 17, 2021}}</ref>   The mines even created their own railway, the [[Crawford County Midland Railroad]], to link with the [[St. Louis and San Francisco Railway]] to provide needed haulage services.<ref name=FriscoMuseum>{{cite web|url=https://www.condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco-Museum-All-Aboards/AA1988.5.v2.12.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013120048/http://www.condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco-Museum-All-Aboards/AA1988.5.v2.12.pdf |archive-date=2020-10-13 |url-status=live | title= The Frisco Family, The Crawford County Midland Railroad Company| publisher=All Aboard, The Frisco Railroad Museum, May 1988 (accessed on CondrenRails.com) | accessdate=November 17, 2021}}</ref>  However, iron production was more or less exhausted by 1924.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1226&context=professional_theses |title= An investigation of the possibility of a Missouri furnace obtaining an iron ore supply from the state|publisher= Donald Foster Updike, School of Mines and Metallurgy of the University of Missouri, 1924 (accessed on Scholar’s Mine)|accessdate=November 17, 2021}}</ref>

The [[Big Bend Rural School]] and [[Snelson-Brinker House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Steelville is located in west central Crawford County at the intersection of routes [[Missouri Route 8|8]] and [[Missouri Route 19|19]]. [[Cuba, Missouri|Cuba]] lies 7.5 miles to the north and [[Cherryville, Missouri|Cherryville]] is 8.5 miles to the south.<ref name=atlas>''Missouri Atlas & Gazetteer,'' DeLorme 1st ed., 1998, p. 47 {{isbn|0899332242}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.42|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 8, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 226
|1870= 232
|1880= 410
|1890= 591
|1900= 686
|1910= 773
|1920= 767
|1930= 854
|1940= 1013
|1950= 1157
|1960= 1127
|1970= 1392
|1980= 1470
|1990= 1465
|2000= 1429
|2010= 1642
|2020= 1472
|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>
}}
[[Image:Crawford-county-courthouse.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Crawford County Courthouse]]

===2010 census===
At the 2010 [[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> there were 1,642 people, 638 households and 345 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|678.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. There were 753 housing units at an average density of {{convert|311.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial make-up was 90.10% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.97% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.16% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.43% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.55% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.79% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.77% of the population.

There were 638 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.9% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% 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 3.12.

The median age was 36.8 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 21.1% were from 45 to 64; and 19.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender make-up of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
{{clear left}}

===2000 census===
At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,429 people, 616 households and 349 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|548.8 |/sqmi}}. There were 724 housing units at an average density of {{convert|278.0|/sqmi}}. The racial make-up was 99.09% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.14% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.42% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.07% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.28% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.07% of the population.

There were 616 households, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.8% 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.

24.4% Of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 74.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.2 males.

The [[median household income]] was $19,596 and the median family income was $26,765. Males had a median income of $23,913 and females $16,250. The [[per capita income]] was $12,550. About 20.2% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.0% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[Steelville R-III School District]] covers the entirety of the city of Steelville, as well as the surrounding area.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29055_crawford/DC20SD_C29055.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Crawford County, MO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-12-09}}</ref> Steelville Elementary has 401 students grades PK, K-4. Steelville Middle School has 316 students grades 5–8. [[Steelville High School]] has 253 students grades 9-12.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

Steelville has a [[public library]], a branch of the Crawford County Library District.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://crawfordcountylibrarydistrict.org/|title=Crawford County Library District|publisher=Crawford County Library District|website=Crawford County Library District|access-date=January 5, 2019}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
Steelville is the self-proclaimed "Floating Capital of Missouri".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://steelville.com/ |title=Homepage|publisher=The City of Steelville MO|accessdate=November 17, 2021}}</ref>  The [[Meramec River]] passes just to the north of the city.<ref name=atlas/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* Historic maps of Steelville in the [http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/sanborn.htm Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the [[University of Missouri]]

{{Crawford County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Crawford County, Missouri]]
[[Category:County seats in Missouri]]